Page 102 - My FlipBook

100 DENTAL MEDICINE.
" The solution in water is especially useful for cleaning in-
fected surfaces of wounds, washing abscesses, and, indeed, in
any case where there is something that can be removed by wash-
ing. In the performance of this act the antiseptic is diffused to
all parts of the wound or abscess mechanically to the best ad-
vantage. It is more likely to reach every part in this form than
in any other; and this is an advantage that can hardly be over-
estimated ; for it is very difficult to reach all parts of an abscess
by any mode of procedure now known to us on account of the
very tardy diffusion of liquids. And in case the liquid contain-
ing the antiseptic in solution does diffuse, its very diffusion and
mixture with the surrounding fluids soon dilutes it below its
range of antiseptic value. It is therefore necessary that the
washing be continuous to obtain the continuous effect of the
drug. This is generally impracticable, and for this reason the
watery form of antiseptics is very much limited in usefulness.
The continuous drip, or the application as often as every fifteen
or twenty minutes, gives effective results in some favored locali-
ties ; but it is very difficult to carry out and occasions much
trouble. The continuous bath is still more limited in its range
of application. Neither of these can be used in dental practice.
With us the watery form of antiseptics should be limited to the
cleaning of infected parts. They cannot be trusted to prevent
septic action for any length of time, for the reason that they so
soon become diluted below their range of antiseptic value by
mixing with the secretions, or the juices of the flesh. Since
studying the powers of antiseptics and disinfectants more closely,
my feeling is that it will not do for us to expect to do too much
disinfectant work in connection with the soft tissues except in
cases in which some tissue destruction can be borne ; and that
antiseptics only retard the growth of microbes during their pres-
ence in effective proportion ; hence the necessity for continuous
and oft repeated application. In using these for the purpose of
cleaning, much aid may be had by making use of the solution in
peroxide of hydrogen instead of water, so as to obtain the
mechanical effect of the ebullition of the oxygen evolved in mix-
ing the antiseptic with the secretions. There is possibly some