Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-02-04
Views Of Prominent Physi-
clans Regarding It's Use.
DIVERSITY OF OPINION
GREAT DEAL BELIEVED TO DE-
PEND UPON CONDITIONS.
Physicians Prefer Further Investiga-
ton Before Accepting or Re-
jecting the Remedy.

Inc recent experiments conducted In Bal
timore and New York with the view Of
ascertaining the efficacy of formaiin as a
remedy for septicaemia have received no
little attention from the members of tho
medical fraternity In the national capital.
Indeed. the progress Of patients treated
| with formalin and the action of the drug
| upon the patients system have been re-
| garded by physicians all over the country
| with an unusual degree Of interest, in the
| expectation that Ii may prove one of the
| great medical discoveries of the age. Thus
far the prospects Of formaln becoming a
wonderful means of cure In cases of blood
poisoning have been discussed almost who'll
iy in the lay press, the medical Journals
having not as yet taken up the subject
Formalin is a proprietary germicide, being
composed Of a 40 per cent solution OF for
ma1dehyde. It Is obtained by subtracting
| two atoms OF hydrogen from wood alcohol,
| and thus far 1t has been used chiefly as an
| anttseptic or distnfectant, and as such II Is
| stated is particularly effective. 1t Is much
used by undertakers as an emba lining fluid.
tormalin has strong odor. Whit of 1t
being sufficient to cause the tears to come
| to persons eyes. and Its action on the
| blood Is said to be quite severe.
number OF interviews with prominent
members Of the medical profession in Wash
| tngton have been obtained by a. reporter for
The Star, and it Is discovered that con-
siderable diversity OF opinion exists with
reference to the probability of formalin
proving great medical discovery for treat
ment Of the cases mentioned. 1t Is gener-
ally conceded, however. that the expert
ments thus far conducted have been insult
hcient to form q basis for definite conciu-
stonS respecting the efficacy of the drug in
curing blood poisoning.
Health Officer Woodward's Views.
In the absence Of detailed and authorize
| tive information with reference to the in
| travenous injection OF formalin for the cure
| of septicaemia, DR.. w. c. Woodward of the
! health department was unwilling to discuss
| the subject. He said, however, that the
| injection into the body of what Is known
| as normal salt solution, which consists
| merely Of a mixture Of six parts of COM
mon table salt, purified. of course, with one
| thousandth parts of water, has produced
| good results in the treatment of similar
diseases. not because of any virtue in the
salt, but merely because the water added to
the blood tends to dilute the poison circu.
| Iating in the blood and to favor its removal
| from the body.
"Itmay be that the injections OF formalin,
| II sufficiently diluted. have been effective
| for the same reason" said DR.. Woodward.
| 1T does not seem possible, however. that
formalin can be mixed with the blood in the
| body In sufficient strength either to kill
such germs as may be contained In the
blood or to neutralize any poisons circulate
ing there without decomposing the blood,
injuring the blood vessels and resulting in
death"
In the statement that the public should not
yet regard intravenous injections for the
| cure Of septicaemia as wonderful medi-
| cal discovery, which, he says, 1t has not
! yet been shown to be- lest they may soon
regard it as a wonderful medical mistake.
And he declares that 1t must not be re.
garded as a medical mistake until the pro-
fession generally has adopted it, and then
been forced to abandon it.
Without Personal Information.
Surgeon General O'Reilly of the War De-
partment told the reporter that personally
he had no information concerning formala
as a remedy in the cases mentioned. 1t hav-
ing come into use since he. ceased practic-
ing 1t was learned in the medical divisioa
Of the department that no reports had
been received in regard to formalin being
used as remedy by any Of the medical Of
ficers of the army. .. ..s......
DIR. John w. Bayne stated that he had
made no personal experiments with forma-
lin as cure for septicaemia, but from the
reports Of its effect on patients he had con-
siderable confidOce In its efficiency under
certain conditions. He said he felt very
much inclined to give it test In the first
case of septicaeania presented to him for
treatment.
But a great deal depends, think. upon
the conditions" said DR.. Bayne. For in
stance. in a case Of necrosis Of the intes-
tines, formalin could not do any good
without first restoring the normal condt-
tons of the affected portion, or by resec-
ton, by which the dead part would be re-
moved. The field for the use of formaIin in
blood poisoning, l should say, would be
much larger and more promising of good
results In cases of puerperal sepsis'
Use as an Injection Not justified.
DR.. H. L. E. Johnson, president of the
Medical Association of the District said: Il
do not think the experiments conducted
thus far with formalin as remedy Tor
septicaemia justify recommending its use
as an Injection 1 should be very guarded
in using 1t In that manner, until more GER
tain OF its efficiency. 1t has very strong
action and has a tendency, in strong soru-
ton, to destroy the blood cells Formalin
Is In an experimental stage now with re-
spect to this particular disease, and its use
might work an injury.
L have given patients formalin internally
In certain cases of septicaemia and with
good results. but intravenous injection OF
the germ1cide into the veins is a different
method OF use altogether and I think
further investigation should be made before
II Is commended generally"
Regarded az Dangerous Means.
In discussing the subject with Star re-
porter DR.. George NJ Kober president of
the Medical Society OF the District of CO.
lumbia, said: My opinion of formalin as a
remedy In cases of septicaemia, based upon
the experiments so far conducted, is that 1t
Is dangerous means of effecting cure
1t might be used with good results in treat
ment of local affections, but think physi-
clans generally object to using any strong
germtcfde as an injection into the blood
vessels Even as a preServative for food
and milk formalin Is objected to- as a rule.
Il hardly think the prospects for its prov
ing great medical discovery in the treat
ment of blood poisoning are promising. but
larger field may be opened up for this
dfsinfectant in using it as local remedy"
Opinion Of DR.. GeddingA
Assistant Surgeon General Geddings of
the board of public health and marine hos
pftal corps said that no cases of formalin
treatment of septicaemia have been report
ed by medical officers connected with the
hospital corps, and that he had made no
personal experiments with 1t in the connec-
ton stated. He said. however:
Il think from the experiments thus far
reported that formalin affords a hopeful
means of treatment in line of cases which
have heretofore been regarded as hopeless.
Acute septicaemia is apparently a desper-
ate condition. demanding bold and prompt
measures, and formalin as a remedy In