The following is a modified Burow’s solution:
| Alum | 24 | gms., or | 6 drachms |
| Lead acetate | 38 | ” ” | 9½ ” |
| Water | 1000 | ” ” | 2 pints |
Filter after mixture has been allowed to stand for 24 hours.
Ointments are employed by many in the treatment of small areas of inflammation; they are useful, though not as efficient as hot or cold wet dressings. Over the unbroken skin, they can only act like a poultice and should not be employed where infection exists. On clean wounds they are unnecessary, but upon ulcers or wounds which show no tendency to heal, such ointments as Peruvian balsam, 5 per cent., or scarlet red, 4 per cent., are extremely valuable.
THE PROCESS OF REPAIR
Regeneration of Tissues. The reparative powers of the tissues of the human body are considerable, although not comparable with those of the lower animals, in the lowest orders of which the reproduction of an entire limb, or even one-half of the body, may take place. In order to understand the regeneration of tissue, we must first consider briefly the life history of the cells.
A cell consists of a mass of protoplasm, generally enclosed in a cell membrane, and containing a nucleus and nucleolus. The nucleus represents the most vital part of the cell protoplasm, and has a more granular appearance than the latter. The nucleolus is a minute solid spot in a nucleus, appearing to be more highly refractive.
Cell Division. When the cell is quiescent, the protoplasm appears evenly granular, but when it is stirred to active life, slender twining threads can be traced in the nucleus, perhaps consisting of one long thread twisted upon itself.
On account of their readiness to take up dyes used in staining, these threads are called chromatine threads.
When the cells are about to divide, the chromatine threads are seen to arrange themselves in a line across the center, called the equator of the nucleus, forming a rosette or star shape, known as the mother star. Some large granules then appear in the nucleus at points on either side of this line, which are known as the poles of the nucleus. The loops of the thread are directed towards the poles. Gradually these threads become arranged in radiating lines, converging at the poles, and then break away from their former connections with the equator, forming a daughter star at each pole, a clear space appearing at the equator. A constriction next appears in the now clear equator, and the nucleus divides into two distinct nuclei. Simultaneously with this division, or immediately following it, the protoplasm of the cell body divides in the same place, and thus two complete cells are produced. The chromatine threads lose their rosette arrangement, and gradually become imperceptible as the new cell returns to the quiescent state. This process of cell division is known as karyokinesis or aryomitosis.