Page 423 - My FlipBook

MERCURY.
421
dose now used is less liable to cause the disagreeable and danger-
ous effects of mercury than almost any other preparation em-
ployed for the same purposes. It is in the form of colorless crys-
tals, and is entirely soluble in water. Corrosive sublimate is an
effective germicide in the strength of one part to 2500 parts of
water, being 250 times more powerful than carbolic acid. An
aqueous solution of I in 20,000 destroys the spores of bacilli in
ten minutes, and a solution of 1-5000 is a certain disinfectant,
when the exposure is very short, and it is now regarded as one of
the most powerful germicides in use and is very extensively em-
ployed in antiseptic surgery ; but it should be noted, however,
that where albumen is present the bichloride is decomposed and
rendered inert. The same occurs when solutions are permitted
to stand for some time even when distilled water is used as a
solvent. The addition of a weak acid, tartaric, or chloride of
sodium, will prevent such decomposition. The bichloride, ac-
cording to Koch, is efficacious as a germicide in a watery solu-
tion of 1—50,000.
Dr. F. Abbott regarded the bichloride of mercury as being the
simplest antiseptic in use. Dr. W. D. Miller, of Berlin, also
testifies to the power of the bichloride as an antiseptic in the
treatment of the oral cavity as follows : " The experiments show
that bichloride of mercury is about two hundred times as power-
ful as carbolic acid, and demonstrate very clearly the mistake of
substituting weak solutions of this antiseptic (i— 1000, as I have
seen recommended) for concentrated carbolic acid. One one-
thousandth is only one-fifth as powerful as pure carbolic acid,
which in many cases may be used with impunity. It is conse-
quently useless to attempt to introduce the sublimate solution for
the purpose of sterilizing root-canals, cavities before filling, etc.,
^ per cent., if not a one per cent,
unless we may use at least a
solution. I see no reason why this may not be done. In a few
cases I have used a i 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 two per cent solution, and
see no possible evil which would result from it." " As a mouth
wash I have frequently used a i per cent. (i.000) solution myself.