The Medical repository, Hexade 2, v. 5 (1808). | HathiTrust Digital Library

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( 63 ) MEDICAL & PHILOSOPHICAL NEWS. DOMESTIC. A Septic Acid formed on the Surface of putrefying Flesh. RESPECTABLE house-keeper of Bath, in breaking the small bones of a hare for jugging, that was highly tainted, scratched two of her fingers; in a few days they ap peared inflamed, and were very painful; poultices, and a variety of applications were used, but the inflammation of the finger increased to an alarming degree, when an emi- nent surgeon advised immediate and profuse application of leeches, which effectually drew out the poisonous matter, and prevented the farther disagreeable consequences that were apprehended. A similar circumstance occurred lately in the practice of a surgeon at Leeds, who, on dressing a bad sore in one of his patients, accidentally cut his hand with the scissars which he had used for that purpose. The infection was commu- nicated in like manner, and for some time his life was de- spaired of. Mr. Abernethy told Mr. Adams, that he never dissected the most recent subject, without having an ulcer in whatever part of the hands the skin is broken, and without his being conscious of any previous division of the cuticle. Mr. Jones, his dissector, fell a victim some years ago to this septic poi- son. Dr. Latham relates the case of a servant, who, on casing a putrid hare, brought part of it into contact with an agnail. The consequence was a local ulcer with swelling in the arm-pit, succeeded by an efflorescence in the skin, with fever, which proved fatal. Many other dissectors have sickened, and died in a like manner. Now, alkalies, by neu- tralizing the septic acid, prevent all these unhappy accidents. Dr. Gilbert's experiments, related in the London Medical Museum, vol. iii. p. 172, prove the antiseptic power, both of fluid and solid ammoniac. They also prove the septic tendency of salt-petre and its acid, when added to putrefying blood and flesh,

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