892  Current  Literature.  {^blT^gis*™' 
slow,  although  not  by  any  means  absent.  Following  on  the  substitu- 
tion, after  a  few  days,  of  a  more  stimulating  antiseptic,  for  instance, 
eusol,  a  "  clean  "  wound  is  obtained  sooner  than  by  any  other  form 
of  treatment  known  to  the  authors.  There  is  no  evidence  of  any 
general  toxic  effect.  (The  Lancet,  through  the  Journal  of  the  Amer- 
ican Medical  Association.) 
Brilliant  Green  and  Gunshot  Wounds. — Of  a  large  number 
of  cases  treated  with  brilliant  green  information  regarding  their  sub- 
sequent progress  was  obtained  in  only  forty-six  cases.  The  wounds 
had,  without  exception,  been  received  from  two  to  eight  hours 
previous  to  treatment,  and  were  all  severe,  with  considerable  tissue 
damage.  No  special  type  of  case  was  selected,  but  it  was  not  used 
in  cases  involving  the  peritoneal  or  pleural  cavities,  though  there 
seems  to  be  no  reason  why  it  should  not  be  used.  The  solutions  used 
were:  (i)  1 : 1,000  brilliant  green  in  normal  saline;  (2)  1:500  in 
normal  saline;  (3)  1 :50c  in  0.5  per  cent,  chloretone.  Of  the  solu- 
tions No.  3  was  preferred.  It  appeared  to  have  a  definitely  analgesic 
effect,  rendering  dressing  less  painful.  Wounds  appear  to  clean 
more  quickly  under  the  stronger  solutions.  No  toxic  symptoms 
were  observed  in  any  case.  Results  were  recorded  by  independent 
observers  and  reported,  for  the  most  part,  by  means  of  Form  M.  R. 
C.  1,  since  it  was  necessary  to  evacuate  early.  When  possible  a 
complete  excision  of  damaged  tissue  was  carried  out  and  foreign 
bodies  were  removed.  In  cases  of  compound  fracture  all  fragments 
of  bone  having  no  periosteal  attachment  were  removed.  Damaged 
tissue  is  more  deeply  stained  by  brilliant  green  than  is  healthy  tissue. 
It  is  useful  in  this  respect  when  excising  the  tracks  of  missiles.  All 
tissue,  except  skin,  which  holds  the  stain  of  1  : 500  solution,  should 
be  excised.  Brilliant  green  produces  exuberant,  but  very  vascular, 
bright  red  granulation.  Noticeable  features  in  cases  treated  with  it 
are  the  absence  of  edema  and  the  inflammation  round  the  wound  and 
the  rapidity  with  which  sloughs  and  sequestra  separate.  It  is  pain- 
less in  application  and  does  not  appear  to  interfere  with  the  growth 
of  epithelium.  For  these  reasons  it  may  be  considered  a  useful  anti- 
septic, and  though  it  can  by  no  means  atone  for  an  incomplete  or 
faulty  primary  excision  it  may  be  used  with  advantage  where  an- 
atonic  conditions  render  complete  primary  excision  impossible. 
(The  Lancet,  through  the  Journal  of  the  American  Medical  Asso- 
ciation.) 
