ASEPSIS AND ANTISEPSIS. 
639 
many of the accessories used in the treatment of wounds. 
Thermic sterilization is much more readily and certainly ac¬ 
complished than is chemic sterilization. . 
The Dressings .—For absorbent and protective purposes the 
chief part of a wound dressing is composed of suitable pieces 
of loosely woven, thin, gauzy, cotton cloth, similar to the 
u cheesecloth ” or “ buttercloth ” of the shops; this consti¬ 
tutes the gauze of the surgeon. Other absorbent materials 
may be substituted according to the convenience of the particu¬ 
lar case, such as pads of moss or of sawdust, masses of the cot¬ 
ton fibie known as engineer’s waste, or of soft absorbent papei, 
or quantities of oakum, jute or u wood-wool ” ; but the superior 
convenience and the unequalled absorbing qualities of the gauze 
have caused it to be accepted almost universally by practition¬ 
ers of human surgery as the staple dressing material. It also 
has an important place in surgical dressing in veterinary prac¬ 
tice. This dressing, like all other dressings and everything 
else, requires sterilization. Steam sterilization is convenient 
and effectual. 
Boro-Salicylated Moist Dressings .—For the absorption of 
primary wound-discharges a moist dressing is superior, and in 
view of the imperfect character of all skin sterilization, it is 
always more prudent to have the dressing which comes indirect 
contact with the skin in the vicinity of a wound moistened with 
a solution, which at least.shall inhibit bacterial activity. Cor¬ 
rosive sublimate solutions at once suggest themselves on ac¬ 
count of their potency as a bactericide, but they are too irritat¬ 
ing to the skin to be left on many hours in contact with it, and 
if "used freely are liable to provoke the poisonous effects of the 
absorption of the drug. Carbolic acid is equally objectionable. 
Boracic and salicylic acids, feeble bactericides but potent as re¬ 
tainers of bacterial activity, are free from the objections named 
as to corrosive sublimate or carbolic acid, and may be used m a 
solution made by dissolving one ounce of boracic acid and 
eighty grains of salicylic acid in a gallon of boiled water, for 
the preparation of a moist antiseptic absorbent dressing. 
