GENERAL BACTERIOLOGY 
51 
most successful method of treating infected wounds 
has been devised by Dakin and Carrel (both of the 
Rockefeller Institute for Medical Research, of New 
York) and has been extensively applied on battle fields, 
in industrial plants, hospitals, etc. The preparation of 
Dakin’s solution is somewhat complicated and the 
original articles by Dakin and Carrel should be con¬ 
sulted; the solution consists of calcium hypochlorated 
(bleaching powder), sodium carbonate and sodium bi¬ 
carbonate; these when properly mixed (this means a 
careful titration of the first mentioned ingredient) 
cause slow generation of chlorine; the effects of this 
nascent chlorine differ materially from those ordinary 
effects of chlorine, since not only the destruction of 
bacteria in the tissues is ever so much more thorough 
and rapid but the effect on the dead tissue in the 
wound is extraordinary—the most infected wounds 
with dead ragged pieces of tissue become clean and 
active cicatrization (healing) rapidly takes place. The 
application of Dakin’s solution should be carried out 
most faithfully by the Carrel method if these unusual 
results are to be obtained; a special apparatus devised 
by Carrel must be used, and all the directions given by 
Dakin and Carrel should be carried out to the letter, 
without the least deviation. 
