88 
W. B. NILES. 
is not new to many, yet I know by frequent contact with mem¬ 
bers of the profession that it is not generally practiced.) Of 
the many preparations used for this purpose I have found none 
as effective as iodoform and calomel combined. Theiodoform : 
acts as an antiseptic, and the calomel, being a dessicant, foi ms, 
in conjunction with the wound secretions, a firm scab. 
Before applying the powder the wound should be iiligated 
for several minutes, ten at least, with a disinfecting solution. 
I believe the mistake of not irrigating wounds long enough is 
often made. As experiments have shown that the staphylo¬ 
coccus pyogenes aurens is not always destroyed by being ten 
minutes in a i.iooo solution of corrosive sublimate, how can 
we expect to destroy it in less time in the recesses of the wound 
when it is protected by the secretions? After as thoroughly 
disinfecting the parts as possible, the iodoform and calomel, 
mixed in equal parts or one part of iodoform to two of calo¬ 
mel, should be dusted over the surface of the wound until no 
more will adhere. After about one-half hour it should be dus¬ 
ted again and then left until the next day, when, if suppurat¬ 
ing but little, all that is necessary is to apply again as the day 
before. If, however, there is much suppuration and no scab 
formed, the wound should be again irrigated and then ti eated 
as before. All that is generally necessary after the first or 
second application is to apply the powder once or twice daily 
until a hard scab forms over the entire surface of the wound. 
If this treatment is properly carried out the wound soon be¬ 
comes covered with a hard, dry, protecting covering, under 
which cicatrization goes on rapidly. Treated in this way it 
will do much better than if covered with oakum, jute, or absorb¬ 
ent cotton and then bandaged, because in the last instance sup¬ 
puration will not be entirely arrested, and what pus foi ms will 
be kept more or less in contact with the wound, and this, with 
the rubbing of the bandage against the part, interferes with 
the granulation and prevents the formation of a normal scab. 
As a result the wound heals slowly, and in many cases fungus 
granulations appear. 
If the wound be simply washed with an antiseptic solution, 
as is often done, and no powder applied, suppuration, although 
