“I have used Chloron on a series of cases (surgical) presenting pus foci and I have found the application very beneficial and healing, the pus early disappearing. In cases of Osteomyelitis, Suppurating Arthritis, Cellulitis and Chronic Ulcers, Chloron is particularly valuable, its good effects quickly observed and the time of restoration to health shortened.”
In the first case report, there is no evidence that Chloron is more efficient in the treatment of burns than any other commonly used procedure might have been. In the case of the varicose ulcers, while there was some apparent benefit from Chloron, no credit is given to rest and the general treatment which is known to be important in the treatment of such conditions. The evidence in the other case reports is quite inconclusive. Consideration of the “case reports” leads to the conclusion that clinical evidence for the value of Chloron is lacking.
Attention should be called to the fact that the amount of active chlorin, claimed to be present in Chloron as well as the amount found by the association laboratory, is less than that considered effective by Dakin, Dunham and others; seemingly in preparing Chloron no attention has been paid to the degree of alkalinity, yet the importance of this factor is now generally recognized.
Chloron fails to comply with the requirements for surgical solution of chlorinated soda (N. N. R., 1919, p. 133), yet the manufacturers make free use of the text of Dakin and Dunham’s Handbook of Antiseptics in their advertising pamphlet. Thus:
From the Chloron pamphlet:
“This ideal antiseptic effects complete sterilization within its sphere of action without causing any damage to the cells or tissues. An important method of judging the injurious action of antiseptics is to investigate their effects on the leucocytes. From experiments in vitro by Parry Morgan and in vivo by Col. C. J. Bond with the strength of antiseptics commonly used in surgery, it has been found that Chlorine antiseptics and mercury salts have little effect on phagocytosis in comparison with other germicides.
The activity of the leucocytes from wounds which have recently been treated with CHLORON may be demonstrated experimentally.”
“In addition to its antiseptic action CHLORON is a strong oxidizing agent and deodorant and possesses to a marked degree the property of decomposing toxins. In this connection it is interesting and pertinent to note that Dean, by the regulated action of hypochlorous acid, has prepared a nontoxic dysentery vaccine and it is now a common observation that the free use of CHLORON may reduce the constitutional symptoms arising from septic processes and that they reappear on discontinuing the antiseptic treatment.”
Dakin and Dunham Handbook of Antiseptics: