OBSERVATIONS MADE IN CANINE MEDICINE. 
315 
and other agents with special respect to its merits in such 
conditions. 
Iodoform in my hands has proven a most unsatisfactory 
agent to use in these cases, not only because of its odor, but 
more particularly from its positive chemotactic influence, prob¬ 
ably due to its high percentage of iodine. Instead of checking, 
it directly increases the discharge and is diametrically opposed 
to the mercuric chloride in this important respect. 
Thioform, which is manufactured by a clever combination of 
sulphur, salicylic acid and bismuth, is much more perfectly 
adapted to these cases than is either dermatol or aristol, from 
its being practically odorless and possessing more soothing 
qualities, but especially from its deeper penetrating activity as 
an antiseptic on tissues generally, and while it precipitates albu¬ 
men, as do nearly all the agents used in these cases, its precipi¬ 
tation’s crust or pellicle is freely permeable to fluids, thus ren¬ 
dering it more or less impossible for the normal and abnormal 
secretions to stagnate underneath, and defeat our efforts as is 
not at all uncommon in the other applications. 
These properties along with being practically non-poisonous 
makes this agent highly satisfactory to use where we wish to 
bring about resolution in a surface filled with glands actively 
secreting. 
I dress my cases but once daily and most thoroughly, and am 
pleased to say gain results, which under the “ water ” treatment 
I could never have hoped to attain. 
I have intentionally omitted to discuss the many complica¬ 
tions which not infrequently present themselves in connection 
with these cases, which under circumstances would take the 
condition outside of those diseases commonly known as simple 
skin diseases ; otherwise my already somewhat lengthy article 
would have needed abbreviation at parts I consider vital to an 
understanding of these interesting cases. 
Such complications would in themselves make subject mat¬ 
ter for several interesting articles if handled in detail. 
