Treatment.—The most important feat ures in the treatment of gangrene are to enhance the strength of the patient by nutritious diet, to administer reme dies that tend to encourage the separa tive process and disinfect the necrotic foci. The first requisite is best satisfied by liquid concentrated food, adminis tered in fixed quantities at regular in tervals, the patient being encouraged to eat by catering to his tastes. Before partaking of food, however, he should carefully wash his mouth with some antiseptic solution devoid of taste. A solution of borax best answers the pur pose, it serves as a good mouth-wash and as an efficient gargle. Alcoholic beverages should be avoided, they tend to increase the chances of hmemorrhage by stimulating the heart. The separa tine process may be encouraged by the administration of creasote in gradually increased doses and aided by the in unctions of iodoform, or, better still, europhen-oil, as recommended by Flick in the treatment of tuberculosis. (See TUBERCULOSIS, PULMONARY, TREAT MENT.)
Antiseptic solutions may also be ad ministered in the form of spray. The most active disinfectant is a solution of permanganate of potassium 1 grain to the ounce, the patient taking deep breaths to inhale the spray. A satu rated solution cf chlorate of potassium is more agreeable, but less effective. Yea's respirator (a wire-gauze funnel like instrument) may be used constantly by the patient to inhale terebene or pentine, which tend greatly to modify the horrible fcetor with which the tient is surrounded, while favorably in fluencing the diseased areas if these are reached.
In all cases of gangrene of the lung which are progressive and not absolutely diffuse, operation should be performed. In the absence of pleuritic adhesions the pleural cavity is shut off by gauze pack ing or by suturing. When the cavity has been thoroughly opened and drained, it should be cleansed daily by irrigation and afterward tightly packed with iodo form gauze. A. H. Levings (N. Y. :Med. Jour., Oct. 14, '99).