A handbook of local therapeutics / edited by Harrison Allen.

Date:
1893
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A handbook of local therapeutics / edited by Harrison Allen. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    m or alcohol to maintain it in a fluid condition. Crude carbolic acid (Acidum carbolicu crudum) IS also official in U. S. P, with the thought that it would be used externally for disinfection. A carbolated cotton is prepared by steeping absorbent cotton in a solution of carbolic acid. Carbolic acid enters into the composition of DobeWs solution, if, indeed, its value does not almost entirely depend on it. The following is the formula: IJ. Sodii boratis, one drachm; glyceriti acidi carbclici (U. S. P. 1870), two drachms; sodii bicarbonatis', one drachm; water, one-half pint. Carbolic acid is a stimulant and anti-fermentative. It rather prevents the formation of gases than destroys the odors which are caused by their presence. In weak solution it produces a peculiar cooling and analgesic impression. In a pure form it is a caustic. While carbolic acid is a para- siticide, the germicide properties often claimed for it are not uniformly accepted. Carbolic acid closely resembles creasote in its general proper- ties, but is more powerful (Mandl). Concentrated preparations coagulate albumin and gelatin. It should never be prescribed in concentrated forms, notwithstanding the inconvenience of using large quantities of weak solu- tions. Numerous accidents have occurred by its being taken in mistake for other medicine, and severe caustic effects ensue by its accidental appli- cation to the lining membrane of the nose and throat. The antidotes to burning or poisoning by carbolic acid, either internally or externally, are solutions of a soluble sulphate, e. g., sulphate of magnesium and sulphate of sodium. Saccharate of lime is also highly commended as an antidote, but this is not usually to be found in the shops. General Surgery.—In antiseptic surgery carbolic acid for a long time held the foremost place, until the more general adoption of solutions of mercuric chloride. It still plays an important part in the antiseptic mode of treatment, particularly in cases in which mercurials cannot be used. Owing to the sharp corroding effect of all solutions of these salts on metallic substances, solutions of carbolic acid are to be preferred in disinfecting instruments prior to an operation. As an antiseptic carbolic acid possesses the essential requisite of being a poison to those low forms of life wliich determine putrefaction, and it retains this power, even when diluted to such a degree as to be almost entirely unirritating to the tissues. It is also volatile, and its vapor is efficacious as an antiseptic. Koch finds that chlorine, bromine and corrosive sublimate are decidedly more efficacious in destroying the Bacillus Spores of Splenic Fever than carbolic acid. Where gases or heat cannot be employed, he recom- mends a mercuric salt, such as the mercuric chloride, sulphate or nitrate. Of these a solution of one part to a thousand of water kills the resisting spores in ten minutes, and one part in 15,000 is strong enough to kill micro-organisms. To accomplish the same result a very much stronger