Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
Nov.,  1890. 
Antiseptic  Materials. 
555 
tion  of  hydrochloric  acid  gives  the  solutions  an  irritating  or  slightly 
escharotic  action,  and  causes  considerable  pain.  This  charge  is  also 
made  upon  the  tartaric  acid  solution,  though  in  the  latter  case  the 
irritation  is  said  to  be  much  less. 
It  may  be  of  value  to  know  that  the  universal  use  of  acids  in 
germicidal  solutions  is  strongly  objected  to  by  some  physicians.  It 
is  claimed  that  acids  are  only  desirable  where  false  tissues,  indolent 
ulcers  and  deep-seated  abscesses  exist,  and,  though  mercuric  chloride 
may  form  at  first  an  insoluble  albuminate  upon  contact  with  blood 
serum,  such  a  precipitate  or  film  does  not  thereafter  affect  its  germici- 
dal action  It  is  of  interest,  in  this  connection,  to  note  that,  according 
to  Mr.  Martindale,1  mercuric  albuminate  is  soluble  in  an  excess  of 
albumen,  so  that  after  the  dressing  has  been  applied  the  filmy  pre- 
cipitate is  probably  dissolved  away  by  exuding  blood  serum. 
Pana's  antiseptic  solution,  used  only  in  ophthalmic  practice,  is 
made  with  j£  gr.  of  mercuric  iodide,  60  m.  of  alcohol  and  5^  fl.  oz. 
of  water.  Dr.  Conrad  Beren's  silico-fluoride  tablets  are  composed, 
each,  of  sodium  silico-fluoride,  /  gr.;  hydrastine  hydrochlorate,  gr.; 
sodium  bicarbonate,  j  gr.;  sodium  biborate,  2  gr.;  eucalyptol,  m. 
For  using,  one  tablet  is  dissolved  in  four  fluid  ounces  of  water.  Dr. 
Carl  Seiler's  alkaline  antiseptic  tablets  are  made,  each,  of  sodium 
bicarbonate,  gr.;  sodium  biborate,  gr.;  sodium  benzoate,  1 
gr. ;  sodium  salicylate,  gr. ;  eucalyptol,  -|  gr. ;  thymol,  i-  gr.  ; 
menthol,  ^  gr. ;  and  oil  of  gaultheria,  gtt.  To  use,  one  tablet 
is  to  be  dissolved  in  two  fluid  ounces  of  water.2 
An  antiseptic  solution  much  used  in  the  Philadelphia  Hospital, 
as  an  addition  to  gargles,  washes  and  lotions,  etc.,  is  the  following 
solution,  prescribed  under  the  name  of  "Liquid  Antisepticus :" 
Menthol,  3  gr. ;  thymol,  8  gr.;  boric  acid,  30  gr. ;  sodium  benzoate, 
45  gr.;  sodium  salicylate,  45  gr. ;  oil  of  gaultheria,  6  gtt.;  oil  of 
eucalyptus,  18  gtt.;  glycerin,  4  fl.  dr.;  alcohol,  2  fl.  oz. ;  water,  a 
sufficient  quantity  to  make  6  fl.  oz.  Mix.  Use  largely  diluted  with 
water.  A  marked  peculiarity  of  this  antiseptic  solution  is  the  fact 
that,  though  at  first  it  becomes  opalescent  on  the  addition  of  water 
1  A.J.  P.,  1885,  p.  520. 
2  The  original  solution  of  Dr.  Seiler's  contained,  also,  in  each  two  fluid  ounces, 
32  minims  of  glycerin  and  5  minims  of  alcohol,  but  in  the  tablet  these  have,  of 
necessity,  been  dispensed  with. 
