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AGENTS USED FOR STERILIZATION. 165
was not then comprehended. When the study of bacteriology had ad-
vanced to a science through the labors of Pasteur, Koch, and a host of
investigators, the reasons for this fear were explained, and the condi-
tions necessary to avoid unpleasant results being understood, the danger
from infection was changed to absolute security. It is, moreover, to be
ever borne in mind that but for this knowledge implantation and trans-
plantation could to-day not be practised without the probability of
serious results.
A case illustrating this point occurred prior to the knowledge of anti-
sepsis in the hands of a well-known dentist. He had removed three
teeth and successfully reimplanted them for the cure of a violent case of
neuralgia presumably due to calcific depositions in the pulp and about
the external portions of the roots. Relief was so immediate that upon
return of the pain another tooth was attempted. Trismus followed,
resulting in the death of the patient. It is safe to assume that this
unfortunate result could not have happened under the antiseptic care
usual at the present time, even imperfect as it frequently is.
To accomplish antisepsis in this operation the greatest care is neces-
sary. In transplantation, teeth being procured from other mouths,
the danger is necessarily much increased. The method, adopted by
some, of immersing these teeth in various antiseptic fluids cannot be
commended. Miller says of this : ' "It is generally accepted that
the operator takes every possible precaution when he allows the tooth
to lie for one-half to one hour in a 1 per cent, solution of carbolic acid,
or in a 1 :1000 solution of bichloride of mercury. ... In order to
reach bacteria that may have penetrated into the lacunae or chance vas-
cular canals a much longer action of the antiseptic is necessary, and to
be perfectly certain that we have accomplished our object we should
have recourse to boiling water."
Agents used for Sterilization.
The possibility of injuring instruments has deterred dentists from
using many of the agents recommended for the purpose of sterilization.
Miller- made tests of various agents with indifferent results, with
the exception of carbolic acid, trichlorphenol, and mercury bichlorid.
The list tested included the following
Carbolic acid in 5 per cent aqueous solution and in pure form.
Lysol in 5 per cent, aqueous solution.
Trichlorphenol in 5 per cent, aqueous solution.
Sublimate in 5 per cent, aqueous solution ; also in the strength of
1 : 1000 of water.
Benzoic acid in the strength of 1 : 300 of water.
^ Denial Cosmos, July, 1891. ^ Ibid, page 520.
AGENTS USED FOR STERILIZATION. 165
was not then comprehended. When the study of bacteriology had ad-
vanced to a science through the labors of Pasteur, Koch, and a host of
investigators, the reasons for this fear were explained, and the condi-
tions necessary to avoid unpleasant results being understood, the danger
from infection was changed to absolute security. It is, moreover, to be
ever borne in mind that but for this knowledge implantation and trans-
plantation could to-day not be practised without the probability of
serious results.
A case illustrating this point occurred prior to the knowledge of anti-
sepsis in the hands of a well-known dentist. He had removed three
teeth and successfully reimplanted them for the cure of a violent case of
neuralgia presumably due to calcific depositions in the pulp and about
the external portions of the roots. Relief was so immediate that upon
return of the pain another tooth was attempted. Trismus followed,
resulting in the death of the patient. It is safe to assume that this
unfortunate result could not have happened under the antiseptic care
usual at the present time, even imperfect as it frequently is.
To accomplish antisepsis in this operation the greatest care is neces-
sary. In transplantation, teeth being procured from other mouths,
the danger is necessarily much increased. The method, adopted by
some, of immersing these teeth in various antiseptic fluids cannot be
commended. Miller says of this : ' "It is generally accepted that
the operator takes every possible precaution when he allows the tooth
to lie for one-half to one hour in a 1 per cent, solution of carbolic acid,
or in a 1 :1000 solution of bichloride of mercury. ... In order to
reach bacteria that may have penetrated into the lacunae or chance vas-
cular canals a much longer action of the antiseptic is necessary, and to
be perfectly certain that we have accomplished our object we should
have recourse to boiling water."
Agents used for Sterilization.
The possibility of injuring instruments has deterred dentists from
using many of the agents recommended for the purpose of sterilization.
Miller- made tests of various agents with indifferent results, with
the exception of carbolic acid, trichlorphenol, and mercury bichlorid.
The list tested included the following
Carbolic acid in 5 per cent aqueous solution and in pure form.
Lysol in 5 per cent, aqueous solution.
Trichlorphenol in 5 per cent, aqueous solution.
Sublimate in 5 per cent, aqueous solution ; also in the strength of
1 : 1000 of water.
Benzoic acid in the strength of 1 : 300 of water.
^ Denial Cosmos, July, 1891. ^ Ibid, page 520.
