A NEW ANTISEPTIC.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIX, Issue 6697, 4 October 1882, Page 4

A NEW ANTISEPTIC.

Whatever M. Paul Bert intro duces to the notice of the medical profession in’his own country is sure to be worthy of universal attention. He has lately presented to the French Academy of Science a note prepared by two medical .men who have been following np his own researches into the; value of oxygenised water in surgical cases. The amount of oxygen in the water used in the experiment varied from, twice 'to six times the volume of water. The experimenters, Messrs. Pean and Baldy, had made about a hundred observations of the effect of the use of water prepared as we have described, and they have come to the following conclusions : Oxygenised water will replace with advantage the use of alcohol and phenic acid. It can be applied externally in the cleansing of wounds and ulcers of all kinds, iirinjections, and in the form of vapour. The results obtained' so far have been eminently satisfactory. Not only recent’wounds, but even old ones which had begun to gangrene, have, under the influence of the oxygenised water, cicatrised rapidly ; and the uniting, by first intention, of the parts separated'by an, amputation appears to be greatly facilitated by the same remedy. ■ Besides the local benefit, the general state of the patient thus treated is improved, and the fever which always accompanies a wound is moderated. ; The application is not painful, and the water has neither poisonous effect nor unpleasant smell. M. Bert added to the narrative supplied him that the oxygenised water destroys parasites, and is therefore of great value in skin disorders; and that he has reason to believe it will prove useful in diphtheria, in respect to which experiments have yet'to be made. He, however, cautions the profession to be certain that . the water is not sohnade as to contain a dangerous quantity of sulphuric acid.’’ : ‘ 5i ; ;