The disinfection of vitalized tissues and the healing of wounds with chinosol and salt. 1

Abstract

The objective is to bring positive and convincing proofs of the healing value of chinosol in combination with salt.

Chinosol is oxyquinolin sulphate. In vitro, though a powerful antiseptic, it is very little germicidal. A 2 per cent. solution did not kill staphylococcus aureus in 24 hours. Its disinfectant action on vitalized tissues is therefore probably due to the excitement by it of physiological stimuli to bring nature's forces of resistance to the fore.

Salt was combined with chinosol by the writer through the influence of the writings of Col. Sir Almroth E. Wright 2 relating to salt in the treatment of wounds.

Clinical experience.-Examples of cases treated with chinosol and salt are as follows: Primary union in incised wounds, as for instance a case of cut tendons of the wrist; cases of acute suppuration, as one of cellulitis of the leg covering an area about the size of one's hand, due to colon bacillus, with sloughing interior, in which, with the use of a solution of 2 per cent. chinosol and 5 per cent. sodium chloride, the opposing surfaces of the abscess cavity were almost completely united on the ninth day; the healing of a whitlow with bone involvement without destruction of the tendons (function returning) and with union of the soft parts to the area of exposed bone, the latter having taken place by the tenth day, using a solution of 2 per cent. chinosol and 0.85 per cent. sodium chloride; the filling with granulations in about 5 weeks' time, of a bone cavity about 7 inches in length in an expanded lower portion of the shaft of a tibia, resulting from an operation for osteomyelitis, the whole medullary portion of the bone having been removed, treatment having been by a daily application of gauze wet with a solution of 2 per cent. chinosol and 0.6 per cent. sodium chloride for two hours; the healing of a pelvic fistula 6 to 8 inches in length, by injections, at first daily for one month with a solution of 2 per cent. chinosol and 5 per cent. sodium chloride, with which treatment the fistula became reduced to 2 3/8 inches in length, later having been completely closed with the use of the tincture of chinosol; the cicatrization of a deep wound entirely encompassing the anus, the result of the separation of a slough, with high retraction of the anus above the skin surfaces of the buttocks, so that in 3 1/2 weeks time the anus was pulled down and united even with the surrounding skin, treatment having been by the daily application of gauze wet with a solution of 2 per cent. chinosol and 2 per cent. sodium chloride for about 1/2 hour; the complete removal of a deep slough filling the base of a large carbuncle of the neck, which had been incised, with the adhesion of the undermined skin edges almost everywhere to the surface of the ulcer undeilying them, by the fourteenth day, using a solution of 2 per cent. chinosol and 0.85 per cent. sodium chloride.