Senger (Br. M. J., May 19, 1888,) has proved by experiments on dogs and rabbits that the antiseptic agents commonly employed are liable to cause degeneration of the kidneys. He injected into perfectly healthy animals corrosive sublimate, carbolic acid, etc., in one-twelfth the quantity necessary to kill them. Then on extirpation of one kidney he found in all cases, on microscopical examination, glomerulo-nephritis. He also found fatty degeneration of the liver, spleen, the heart-muscle, etc. The various antiseptic agents were found to be injurious in different degrees, corrosive sublimate being the most dangerous, then the others in the following order: iodoform, carbolic acid, salicylic acid, boric acid. These observations especially enforce the importance of avoiding the use of antiseptics in the abdominal cavity, or in other large cavities under conditions favorable to absorption. Sterilized water or a five per cent. chloride of sodium solution should be substituted for use in the peritoneum. Senger has shown that the salt solution in no way injures the organs, and that it possesses moderate antiseptic power, killing the streptococcus pyogenes aureus in twenty-eight minutes.
EFFECT OF ERGOT ON THE INVOLUTION OF THE UTERUS.
Drs. G. G. Herman and C. O. Fowler (Br. M. J., Feb. 11, 1888,) discuss this question, basing their conclusions on the results noted in fifty-eight cases treated with ergot for a fortnight after delivery, and sixty-eight in which a single dose only of ergot was given at the close of labor. In the cases continuously ergotized the diminution of the uterus in size was more rapid than in those who received but a single dose. On the duration of the lochial discharge no appreciable effect was observed from the use of ergot.
Dr. Boxall has made similar observations on two parallel series of cases of one hundred each. Every alternate patient was given a mixture containing ext. ergot. ammon., ♏︎ xv., t.i.d., during the first three days after labor. Dr. B. concludes from the experience of these cases that the practice of giving ergot as described tends to prevent the formation of clots, to hasten their expulsion, and to diminish the frequency, intensity and duration of after-pains. That if omitted at first and given afterwards ergot tends to promote the expulsion of clots and to relieve after-pains.
ANÆSTHESIA WITH CHLOROFORM AND OXYGEN.
Dr. Kreutzmann (Cent. f. Gyn.) recommends a mixture of oxygen and chloroform vapors as an anæsthetic in obstetric and surgical practice. The mixture may be made by passing freshly prepared and pure oxygen through chloroform on its way to the inhaler. Neudörfer injects a small quantity of chloroform into a balloon filled with oxygen, administering through a face piece. It is claimed for this method, that anæsthesia is at once established after a few deep inspirations without the least excitement, and that there are no disagreeable after-effects, the patient awaking promptly on ceasing the anæsthetic as from a refreshing sleep.
Veit, of Berlin, has operated in seven cases of tubal pregnancy before rupture, in all successfully.
Breisky, of Vienna, has recently performed the first successful laparotomy for the removal of an ectopic viable fœtus in which all the fœtal appendages were at the same time removed. The operation was done at the end of the eighth month. Breisky advocates primary laparotomy with extirpation of the entire sac in preference to the secondary operation.
Brunniche (Cent. f. Gyn.) treated a case of vomiting of pregnancy successfully by feeding the patient through a tube introduced into the upper part of the œsophagus.