Antiseptic

a substance used for preventing arresting the spontaneous decomposition (fer or putrefaction) of animal and vegetable The kind of antiseptic which is required a good deal with the nature of the materials, substance having—more or le —its own fitting antiseptic. The best known antiseptics are—(1) mineral acids, common salt, (3) sugar, (4) spices, (5) ordinary (6) some of the higher alcohols, especially and thymol, (7) perchloride of mercury sublimate). Perchloride of mercury has reputation of being by far the most effective but is, unfortunately, a violent poison. 167 tive due flourish matter. and Thus, teria cannot made meats. an this can dre ings plications wound of was coming gangrenous however, cleanline , prevents thus tliminishes infection. we of bedding, fever-stricken limited which rule, likewise. spasm. by application drugs chief a ium, fourth whom to ing Anytus. he pursuing. that raiment. thesis, ideas them. place defence from Antispasmodics. ( 151 Antiseptic drugs are those which arrest putrefacchanges, Such changes are now known to be to the growth of micro - organisms, which luxuriantly in dead animal or vegetable Antiseptics destroy the micro-organisms, so prevent decomposition from taking place. anything which is inimical to the life of bacwill have an antiseptic action. Some bacteria live without a free supply of air; use is of this fact in the preservation of tinned Again, for the growth of micro-organisms adequate supply of moisture is nece ary, and explains the readine with which substances be preserved when kept perfectly dry. The modern treatment of wounds by antiseptic presents one of the most important apof these substances. The surface of a affords abundant scope for the development bacteria, and in days gone by such development. of far too common occurrence, wounds befoul and a uming a sloughing and appearance. The surgeon of to-day, by the adoption of the most scrupulous and the usz of antiseptic dre ings, the growth of bacteria in the wound, and ensures much more rapid healing and largely the danger to life.