CHLOROFORM AND THE NEW DISINFECTING AGENT. 581 
nascent oxygen which ultimately acts upon the colouring material. 
Chlorine has no effect upon goods which are perfectly dry ; hut let 
them be moistened with a little water and immediately the bleaching 
process commences. The presence of water being always necessary, it 
is reasonably inferred that the chlorine by its natural strong affinity 
unites with the hydrogen of the water, forming hydrochloric acid, and 
the oxygen is liberated in a free state by the decomposition. According 
to this view, the chlorine merely serves as the instrument by which 
ogygen is furnished in a nascent condition, and, as in the case of the 
chlorine in the aqua-regia, at the instant of its liberation it exerts a 
peculiar power which it has at no other time. 
“ Js it not possible that as a disinfecting agent it operates in precisely 
the same manner? By it nascent oxygen may be generated from the 
vapour of the atmosphere, and at this instant unite with and change the 
character of many of the unpleasant and injurious effluvia. 
“ May not the oxygen of the chlorate of potash in the same way correct 
or neutralise many morbific agents within the body? Though too 
subtle for detection by human skill, these agents mav thus be changed 
and disarmed of their danger by the operations of nature within her own 
laboratory. 
“ It will be observed that many questions relating to this subject are yet 
open for investigation. One general principle of its physiological and 
therapeutic operation, I think has been fully established. Let this 
principle be kept in view, and indications for its use will be frequently 
observed. In other respects the hints which I have ventured to offer 
will, I trust, invite the attention of many to the consideration of this 
subject, and result in a better understanding of some questions which 
are yet involved in a degree of uncertainty.” 
THE USE OE CHLOROFORM AND THE NEW DISINFECTING 
AGENT. 
Dr. Louis Cruveilhier, quoting M. Scrive, says, that 
never in one instance during the war in the East, did a single 
accident occur in all the thousands of cases in which chloroform 
was administered as an anaesthetic; and it was resorted to, 
not only for every severe operation, but often under hopeless 
circumstances to allay suffering, so that ample and valuable 
opportunities were thus afforded for studying its action. 
The doctor also speaks highly of the application to ill- 
conditioned wounds of the mixture of plaster and coal-tar, 
which was adverted to in our last number. In the Edinburgh 
Medical Journal appears the following, as confirmative of its 
beneficial action. “ A gangrenous wound, with a profuse 
and fetid suppuration, when dressed with the powder, was 
instantly deprived of all disagreeable smell. In the case of 
an ulcerated cancer, with an ichorous discharge, presenting 
the characteristic fetor, the odour was in the same way 
instantly and completely destroyed, when the dressing was 
