The Waterbury Democrat., 1933-03-28
All, All, ADVERTISEMENT TOUCH!

An injury brushed some skin off from the front of the leg below the knee. AS a nrst a alo 2 disinfectant mercurochrome was applied. The patient dressed the wound herself every day. While showing 1t to her friend she dropped a bit of cotton on the floor. picked 1t up anu placed 1t over the raw surface ana apphed .a tne bandage Her riend remonstrated that this was unsafe. The patient thought not, as the mer- curochrome is powerful that 1t destroys any germs there might be on the cotton. IS that so i? In this case it would seem at least question- able, for a few days later the patient was ser iously ill with infection of the leg
 Mercurochrome is all right as first aid disinfectant. Probably it is as efficient as tlnct- ture of iodin for the purpose. It has one ad- vantage over iodin as a first aid remedy TOT use in the home. namely, that it doesn't bite or smart So much on a large wound or raw sur face. The bite or smart of iodfn is only mo- mentary, however Any one who has used pam m tncture of iodin or iodin and glycerine half and half as an application to a canker sore III the mouth (for which 1t Is an excellent rem edy) knows it bites for moment ana then seems to leave the canker less sensitive. on the other hand mercurochrome has one or two disadvantages which in my opinion render IL less satisfactory than idoin. It makes a con spicuous red stain on eVcrytninS' anu 'I eo"'' too much.
 Tho breach of surgical technic committed by the woman who picked the bit of cotton off the floor and placed 1t in contact With the raw surface was a glaring one, put most i. ,ay- men commit just as grave errors when deallns with minor wounds. even though they are metculous about using antiseptics.
 The layman has q childlike faith in anti septic or germcidal agents which is not shared by the physician, surgeon or even the well trained nurse.
 Perhaps the most fatal error of the lay man who attempts to treat his own or an- others wounds is the touching of the raw surface with finger with any object that IS not sterile. This common breach of surgical technic doubtless accounts for many more cases of septicema, blood poisoning, septic in- lection than caused by such obvious errors as the correspondent describes.
 A fundamental principle which the wise acre layman seldom comprehepds is that With proper care we can keep germs out of wound we haven't a germicide that will kill the germs without damag ging the tissue cells and retard- ing or preventing the natural healing process
 It is upon that principle that the practice of first aid wound disinfecton is based. one application of iodin Cor mercurochrome) inn medately may destroy any germs that were implanted by the implement that made the wound. But after that immediate dislnfection it is better to avoid further germicidal or anti septic medicaments and simply strive to pro- tect the wound from further infection while healing is in process. Here is where real skill and knowledge come in. Aseptic care or any wound, minor or major assures the quickest healing and the least scar, but aseptic technic is a closed book to the wiseacre layman with his pet antiseptics