On the Use of Certain Antiseptic Substances in the Treatment of Infected Wounds.

IN order to make a jucdicious clhoice of the antiseptic most likely to give useful results in the treatment of infected wounds m:lany different factors lhave to be considered in addition to germicidal activity, including tlle irritating properties of the substances, their toxicity, solubility, ability to penetrate tissues and to be absorbed, and their chemical reactions with proteins and other tissue constituents. The k.illing of bacteria by ordinary antiseptic substances is esseiltially a clhemiical reaction between the antiseptic on the onle lhand and the proteins and other cell constitu'ents of the micro-organism on tlle other. The destruction by auitiseptics of bacteria suspended in water is -easily effected, because no proteins are present in the mixture otlher than those dle-ived from the micro-organism. Thle (lestruction bv antiseptics of bacteria mixed witlh blood seruin, pus, and otlher exudate is much more difficult because the antiseptic acts nlot only on the micro-organisms but onl other protein substances as well. Tlherefore, in judging of the antiseptic action of a substance suitable for the treatment of woundls, it is essential that its germicidal action be tested againist micro-organismiis mixed witlh blood serum or simiiilar suibstances, and not simplly tested against bacteria suspended in water. The germicidal activity of all known antiseptics is greatly ieduced by tlle presence of blood serum or simnilar substances, and ia som-ne cases this reduction is so great tlhat tlle compound loses all practical anticeptic value. IThle following table conitains results wlhiclh illustrate this enorinous eduction in germnicidal action by blood serum in the case of several common anitiseptics. I am greatly indebted to my colleague, Dr. Maurice Daufresne, for all the bacteriological results referred to in this communication.