CARBOLIC  GLYCERIN  AND  PLASTER. 
293 
nection  with  the  parts  to  be  healed,  and  it  serves  the  important 
purpose  of  excluding  the  atmospheric  air,  with  its  myriads  of 
germs  of  organisms,  thus  preventing  the  action,  whatever  it  may 
be,  of  this  supposed  prolific  source  of  trouble — spores  floating  in 
the  air — upon  sores  and  exposed  denuded  surfaces,  to  say  noth- 
ing of  the  influence  of  atmospheric  oxygen  upon  parts  of  low 
vitality,  and  struggling  to  resist  surrounding  destructive  agents 
and  processes,  (its  "  levelling  "  propensity  ?) 
This  putty,  however,  is  not  the  best  vehicle  for  the  purpose 
intended,  for  it  dries  pretty  rapidly  and  "sets;"  it  becomes 
rigid  and  finally  hard,  thus  getting  into  a  condition  calculated 
to  do  much  harm  and  occasion  great  discomfort.  Having  been 
applied  to  to  overcome  this  difficulty,  glycerin  instantly  sug- 
gested itself  to  me,  and  I  proposed  to  make  a  putty  with  this 
valuable  body  instead  of  linseed  oil.  The  experience  of  a  year 
and  more  has  established  the  great  value  of  the  improvement. 
The  formula  I  framed  gives  a  preparation  possessing  the  proper 
consistence,  and  one  which  maintains  its  properties  unimpaired, 
when  kept  in  closed  jars,  for  a  long  time. 
I.  Carbolic  Glycerin.    (T.  E.  J.) 
B.  Carbolic  Acid,  .  .  .1  part. 
Glycerin,      .  .  .  .4  parts. 
Mix. 
II.  Carbolic  Plaster.    (T.  E.  J.) 
B.  Carbolic  Glycerin,         .       .   34pts.,  by  weight. 
Prepared  Chalk,   .       .       .94  pts. 
Mix  well  by  kneading,  and  enclose  in  closely  stopped  jars. 
This  preparation  will,  I  think,  be  found  to  be  all  that  is  de- 
sired.* 
Yours,  very  truly, 
Thomas  E.  Jenkins. 
*  Note. — An  apology  is  due  to  Dr.  Jenkins  for  the  omission  of  this 
paper  in  our  May  number ;  the  communication  was  received  too  late  for 
the  March  number,  and  on  laying  aside  for  the  next  was  accidentally 
overlooked. — Ed.  Am.  J.  Ph. 
