EDITORIAL. 
7 
acid or of alcohol to preserve it or reduce its acidity is of no great; 
advantage. Its application is always more or less painful. 
* 
* * 
“ In what circumstances can oxygenated water be used? 
“ Specially whenever the passing action of a very powerful 
antiseptic is needed. Its application with a permanent dressing 
is an error and must never be resorted to. 
“ The most rational use is in local septicaemia, furuncles, ab¬ 
scesses. No other substance can be as powerful to arrest putre¬ 
faction in wounds and large suppurating centers. Then it can be 
used freely. 
“ It has been said that it acted only on anaerobic microbes. 
But it is an error, as it also acts on the aerobic. In a very aseptic 
center it can be used freely and repeatedly, and its action be rein¬ 
forced by the use of another antiseptic, having a lasting effect, for 
the dressing. Injections in wide collection of suppuration can be 
used and repeated until the chances of cicatrization are present. 
“ In irregular wounds and those with small or large sloughs 
the local action of peroxide is most precious. 
“ Contused wounds of some dimension are kept back in cica¬ 
trization if treated daily with peroxide. Yet, if a small anfrac¬ 
tuous wound, due possibly to the presence of foreign bodies, is 
injected every day with only a few drops of oxygenated water, 
all phenomena of infection may be prevented and no interference 
with cicatrization will occur. 
“ The skin may be sterilized with peroxide, but it must be 
done with care, as when its use is repeated too often it loses its 
effects. 
“ Peroxide has a destroying action on catgut. If peroxide is 
applied upon wounds close with catgut threads, these break and 
good cicatrization is prevented. 
“ When, after an operation, the wound has been infected, 
it would seem that the use of peroxide is indicated to limit the 
infection. It is an error. An injection in the suppurating tract 
