554 
Antiseptic  Materials. 
Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
Nov.,  1890. 
exercise  of  absolute  chemical  cleanliness,  and  it  is  more  than  prob- 
able that,  if  physicians  were  made  aware  that  all  such  appliances 
could  be  had  of  the  pharmacist,  made  fresh  and  just  as  desired,  their 
use  would  rapidly  extend  ;  resulting  in  a  triple  benefit  to  patient, 
physician  and  pharmacist. 
Certain  it  is  that  antisepsis  has  come  to  stay.  As  a  rational,  scien- 
tific method  of  surgical  treatment  it  has  passed  the  experimental 
stage  and  amply  proven  its  worth,  and  pharmacists,  with  but  little 
trouble,  could  now  establish  a  healthy  demand  for  antiseptic 
materials. 
It  may  not  be  amiss  to  here  call  attention  to  the  composition  of 
the  various  antiseptic  solutions  at  present  used.  Corrosive  subli- 
mate, in  various  strength  solutions,  of  from  /  part  in  1,000  parts  to 
/  part  in  j,ooo  parts  of  water,  is  most  largely  employed.  Dr.  C.  M. 
Wilson's  solution  is  /  part,  each,  of  mercuric  chloride  and  ammo- 
nium chloride  (or  the  old  Sal  Alembroth)  in  1,000  parts  of  water. 
It  has  been  shown  that  gauzes  and  cottons  made  with  this  solution 
do  not  reduce  the  soluble,  active,  mercuric  chloride  into  the  in- 
soluble, germicidally-inactive  mercurous  chloride  or  calomel,  as  is 
the  case  when  mercuric  chloride  is  used  alone.  Carbolic  acid,  espe- 
cially the  "  JL.  "  solution,  is  still  used  quite  largely,  but  more  espe- 
cially as  a  disinfectant  and  not  as  a  germicide.  Benzoic  and  salicylic 
acids,  in  the  form  of  solutions,  are  now  but  rarely  used.  Boric 
acid,  however,  is  developing  strong  popularity  and  is  extensively 
employed  in  bed-sores,  ulcers,  inflammations,  etc.,  and  especially 
in  ophthalmic  practice  [10-18  grains  to  each  fluid  ounce  of  water). 
Dr.  La  Place's  tartacid  sublimate  solution  is  a  solution  of  /  part 
of  mercuric  chloride  and  5  parts  of  tartaric  acid  in  2,000  parts  of 
water.  Dr.  La  Place  was  led  to  advocate  the  addition  of  tartaric 
and,  because  he  found  that  unless  free  acid  be  present,  the  mercury 
was  precipitated  as  an  insoluble,  mercuric  albuminate,  upon  coming 
in  contact  with  blood  serum.  He  informs  the  writer  that  he  first 
suggested  tartaric  acid  because  of  its  convenience,  but  has  since 
found  that  hydrochloric  acid  will  answer  equally  as  well,  if  not 
better,    In  his  wards  he  uses  the  following  formula : 
Mercuric  chloride,  1  troy  ounce.  Hydrochloric  acid,-  5  fluid 
ounces.  Water,  a  sufficient  quantity  to  make  8  fluid  ounces.  Dis- 
solve.   /  fluid  drachm  to  the  pint  equals  l0100  of  mercuric  chloride. 
A  criticism  reported  on  this  combination  is  that  the  large  propor- 
