Page 798 - My FlipBook

808 DENTAL CARIES.
Production of Acid
(Development of Fungi).
Prevented. Retarded.
Bichloride of mercury ' 1-100,000 1-500,000
Nitrate of silver . 1-50,000 1-100,000
Iodoform 1-5,000 1-10,000
Naphthaline 1-4,000 (?) 1-9,000
Iodine 1-6,000 1-15,000
Oil of mustard 1-2,000 1-5,000
Permang?;nate of potas 1-1,000 1-2,000
1-600
Eucalyptus oil
Carbolic acid 1-500 1-1,000
Hydrochloric acid 1-500 1-1,000
Phenylicacid . . l-'-OO l-oOO
Liquid of Agate Cement 1-250
Liquid of Excelsior Cement 1-225
1-125 1-250
Lactic acid
Carbonate of sodium 1-100 1-200
1-75 1-125
Salicylic acid (Cone, alcohol sol.)
Alcohol 1-10 1-20
The experiments show that bichloride of mercury is about two hun-
dred times as powerful as carbolic acid, and demonstrate very clearly
the mistake of substituting weak solutions of this antiseptic (1-1000, as
I have seen recommended) for concentrated carbolic acid. One (jnc-
thousandth is only one-fifth as powerful as pure carbolic acid, which in
many cases may be used with impunity. It is consequently useless to
attempt to introduce the sublimate solution for the purpose of sterilizing
root-canals, cavities before filling, etc., unless we may use at least a
i_per-cent., if not a 1-per-cent., solution. I see no reason, however,
why this may not be done. In a few cases I have used a 1-per-cent.
solution for treating root-canals, and do not hesitate, particularly with
the rubber dam adjusted, to wipe out cavities before filling with a 2-per-
cent, solution, and see no possible evil which could result from it. A
well-known physiologist in Berlin has told me that he uses a 1-per-cent.
solution in his own mouth for aphthae, and with excellent results. We
should not, however, overlook the fact that a 1-per-cent. sublimate solu-
tion is only one-fifth as powerful as pure iodoform.
As a raouth-wash I have frequently used a ^-per-cent. (1-1000)
solution myself, and have seen no bad results from it ; I would not,
however, recommend it to my patients in this strength. It has, besides,
for me, an exceedingly disagreeable and lasting taste which it is difficult
to disguise, and produces an immediate increased secretion of saliva and
mucus which is very annoying. A ^^Q^-per-cent. solution (1-5000) may
eventually be brought into u.se ; in this concentration it is four times as
powerful as a 1-per-cent. solution of carbolic acid. The very high
antiseptic power of nitrate of silver is particularly noteworthy. Why
may it not be employed in place of the much more dangerous mercuric
chloride ?
The action of tobacco upon the fungi is worthy of notice. Five
"rammes of old Virginia plug were boiled fifteen minutes in 50 c.c. of
water, the loss by evaporation being constantly replaced ; the decoction
was then filtered and a portion added to an equal volume of "saliva with
.
sugar. Tliis jirodnced a mixture scarcely .stronger than that which
many veteran chewers carry around in their mouths all day, and in it