Formaldehyde solution, one dram (40%).
Green soap, four ounces.
Dilute alcohol to make one pint.
The dilute alcohol is made up of equal parts of ninety-five per cent alcohol and water.
After the parts are thoroughly scrubbed with this solution the soap should be removed with moist compresses and then the parts mopped with a solution of seventy per cent alcohol. Finally the field of operation should be flooded
with ether as this agent is an effective antiseptic and also acts as a solvent for any greasy matter not removed by the soap.
PREPARATION OF THE HANDS OF THE OPERATOR.
Antiseptics cannot be as freely used upon the hands of the operator as upon the skin of the patient as the repeated application of the stronger antiseptics cause a scaling of the epithelial cells and finally the development of an irritated state which prevents cleansing of the hands sufficiently to permit operating.
It is well to scrub the hands with the soap solution and then to follow with the use of the seventy per cent alcohol. The alcohol solution is the least irritating of effective antiseptics and it is the solution in which needles and leather washers should be kept, so that they are at all times ready for use.