The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-02-07
UTILIZING A DEADLY POISON.
Application of Chemistry to Surgical
Science

Science.
NEW YORK, Feb. 4.-Probably nothing
has occasioned more surprise to the average
reader in the past two years than the con-
slant account of the use of the deadly poi
son, corrosive sublimate, in medical and
especially surgical treatment. His aston
lshment would be far greater if he perused
or tined to peruse the dry and soporific
periodicals. which physicians and chemists
proudly allude to as professional literature.
Here on the one side he will read lurid,
though polysyllabic articles on the terribly
destructive character of the famous chem
zeal In question, and on the other side
Strong arguments by men of distinction
recommending its employment upon
wounds, sores. abrasions, disorders of the
eyes and numberless other diseases.
The seeming paradox was well explained
Dy DR.. Henry Lassing, at the Hoffman
mouse, one evening this week. This new
ana eVer-lncreasing use of corrosive sub
innate, one of our deadliest metallic poisons,"
sad he, results from the application of
chemistry to the surgical science. In the
seventies number of scientific thinkers dis
covered independently that two-thirds of
.ne trouble, pain and danger incidental to
Wounds come from minute, in fact invisible,
germs floating in the air, permeating all
water from natural sources and adhering to
niesrly all solid objects, and that by destroy
ing or killing these germs, a very easy task,
o one trouble and danger were leSsened over
~ per cent. The discovery was first put
I INC practical shape by Prof. Lister, OF
HuihDurgh, Scotland, who treated wounds
a gu. the raw surfaces made in surgical opera
t .iols with antiseptic dressings consisting of
tissues lmpregnated with carbolic acid, and
WIN artificial sprays made by an atomizer
out OF a very dilute mixture Of that acid in
"ater. This is very brief summary of
Nnat is called the 'Listerine,' or Anti
septlc system of surgery. Its success was
mar mar arVelous Itspread from land TO lana, and
Wivhln a few years was adopted by the fac
uty OF every civilized nation. 1t has
superseded 81 all the old ideas, and enables
MUSICIANS TO do things with ease
a 1n IMMUNITY that in my own recol-
l.,. would have been pronounced abso-
. .uue lulposslbilities One interesting illus
ustion of this system is afforded by the re-
~ ripNal OF scars and similar disfigurements.
a aug u0cJor sprays the part affected with
eal Dollzed water; then with his knife scrapes
@"ay Jhe skin from the scar until the blood
01ues' lie allows the blood TO flow until
~ ieFei Is n trifie higher than the surround
g surface. When il coagulates, it Is
u e.'''d with carbolnted lint or cloth, and
49,. as before. In q few days the crust
e aiis Oh leaving healthy and natural sur
,aue ny this means the belle OF to-day can
~, move the MARKS Of childhood's accidents
~ y, sFen brthmarks upon tho face, OF neck,
~ present faultioss surface 81 her adj
"', .s,,1 OF the ballroom and opera house.
o.,, ae hiceeas Of LISTERS experiments
''',,si attention % the subject from every
i4aitfF One Of tho first suggestions was
~ institute other apd more powerful dis.
'al'si ~ aptiapties Tother, Tor car