Large doses of carbolic acid curative in the tetanus in horses. One drachm of carbolic acid is injected every two hours for the first thirty-two hours of treat ment, and less frequently as occasion may arise afterward. Within an hour there is a large swelling at the seat of injection, the neck and shoulders, which gradually subsides during convalescence. Sometimes in the case of the injections made during the subsidence of the dis ease there is temporary loss of hair. Never less than 16 drachms administered in a successful case, while administration by the mouth of ounce of diluted car bolic acid caused death. In tetanus there is probably a specific tolerance of the acid. Place (Lancet, Feb. 24, 1900).
Case of tetanus in which subdural in jections of antitoxin led to no appre ciable reaction, while, twenty-four hours later, opisthotonos set in, with marked cyanosis. Hypodermic injections of 5 drops of pure carbolic acid in 15 drops of water every three hours were then used. On the tenth day the symptoms moder ated, and on the twenty-fifth, the pa tient was able to sit up and finally re covered. T. Clifford Allbutt (Phila. Med. Jour., Mar. 17, 1900).
Case of traumatic tetanus in which severe symptoms developed soon after in jury. Ten drops of a 10-per-cent. solu tion of carbolic acid were injected hypo dermically; in a few minutes 15 drops more; then 30 drops. The dose of 30 drops was repeated every half-hour all day and night. The second day the same dose was injected every two hours, and on the third day a drachm of the same solution was given in glycerin per (m— three times during the day. On the third day the patient was able to swallow, and then recovery was rapid and complete. Havel Wood (Revista de Med. et Chin, Aug. 20, 1900).
Wasserman—reasoning from the as sumption that destruction of the nerve cells in the cord and brain during tetanic convulsions or toxfemia might underlie the immunity thus conferred—discov ered that the liquid obtained by rubbing up fresh brain or spinal cord with mal salt solution had the power of ferring a temporary immunity, and could even neutralize the effect upon lower animals of an injection of tetanic toxin ten times larger than would, under nor mal conditions, cause death.
It is possible to render animals im mune against tetanus by injecting a cult ure of Fraenkel's pneumococcus. It was found that the action of tetanic poison on an animal already inoculated shortens the period of immunity of Fraenkel's pneumococcus. The immunity conferred by injection of pneumococcus differs from that producea in other cases by the extreme rapidity of its action; if em ployed a short time before or even at the same time as the more severe poison, it is still able to act quite efficaciously. This material loses its power and becomes almost inactive against tetanus poison, although it seems to retain its own power of conferring immunity against its own original bacillus. Tizzoni (Gazz. degli Osp., Mar. 6, '9S).
Local surgical measures, such as ex cision of the wound or scar or thoroughly cauterizing the same, are usually advised and should be employed early, and in any case if evidence of wound irritation appear, thorough cleansing and other antiseptic precautions being resorted to.
THIOL.—Thiol is a substance com posed of hydrocarbons and about 12 per cent. of sulphur. As prepared by Riedel, it occurs as a soft, gray powder or scales; it also occurs in a liquid form containing about 40 per cent. of thiol. The liquid occurs as a thin, brownish-black neutral fluid having the odor of oil of birch. It is readily soluble in water, but less solu ble in alcohol and ether, forming a clear mixture which is rendered more perfect by the addition of glycerin. It is free from local irritant effect. Thiol resem bles ichthyol in chemical composition, and is said to produce similar physio logical and therapeutic effects. It is said to be non-toxic and is preferred as an antiseptic and local stimulant to ichthyol on account of its more agreeable odor.
Schemmer reports cases of herpes zoster and dermatitis herpetiformis suc cessfully treated with a 10-per-cent. solu tion of thiol used twice daily. He rec ommends it in other erythematous dis orders.
Moncorvo has employed it among chil dren for the purpose of diminishing sup puration and removing cutaneous tions, either of parasitic nature, such as tinea and favus, or those due to tutional disease, such as tuberculosis and syphilis.
Thiol can be used in inflammations of , every description. Infiltrations are re sorbed without the formation of pus, making incision unnecessary. In severe carbuncles, after removal of the pus, thiol allays inflannnation when applied around the wound on the infiltrated parts, and pain ceases entirely.
Lymphangitis, even phlegmons caused by panaritium, insect•bite, and other causes, quickly disappear under thiol treatment. The best results are obtained s,ith liquid tidal as supplied by the manufacturers, not with that prepared front powdered thiol by the addition of water. Wirz (Dent. med. Woch., July 1, '97).
Thiol is most valuable in gouty or rheumatic sore throat on account of its large proportion of sulphur. W. A. Wells (Phila. Med. Jour., Apr. 15, '99).
Constipation has been relieved by daily doses grain) of thiol.
Gottschalk found thiol beneficial in cases of pelvic exudation and in acute and chronic endometritis. Ile employed a 10- to 20-per-cent.-glycerin solution upon vaginal tampons, and gently rubbed the abdomen once a day with a thiol ment. He applied the remedy to the cer vical canal, using an applicator wrapped with cotton.
Thiol ointment is an irritant to the skin, and its occasional discontinuance is advised.
In moist eczema, scrofulosis of the skin, and in syphilides thiol has been used with advantage. In cases of moist eczema the skin is first washed with an antiseptic solution and thiol is then dusted on in the form of powder.
Thiol has been found very useful in the treatment of burns, where it acts as a desiccant, relieves the pain, hardens the skin, and hinders the growth of micro organisms if any be present. (Bidder.) In eczema, erythema, erysipelas, and lupus a 10-per-cent. ointment is advised (liquid thiol, 1 part; vaselin, 2 parts; lanolin, 7 parts; mix).