EXTERNALLY. — Alcohol used exter nally is detergent, antiseptic, disinfect ant, astringent, and haemostatic. These properties make it a valuable agent in the treatment of wounds, especially if the seat of infection. Whisky, plain or diluted (1 to 4), may be used. For non infected wounds and granulating ulcers the vinum aromaticum (U. S. P.) is a valuable dressing.
In snake-bites and insect-stings, strong alcohol combined with ammonia is a useful lotion after the poison has been sucked out of the wound.
Alcohol (S p.) combined with am monium chloride (1 p.), vinegar or dilute acetic acid (4 p.), and water (64 p.) makes a valuable evaporating lotion, which may be perfumed if desired. This is useful in headache; strained and swollen joints, muscles, and tendons; abscesses, ery thema, erysipelas, and slight burns. For bathing fever patients, alcohol is useful, alone, or combined with vinegar when there is diffuse diaphoresis.
Alcohol is used as a detergent, alone, or combined with sodium bicarbonate (2 p.), alcohol (S p.), water (SO p.), or in the form of soap liniment. Applied to irritated, fissured, or excoriated nip ples, dilute alcohol hardens the surface, and coats the raw surfaces with a deli cate protective film (by coagulating the albumin in the secretion of the raw sur face) and diminishes the sensibility of the terminal nerve-filaments.
Ulcers or aplitham are benefited by the local application of strong alcohol.
The disinfecting properties of alcohol are asserting themselves increasingly.
A dilution of alcohol of 55 to 100 is toxic to staphylococci and is but slightly inferior to 1-to-1000 corrosive sublimate, and equal to carbolic acid in 3 parts per 100. Alcohol to which is added an alkali for the purpose of saponifying fat greatly increases the disinfecting powers. A dilution of SO parts in 100 is an ex ceedingly efficient disinfectant for the hands. G. Fisher (La Presse .1I6d., July 7, 1900).
Property of alcohol in the sterilization of the hands. It is in abstracting air from the pores and fissures of the skin that the true value of the application lies; a previous treatment with alcohol enables subsequent aqueous solutions to penetrate much more thoroughly and completely into all the microscopical and microscopical interstices of the cuta neous surface. Braatz (MUnch. med. Woch., July 17, 1900).
Permanent applications of strong alco hol of great service in combating all in flammatory conditions in which there is a tendency toward suppuration. It causes a local dilatation of the blood vessels, and thereby the formation of aIexins and consequent greater capacity for resisting the spread of infection. Thick layers of gauze are saturated with alcohol and then covered with some im pervious material. The dressing is left in place for days at a time, resaturating it with alcohol once every twelve hours. Graeser (Munch. med. Woch., July 17, 1900).
In disinfection with alcohol the vapor is the effective element. Von Brun (Miinchener med. Woch., Feb. 12, 1901).
In the various preparations of alcohol, those with a higher specific weight have more energetic disinfectant action. The most energetic preparation is 40-per-cent. alcohol, which boils at about 90° C. Frank (Miinchener med. Woeh., Jan. 22. 1901).
INIIALATIONS.—Inhalations of alcohol have proved useful in the treatment of shock, collapse, and the profound asthe nia. met with in fevers and toxic condi tions, especially when alcohol cannot be taken by the mouth or given by the rec tum. A 10-per-cent. solution of alcohol may be administered by steam or hand spray apparatus, or by pouring alcohol or spirits into a vessel of hot water, throwing a towel over the vessel and the patient's head.