PURULENT AFFECTIONS.—The appli cation of hydrogen dioxide to pus-secret ing surfaces and cavities is followed by the most satisfactory effects. Whenever this agent meets pus, active effervescence ensues, germs and pus are disintegrated, and the part is rendered aseptic without any fear of poison. For this purpose its use is quite extensive. Abscess-cavities, unhealthy suppurating surfaces, chan croids, chancres, bed-sores, gangrenous wounds, ulcers, necrosis, cancerous wounds, etc., are all amenable to the beneficial action of this agent. Diluted with 4 to S parts of water it may be used with good results as an injection for gonorrhoea and leucorrhcea. Suppura tion in post-operative wounds is checked and healing promoted by spraying the parts with hydrogen dioxide before ap plying the dressings.
Hydrogen peroxide has proved most successful in the treatment of tubercular abscesses and sores of all kinds. It is superior to anything employed in keep ing drainage-tubes and deep cavities clean and sweet. T. S. K. Morton (Med. News, Dec. 28, '89).
Peroxide of hydrogen is successfully used in abscess of the brain, and in many other cases where suppuration is the chief feature. In affections of the eye, nose, and urethra its use may be pre ceded by cocaine or ether to prevent smarting. In old sinuses its employ ment to be followed with balsam of Peru. which encourages granulation. Diphtheritic membranes are easily re moved by it. Wherever there is pus peroxide of hydrogen should be used. The substance should not come in con tact with metals, nor with the hair, as it bleaches the latter. A solution kept tightly corked in a cool place remains active for many months. R. T. Morris (Med. News, Dec. 28, '89).
Hydrogen peroxide is not an unstable preparation if kept in a dark and cool place. It is an excellent antiseptic and disinfectant, and especially valuable in herpes progenitalis, soft chancres, and c,ronorrhcea. This latter disease is cured by the remedy, in injections, in from eight to twenty-four hours. Manassein (St. Louis Med. and Surg. Jour., Jan., '90).
Hydrogen peroxide found of great use in fungous ulcers and cold abscesses, possessing, in the proportion of 1 to 100. an energetic disinfecting power. A solu tion in nutritive substance of 1 to 352 not only impedes the development, but after some days kills the spores of the bacillus of charbon. Its action is .stronger against the charbon bacilli than is the bichloride of mercury. N.
Pane (Anna dell' Istituto d'Igiene Sperimentale dell' Universita di Boma, '90).
In 40 cases in which hydrogen perox ide was used as good results were pro duced as by the bichloride of mercury, and in some cases better. Buck (Times and Register, Jan. 3, '91).
It may be used in cases where a com plete opening of a fistula or abscess is impossible. Here irrigation with the peroxide has an excellent action. If, then, an antiseptic bandage be applied, healing takes place very rapidly. If, in cachectic patients, the granulations are weak and slow in growth, one may alter nate with injections of equal parts of ether and balsam of Peru. This pro cedure is of great value in suppurating cavities with indurated edges. Where the drug is injected into cavities, one must see that there is free exit for the gas which quickly forms. Graff (Med. Neuigkeiten fiir prak. Aerzte, No. 2, '92).
Peroxide of hydrogen valued in the treatment of exposed wounds, on the ground that it forestalls suppuration and promotes cicatrization. Application of a 15-volume solution to the nasal membrane and the mucous membrane of the cervix uteri recommended to remove adherent mucus for the purpose of medication. C. M. Fenn (Ther. Gaz., Mar.. '92).
Menthoxol, camphoroxol, and naph thoxol consist of a 3-per-cent. solution of peroxide of hydrogen, to which a quantity of alcohol and 1 per cent. of menthol, or 1 per cent. of camphor, or 2 per cent. of naphthol. respectively, have been added. They destroy the spores of anthrax within three hours and in a 10 per-cent. solution within six hours. These preparations were used in about two hundred cases of phlegmon, abscess, ulcers, and granulating wounds, steril ized gauze wetted with a 10-per-cent. solution being applied to the part with the usual cotton-wool dressing above it. The dressings were renewed, as a rule, every second day. As soon as the compound came into contact with the secretion of the wounds there was a considerable development of gas. In phlegmonous eases the necroAed tissue very soon came away, the secretion di minished, and healthy granulations ap peared. Ulcers of the legs healed better under these dressings than under any other treatment. The three compounds did not show any difference in their action. They have an agreeable odor, and are therefore very useful in foetid sores or abscesses. No undesirable effect has hitherto been observed. Wagner (Deutsche med. Woch.; Lancet, Jan. 1, ' '98).