558 
PIERRE A. FISH. 
more value than carbolic solution ; while Sir Joseph Lister 
found it of the highest value for wounds, Messrs. Hehn and 
Rosviny maintain that in a long series of experiments they 
have proved that it is not antiseptic at all, but only a desiccant. 
“ Sterilized iodoform jelly, when inoculated with micro-organ¬ 
isms, was found to be full of them, all growing freely, on 
the third day.” Riehlin asserts that “as a parasiticide it is 
feeble and inert, but it dries the surface of wounds.” Miguel 
in his table marks it as very strongly antiseptic ; but Bouillat 
found that 10$ of iodoform did not arrest putrefactive changes 
in extract of pancreas. The truth is, as pointed out by Behring, 
that it produces its undoubtedly beneficial effects, not by 
acting directly on bacteria, but by inducing chemical changes 
in their toxic products. He has ascertained that some of these 
toxins are altered chemically by iodoform and rendered harmless. 
Salol.—This agent is insoluble in water. The plate experi¬ 
ments showed that growth occurred about as quickly with this 
agent as in the control plate. 
Thioform (bismuth dithio-salicylate).—The plate experi¬ 
ments showed that growth was delayed for a day and that 
liquefaction occurred very slowly. 
Xeroform (tribromphenol-bismuth). — The plate experi¬ 
ments with this substance were quite successful, as after a 
week’s time there was but little liquefaction, although a num¬ 
ber of colonies had appeared. Young (8) referring to Heuss of 
Zurich quotes that xeroform is not poisonous ; that it is almost 
completely odorless and tasteless; that ‘it is entirely non-irritat¬ 
ing even to diseased mucous membranes; that it has a powerful 
antiseptic action ; and that it is well adapted as an intestinal 
antiseptic and in the treatment of wounds. In the treatment 
of wounds it favors epithelial growth and alleviates pain. On 
account of the lightness of the powder, a smaller volume than 
that of iodoform suffices to cover surfaces. He thinks that he is 
justified in asserting that in xeroform we possess an antiseptic 
which stands next to iodoform, and that in some respects it has 
marked advantages over iodoform. 
