N 
562 PIERRE A. FISH. 
portion of 5 in 1000 the formation of the precipitate is pre¬ 
vented. 
Pyoktanin.—Also known as methyl violet, and frequently 
confused with methylen blue and methyl blue. This substance 
was used in solution, 1-1000. The blue color interfered with 
the detection of growth. Fresh tubes inoculated from the 
pyoktanin remained clear. Young (8) states that Dr. Stilling’s 
•opinion of anilin as a local antiseptic, as translated by Dr. Ste¬ 
venson, is that the local application of a 1 in 1000 solution of 
methyl violet does not cause irritation. He says that in treat¬ 
ing hundreds of patients with it, this has invariably been his 
experience. He has also found its use in surgical practice quite 
free from toxic symptoms. The irritating effects observed by 
some investigators and practitioners, he believes due to impuri¬ 
ties such as chloride of zinc, arsenic, and copper sulphate. The 
results of his experiments indicate that methyl violet is about 
three times as strong as sublimate in its action on the anthrax 
bacillus, and quite as effectual as sublimate in its action on 
staphylococcus pyogenes aureus ; that it is a perfectly non-poi- 
sonous substance ; that, in consequence of this, it is immaterial 
how strong the solutions may be, even up to the use of the pure 
substance itself ; that it does not coagulate albumen ; and that 
it possesses an extraordinary power of diffusion, penetrating into 
the eye like atropin. The favorable report of Stilling led many 
others to test for themselves the antiseptic value of the anilin 
colors. Petersen, of St. Petersburg!!, used it in many cases both 
in hospital and private practice with excellent results. Tessler, 
of Munich, found it to be a very efficient antiseptic in the sur¬ 
gical clinic of the university, used as a 1 in 1000 solution and 
as a gauze. Bacteriological experiments confirmed his conclu¬ 
sions as to its bactericide value. Garre and Troje, however, 
report less certain clinical and antiseptic results. 
Of the anilin dyes, malachite green is, according to Behring, 
the most effective, anthrax and cholera bacilli being destroyed 
with 1 in 25,000 ; diphtheria bacilli with 1 in 8000, and glanders 
and typhoid bacillus with 1 in 300. 
