Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1903-01-20

: The Injection Of formalin by physicians
in New York as an arftidote in cases OF
blood poisoning, is exciting the interest
and attention Of the physicians OF the
city, and instructors of the medical coli
leges here. as well as the surgeons.
The first Injection was made in the case
of woman who was suffering with blood
poison, at the Ha hnenan Hospital In New
York. The test was made by Dr.. William
Francis Honan, and the condition OF the
patient, twenty-fonr hotrs later. was re-
ported as considerably improved. Temper
allure. pulse and respiration were AL re-
ported as more nearly normal than when
the formalin was administered. The
physician declined to give the name OF
address OF the patient. but there is no
doubt Of the administration Of formalin.
and there is no doubt, the outcome is be-
ing eagerly awaited by the scientific
world.
The patient is IS years old. Her identity
was not disclosed, for obvious reasons.
An examination of her blood, made on
Thursday, showed the presence OF strep-
tococci, and her condition grew worse
rapidly.
When the patient reached the hospital
her Temperature was 1913. and her pulse
AS After receiving preliminary treatment
for six hours. she was placed on the
operating table. a large vein In her arm
was opened and 700 cubit centimetres Ct
formalin, solution to 5000, was allowed
to flow through a very fine ptpette INTO
her circulation. The operation was con
Quoted as speedily as possible, and every
thing about 1t was highly satisfactory to
the several doctors in attendanee.
AES
DR.. William II. Taylor. OF this city, the
coroner, was seen yesterday afternoon
and asked what he knew concerning the
new discovery. and what he thought OF
the practicabiiity OF the use OF tormalln
in cases Of blood poisoning.
..tHere you go again" said the doctor.
as he opened the door to his den and
invited the Dispatch man In to a seat
near the fire tsWhat do care about
the new discovery? Tell you the truth. Il
that stuff is,any where near as ef1cacious
as the discoverers claim. It will break up
my office and put ME out OF business,
eyes I have read about the cases there
in New York. F'orma1in is a great poison
itself, and in the cases cited, the doctors
are simply trying to Kill one poison with
the use Of another. It is nice piece OF
science, and it may prove to be all r1sns
It is an experiment, as yet, and an
much interested in knowing how the result
will be- The patient is treated by hay1ne
an injection OF one-fiftieth OF grain in
serted. and that will. 1t IS claimed, de
stroy In the blood the germs OF poison
which get into the blood, being more
powerful than the blood poison.
WAS USED FOR GONZALES
..Fornalin has been used as a, disin,
fectant for years and years, and hope
to see good results come from the expert
ments The same treatment was USED
in the case of EDITOR Gonzales.
THE patient in South Carolina was sit
uated differently. however, there being
several suppurating wounds, which Great
ed the poison in the blood, and 1t woult
have been murder to have attempted II
inject enough formalin to eradicate the
poison. It is a powerful poison, thi:
fornaaiin..
..As said before, 1t is largely an expert
rnent. as are hundreds OF other things
which have come to be recognized a:
STANDARD treatment in certain cases. It i:
one OF those things in which we have 7
wait and see what the after effects are
It is likely that the formalin treatment Il
all right, but untiIywe can see the result!
Of the experiments. I don't think car
to say what It's possibilities are.
Should the test prove the efficacy Q
forrna1in IN cases Of blood poisoning, j
IS said, it should have a like effect o.
typhoid fever. scarlet fever, influenza
and other diseases. Formaln is what i
known as a 10 per cent. solution OF for