Orthoform may be employed in vari ous combinations, at first as a powder without any addition; but the following emulsion with the yelk of an egg is par ticularly recommended:— 11 Menthol, 2 '/, drachms.
01. amygdal. dale., 7'/, drachms. Vitelli ovi (about two yelks), 7 VI drachms.
Orthoform, 3 drachms.
Aq. dest., q. s. ad 3 ounces.
M. Ft. emulsio.
The best results have been obtained with it, an ordinary laryngeal syringe being employed. In about five minutes the patient experiences a feeling of eu phoria. The yelk of egg does not decom pose, but remains permanent for a num ber of weeks. W. Freudenthal (Phila. Med. Jour., Mar. 25, '99).
Orthoform used successfully for the purpose of making an arsenical paste painless when applied as an escharotic in removing various kinds of growths. W. R. Nicolson (Atlanta Jour.-Record, i, p. 73S, 1900).
Orthoform is used as an application to burns and painful sores, applied in pow der or ointment.
Orthoform induces of only those parts with which it comes in con tact, and has no effect when applied to the unbroken skin. In a burn of the third degree the effect is re markable. It also allays the pain of ulcers, both cancerous and other kinds. In one ease as much as 750 grains were sprinkled on a wound within a week. It is strongly disinfectant, hindering decomposition and fermentation. Ein horn and Heinz (Munch. med. Woch., Aug. 24, '97).
Observations made at the Munich Surgical Clinic on wounds of various kinds, on burns of second and third de grees, on ulcers (luetic, varicose, car cinomatous, etc.), on dental caries, etc., summarized as follows: 1. Loss of sen sation commences, on the average, in from three to five minutes after applica tion, whether as a powder or as 10- or 20-per-cent. ointment. 2. The anaesthetic action continues, on the average, for about thirty hours, in many cases even for three or four days. Only in one ease did the action last scarcely two hours, the powder being carried away by copi ous secretion. 3. Diminution of secretion is always observed: a feature which is very valuable, for instance, in trans plantations, where the grafting of the transplanted skin is promoted. The re
duction of very copious and troublesome salivation in a case of inoperable cancer of the cheek was also noted. 4. Non poisonousness is demonstrated by the fact that in a case of carcinoma 2 ounces weekly were applied without any bad effect. W. Cheatham (Amer. Pract. and News, Aug. 15, '9S).
Forty cases of cracked nipples at the Charity Hospital were dressed with or thoform, which brought about complete anaesthesia during suckling and kept the cracks aseptic. The infant was put to the breast a quarter of an hoar after ward, and sucked eagerly, as orthoform has neither taste nor smell. The anms thesis persists for some time. Strong alcoholic solution of orthoform dropped into the cracks is better than the ortho form powder alone. Maygrier .and R. Blonde] (Lancet, Nov. 19, '93).
Orthoform is the sovereign agent for the pains occurring after the extraction of teeth with peridentitis. It may be applied on a moist piece of cotton, when it quiets at once the severest pain. Jessen (Deut. Zalmaerztl. Woch., No. 10, '93).
Every operation about the rectum, about the urethra, and sexual organs is followed by the most intolerable pain, smarting, burning, or itching. All of these cases are relieved by the use of orthoform as a powder in the first dress ing, its action lasting about twelve to twenty-four hours. Orthoform after operations for the removal of hmmor rhoids has been used with the most satis factory results.
In burns of the hand most excellent results are obtained. If the blebs are large, they may be carefully dissected away with the scissors, and then dusted with orthoform powder. This is covered with plain gauze and surrounded with a liberal dressing of absorbent cotton. Bayard Holmes (Woman's Med. Jour., Jan., '99).
Orthoform may be applied without danger to ulcerations of the mouth, phar ynx, and larynx. It is also particularly useful as an analgesic in dysphagia due to cancerous ulceration of the epiglottis or oesophagus. Two and a half grains in cachet will ease the pharyngeal pains of gastric ulcer in five minutes. INIanquat (Archives Gen. de Mod., Apr., 1900).