634 
WILLIAM HERBERT LOWE;. 
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agents can be accomplished by much smaller amounts than 
their destructive effects, it has been found possible to obtain 
their antiseptic effects with less local irritation of the wound it¬ 
self and less liability of danger from absorption of poisonous 
quantities of the agent into the blood. 
In estimating the usefulness of any agent as an antiseptic 
application in the treatment of wounds, three things have to be 
taken into consideration : 
1. Its power as a bactericide or as a restrainer of bacterial 
multiplication. 
2. Its immediate local effect on the wound surfaces—neutral, 
irritant or caustic. 
3. Its remote constitutional effect when absorbed into the 
circulation. 
The bacteria of different species manifest different degrees 
of vital resistance to chemical reagents. 
The following table exhibits the strengths needed to destroy 
the vitality of the micrococci of pus, or to prevent the develop¬ 
ment of the organisms. The practical application has found 
its place rather in the preliminary disinfection of materials 
likely to come in contact with wounds in the course of formal 
surgical operations than in applications to wounds themselves. 
TABLE OF BACTERICIDAL STRENGTHS. 
Efficient in the propor- 
Reagents. tion of one part in 
Mercuric bichloride.20,000 
Potassium permanganate. 833 
Iodine. 500 
Creosote. 200 
Sulphuric acid. 200 
Carbolic acid.. . 100 
Hydrochloric acid. 100 
Zinc chloride. 50 
Tincture ferri chloride. 25 
Salicylic acid dissolved by sodium borate. 25 
Citric acid. 8 
Chloral hydrate. 5 
The following table shows the minimum quantity required 
to prevent the development of the pyogenic microcci: 
