A2A  Dichhramin-T  Solvents.  {Am  Tour.  Phara. 
£t'*<t  June,  1918. 
the  real  truth,  with  the  unfortunate  result  that  epidemics  of  dysentery  and 
typhoid  fever  sweep  through  communities  that  are  living  under  a  false  sense 
of  security. 
Conclusions. — As  the  action  of  chlorine  is  dependent  upon  the 
liberation  of  nascent  oxygen  resulting  from  intermediate  reactions, 
which  are  in  turn  affected  by  various  conditions,  it  follows  in  logical 
sequence  that  the  sterilization  problem  resolves  itself  into  the  re- 
moval of  the  intermediate  reactions  and  the  direct  production  of 
nascent  oxygen  in  the  water  or  sewage  to  be  sterilized.  This  would 
obviate  the  undesirable  conditions  which  render  chlorinating  media 
unsatisfactory. 
DICHLORAMIN-T  SOLVENTS. 
By  Elmer  |H.  Hessler,  P.D. 
The  germicidal  properties  of  the  halogens  have  been  known  for 
many  years  and  their  popular  use  and  efficiency  have  been  impaired 
only  by  their  extreme  chemical  affinity  and  consequently  their  irri- 
tating nature.  A  comparison  of  their  relative  value  shows  a  vari- 
ance approximate  to  their  atomic  weights,  beginning  with  fluorine 
as  the  most  active,  and  then  chlorine,  bromine  and  iodine  in  succes- 
sion. The  European  War,  with  its  millions  of  casualties,  necessi- 
tated the  use  of  a  very  efficient  and  readily  available  antiseptic  of 
exceptionally  high  germicidal  power  because  of  the  unusual  condi- 
tions encountered  in  military  surgery. 
Early  in  the  war  the  attention  of  the  surgeons  was  called  to  vari- 
ous solutions  of  the  hypochlorites.  The  value  of  these  solutions 
depended  upon  their  neutrality  and  their  available  hypochlorite  con- 
tent ranging  from  0.45  to  0.5  per  cent,  estimated  as  sodium  hypo- 
chlorite. The  solution  which  has  been  used  most  extensively  is  the 
Dakin-Carrel  solution,  made  from  chlorinated  lime,  monohydrated 
sodium  carbonate  and  sodium  bicarbonate.  The  solution  is  not 
stable  and  must  be  constantly  assayed  before  use  in  order  to  insure 
its  hypochlorite  content  as  mentioned  above.  Above  0.5  per  cent, 
of  sodium  hypochlorite  it  is  irritating  and  below  0.45  per  cent,  it  is 
valueless.  This  solution  was  used  in  surgery  without  dilution  as  an 
irrigating  medium  and  its  rapid  decomposition  in  contact  with  the 
infected  areas  made  its  constant  renewal  necessary.    If  this  was  not 
