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DENTAL MEDICINE.
558
for nervous patients after a protracted dental operation, as a small
dose will give a quiet night's rest.

TERCHLORIDE OF PHENOL.
Derivation.—Terchloride of Phenol has recently been intro-
duced as a disinfectant and antiseptic. It is prepared by passing
a stream of chlorine gas through chemically pure carbolic acid,
previously melted, until it acquires a violet hue. When carbolic
acid is acted upon by chlorine gas a number of compounds are
produced ; such as a monochloride, a bichloride and a tri- or ter-
chloride of carbolic acid (phenol).
Medical Properties and Action.—It is not an irritant, and has no
acid reaction.
Therapeutic and Dental Uses. — Terchloride of phenol is
claimed to be a valuable antiseptic and disinfectant in the treat-
ment of gangrenous ulcers, etc. In dental practice it has been
very recently recommended in combination with iodoform, as a
material for capping exposed pulps and as a filling for root canals
of teeth, and the advantages claimed for it are, that it will be re-
absorbed when in contact with living tissues ; it is easily intro-
duced into pulp canals ; it absorbs exudations ; it becomes hard
when mixed with certain chemical substances, but is destroyed
is a very bad conductor of heat ; and
by pus ; it it is absolutely a
non-irritant. The method recommended for its use as a capping
and filling material is, to incorporate iodoform and terchloride of
phenol with decalcified dead bone, as follows : dead bone or
ivory, shavings are decalcified in a ten per cent, solution of
chemically pure hydrochloric acid, and after all the lime salts are
extracted, the residue is collected upon a filter, washed, dried and
rubbed to a fine powder in a porcelain or glass mortar. Upon
this powder ten times its weight of a ten per cent, solution of
iodoform in sulphuric ether is gradually poured and constantly
rubbed until a fine yellow powder is obtained, which contains
about fifty per cent, of iodoform. When used as a capping for
pulps, or a filling material for root canals of teeth, this powder is
made into a paste by the addition of carbolic acid or terchloride
of phenol, being worked or rubbed together like ordinary cement.