Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
Nov.,  1890. 
Antiseptic  Materials. 
559 
vantages.  It  interferes  with  the  evaporation  of  the  wound  secre- 
tions;  it  has  a  tendency  to  devitalize  the  tissues  by  inducing 
osmosis,  with  their  contained  blood  serum,  and  it  is  inclined  to 
cause  eczema.    (See  White,  Univ.  Med.  Mag.,  1889,  208.) 
The  tendency  of  the  times  seems  strongly  in  favor  of  following 
Prof.  Keen  in  his  use  of  dry  sublimated  dressings,  without  any  pre- 
vious immersion,  who  claims  to  have  obtained  very  superior  results 
with  such  a  method. 
For  the  preparation  of  iodoform  gauze,  the  following  formula  is 
used  : 
Iodoform,   .        5  oz.  av. 
Petroleum  benzin,   18  pints. 
Purified  gauze,   100  oz.  av.  (about  54  yds. ) 
Dissolve  the  iodoform  in  the  benzin,  hang  the  gauze  upon  an 
antiseptic  clothes-line,  in  a  clean,  dry  room  remote  from  fire, 
then  saturate  the  gauze  with  the  benzin  solution.  When  dry, 
moisten  with  a  mixture  of  alcohol  (2  parts)  and  glycerin  (1  part); 
cut  it  into  3-yard  pieces.  After  the  alcohol  has  largely  evaporated 
wrap  in  paraffine  paper  with  antiseptically  clean  hands  and  keep  in 
a  closed  container,  having  in  it  an  open  salt  mouthed  bottle  con- 
taining water  (to  keep  it  moist). 
The  finished  product  contains  5  per  cent,  of  iodoform.  As  a 
solvent,  petroleum  benzin  possesses  a  number  of  advantages  which 
make  it  superior  to  ether.  It  evaporates  less  rapidly  and  dissolves 
the  iodoform,  without  decomposition,  to  form  a  clear  solution,  while 
commercial  ethers,  even  the  best,  partially  decompose  the  iodoform 
to  set  free  iodine;  forming  a  light  red  solution. 
The  gauze  is  previously  purified  in  the  following  way:  Boil  1 00 
oz.  av.  of  gauze,  or  common  cheese-cloth,  in  a  tin  boiler,  having  a 
perforated  false  bottom,  for  two  or  three  hours,  with  6  gallons  of 
water  having  had  dissolved  in  it :  powdered  borax,  8  oz.  av.  and 
sodium  carbonate,  32  oz.  av.  Remove,  while  hot,  to  a  tub  contain- 
ing 2  gallons  of  solution  of  chlorinated  soda ;  wring  out  in  this 
solution,  and  wash  well  in  not  less  than  three  clean  waters.  Then 
pass  through  the  wringer,  dry,  and  it  is  ready  for  further  treat- 
ment. 
The  borax  is  directed  to  dissolve  the  glue,  used  by  manufacturers 
to  stiffen  the  cheese-cloth,  while  the  washing  soda  is  employed  to 
saponify  the  fat  and  dissolve  the  resin  naturally  present. 
