Am.  Tour.  Pharm. 
Dec,  1918. 
Current  Literature. 
as  compared  with  that  of  the  commonly  employed  local  anesthetic 
alkaloids  of  which  cocaine  is  the  standard  representative.  The  next 
interesting  and  important  feature  in  connection  with  benzyl  alcohol 
as  an  anesthetic  is  the  ability  of  the  organism  to  metabolize  it  and 
excrete  it  in  an  innocuous  form.  Third,  an  important  feature  of  this 
local  anesthetic  is  its  high  boiling  point  and  the  consequent  ease  of 
sterilization.  Last,  the  comparatively  low  price  of  the  drug  and  its 
ease  of  production.  (D.  I.  Macht,  Journal  of  Pharmacology  and 
Experimental  Therapeutics,  April,  191 8,  through  the  Journal  of  the 
American  Medical  Association.) 
Acriflavine  and  Proflavine. — An  investigation  was  under- 
taken by  Carslaw  and  Templeton  with  the  object  of  ascertaining 
whether  the  action  of  proflavine  differed  in  any  way  from  that  of 
acriflavine.  Since  October,  1917,  a  large  proportion  of  the  infected 
gunshot  wounds  admitted  to  one  hospital  have  been  treated  with 
acriflavine,  and  the  clinical  results  have  been  observed  in  over  sixty 
cases.  Proflavine  followed  by  eusol  was  used  in  thirty  cases  (thirty- 
two  wounds  being  treated).  In  all  cases  1 :  2,000  solution  in  normal 
saline  was  used.  The  rapid  improvement  in  the  general  condition 
of  patients  as  shown  by  subsidence  of  temperature,  pulse  rate,  etc., 
and  rapid  disappearance  of  pain  and  of  inflammatory  edema  in  the 
vicinity  of  wounds  were  very  evident.  Although  the  action  of  acri- 
flavine and  proflavine  is  very  similar  there  can  be  no  doubt  that  pro- 
flavine is  slower.  The  improvement  in  the  general  condition  of 
patients  is  not  so  rapid.  The  formation  of  the  fibrinous  membrane 
is  not  usually  complete  until  the  fifth,  sixth,  or  seventh  day  in  con- 
trast with  its  presence  on  the  third,  fourth,  or  fifth  day  when  acri- 
flavine is  used.  Further,  separation  of  membrane  and  attainment  of 
a  "  clean "  wound  are  also  slightly  delayed.  The  application  of 
flavine  to  affected  wounds  does  not  render  them  bacteriologically 
sterile.  Flavine  is  clearly  antiseptic,  not  disinfectant  in  action. 
There  is  a  complete  absence  of  evidence  of  damage  to  tissues  when 
these  salts  are  used  in  solution  not  stronger  than  1  : 1,000.  There 
is  no  necrosis  of  any  of  the  exposed  tissues.  These  salts  are  of  un- 
doubted value  in  controlling  and  preventing  the  spread  of  sepsis,  as- 
is  shown  by  the  rapid  improvement  in  local  and  general  conditions. 
This  object  having  been  gained,  there  is  no  advantage  in  continuing 
their  use,  as  a  condition  is  used  in  which  reparative  changes  are 
