Aseptic surgery / by Charles Barrett Lockwood.

  • Charles Barrett Lockwood
Date:
1899
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Aseptic surgery / by Charles Barrett Lockwood. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    which was 1 part in 5000. The same kind of experiment was done with carbolic acid. Ten c.c. of broth were mixed with 60 minims of carbolic lotion, 1 part of carbolic in 20 parts of water, and inoculated with skin bacteria. A plentiful growth was the result. The carbolic acid merely delayed the growth a few hours. Doubtless in such experiments as this the chemical is rendered to some extent inert by combining with albumin in the broth. In surgical practice, antiseptics and disinfectants are usually spoilt by a similar com- bination of the chemical with albumin. After a chemical has been tested in the laboratory, we ought, at least, to know whether it kills bacteria or not; how long it requires to kill bacteria; whether it can kill spores; under what conditions it kills bacteria or spores, especially whether it acts in the presence of albumin; to what extent it retards the growth of bacteria; and, finally, whether it may be used without injury to the tissues or without the fear of a toxic effect. Very few of the antiseptic panaceas which are constantly being introduced fulfil these requirements. But our knowledge of some of the salts of mercury, carbolic acid, and iodoform is fairly complete, and it is to these that I shall confine my remarks.
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