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PROPHYLAXIS OF DENTAL DEGA T. : 231

Aseptine compared with thymol, subhmate, carbolic acid, etc.,
is a very weak antiseptic, but it has the advantage that it may
be applied in concentrated solutions. Acetate of aluminium
is an old medicament still adhered to by many physicians ; it
combines considerable antiseptic power T\'ith a strong astringent
action. The strongest solution which may be used in the human
mouth had in some cases a marked action, but on the whole not
strono; enougih to encourao;e me in its use.
I finally made a series of experiments with various mixtures,
my aim being to combine a number of antiseptics in such a
manner as to produce the greatest possible antiseptic action with
the least possible action upon the mucous membrane and the
teeth, etc.
My experiments were made on the following mixtures

(1) Water . 50.00 (4) Water . 50.00
Alcohol 5.00 Alcohol 5.00
Tinct. eucalypt. 0.75 Tinct. eucalypt. . 0.75
Benzoic acid 0.15 Benzoic acid 0.15
Thymol 0.0125 Thymol 0.0125
Bichloride of mercurj 0.025
(2) Listerine 2.1.5
Water . 25.0 10) Water . 25.00
Aseptin 25.00
(3) Aseptin 25.00 Salol . 5.00
Water . 25 00 Alcohol 5.00
Alcohol 5.00 Acetate of aluminium 1.50
Tinct. eucalypt. 0.75 Benzoic acid 0.15
Benzoic acid 0.15 Thymol 0.0125
Thymol 0125 Tinct. eucalypt. . 75

These midures are not m out] > -washes, but they might serve as
bases for mouth-washes, as indicated below.
The alcohol Avas added only as a solvent, not because of its
antiseptic powers.
As a mouth-wash, we need above all a solution which acts
quickly, and which does not simply prevent the development of
micro-organisms while it is acting, but which devitalizes them.
There are agents which, even in very dilute form, if ajjplied
constantly have a powerful antiseptic action, inasmuch as they
prevent the development of such micro-organisms as may be