58.2 CHLOROFORM AND THE NEW DISINFECTING AGENT. 
applied. Ulcers of the leg were entirely freed from smell in 
the same manner. Dressings, poultices, &c., saturated with 
foetid pus, were completely disinfected by contact with the 
powder; decomposing fluids, gangrenous products, mortified 
tissues, pieces of dead bodies in an advanced stage of putre¬ 
faction, were also instantly deodorised by the same means. 
The disinfecting substance seems to stop decomposition ; and 
it keeps off insects, and prevents the production of maggots. 
The experiments at the Veterinary School of Alfort, under 
Professor Bouley, made on a large number of wounds and 
putrid matters, gave results entirely in accordance with those 
obtained by Professor Velpeau ; so that, as far as facts have 
yet shown, the means promises to be of decided service in 
surgery. 
“It appearsthat the advantagespossessed by thedisinfecting 
powder as a surgical dressing are twofold; for it not only disin¬ 
fects the discharges, but it at the same time absorbs them,— 
the former property being probably due to the tar, and the 
latter to the plaster. It is obvious that the powder may be 
applied to a great variety of uses besides surgical dressings, 
and in particular for preventing the smell and putrefaction 
in dissecting-rooms. One other advantage which the dis¬ 
infectant presents is its cheapness ; the ingredients may be 
had for almost nothing, and at the present time the powder 
of Corme and Desmeaux sells for about a shilling the hundred¬ 
weight in Paris.” 
The Lancet , adverting to it, says :— 
“The French Academy continue to discuss the properties 
of the composition of plaster and coal-tar as described by MM. 
Corme and Desmeaux, which M. Velpeau introduced with so 
surprising a flourish of trumpets, and which that learned body 
received with premature acclamation. It borders on the ridi¬ 
culous to observe the gravity with which the simplest facts and 
most trite remarks are hazarded as oracular novelties, and 
with how much of mystery and circumlocution every-day 
matters are discussed. Certainly, if such a composition had 
been introduced at a small practical society, or to half a 
dozen working medical men, its value would have been far 
earlier and more accurately appreciated. Meantime a series 
of papers are presented on the subject. Amongst others is 
a communication to this eminent body from M. Renault, in 
which he gives an account of a long series of his experi¬ 
ments, instituted f to determine whether it is the coal-tar or 
the plaster which possesses the disinfecting property F He 
wishes also to determine whether there be any other sub¬ 
stances capable of producing similar effects. He concludes 
