BY DR. PAUL GIBIER,
Director of the Pasteur Institute of New York.
Gentlemen:—Since the discovery of the peroxide of hydrogen by Thenard, in 1818, the therapeutical applications of this oxygenated compound seem to have been neglected both by the medical and surgical professions; and it is only in the last twenty years that a few bacteriologists have demonstrated the germicidal potency of this chemical.
Among the most elaborate reports on the use of this compound may be mentioned those of Paul Bert and Regnard, Baldy, Péan and Larrivé.
Dr. Miguel places peroxide of hydrogen at the head of a long list of antiseptics, and close to the silver salts.
Dr. Bouchut has demonstrated the antiseptic action of peroxide of hydrogen, when applied to diphtheritic exudations.
Prof. Nocart, of Alfort, attenuates the virulence of the symptomatic microbe of carbuncle before he destroys it, by using the same antiseptic.
Dr. E. R. Squibb,[5] of Brooklyn, has also reported the satisfactory results which he obtained with peroxide of hydrogen in the treatment of infectious diseases.
Although the above-mentioned scientists have demonstrated by their experiments that peroxide of hydrogen is one of the most powerful destroyers of pathogenic microbes, its use in therapeutics has not been as extensive as it deserves to be.
In my opinion, the reason for its not being in universal use is the difficulty of procuring it free from hurtful impurities. Another objection is the unstableness of the compound, which gives off nascent oxygen when brought in contact with organic substances.[6]