Oppenheimer in Germany made experiments for testing the germicidal
properties of various drugs on the specific germs of gonorrhœa, and he
proved that a corrosive sublimate solution of 1 part to 20,000 will
kill the gonococci. Corrosive sublimate is the corrosive chloride of
mercury, one of the most powerful of the mineral poisons, and while it
is perfectly safe in the dilutions that it is employed in, the greatest
precaution must be constantly exercised to keep the drug isolated and
out of the reach of children, especially the “antiseptic tablets,” of
which mention will be made below, because little children and adults
also might at first sight believe that they were candy.
I am accustomed to employ the _corrosive sublimate_ much stronger
than the Oppenheimer experiments demand, a practice which I base upon
practical observations, while in the Berlin clinics, and that is in
the proportion of 1 to 2,000. John Wyeth & Bro., of Philadelphia,
and other manufacturing chemists, make compressed tablets or wafers,
which are very convenient and easily handled by any person of average
understanding. These are sold by the druggists in little wide-mouth
bottles, properly labeled, so that the required strength, 1 to 2,000,
is obtained by dissolving one or two according to their strength in a
half gallon of warm water. Whenever gonorrhœa is suspected, the vagina
should be thoroughly rinsed out several times a day with the corrosive
solution. If the patient fears mercurial poisoning, the antiseptic
irrigation can be followed by plain warm-water rinsings as a safe
precaution against mercurial absorption.
CHRONIC CATARRH, LEUCORRHŒA OR WHITES.
An acute inflammation of the mucous membrane of any organ may drift
into the chronic or subacute form, so that any of the causes which
give rise to the acute variety are among those that are to be looked
for in chronic catarrh. The general characteristics of catarrh are
the same, whether acute or chronic or whether located in the nose,
throat, bronchial tubes or vagina. This fact greatly simplifies the
whole subject of catarrhal inflammations, so that the general reader
will find no difficulty in acquiring the necessary information for
successful home treatment of this very common class of diseases.
Chronic vaginal catarrh has been divided into two varieties, _vaginal
and uterine_. The distinction depends upon its origin or complication.
Vaginal catarrh has its origin in and is limited to the vaginal canal.
I have already called attention to a purely physiological catarrh that
accompanies the menstrual flow and which subsides with the cessation
of the menses; in addition to this, there is probably no woman who
goes through life without at some time during her natural existence
having this disease or symptom. Often the discharge is so scant that it
entirely escapes her notice, and not until it becomes annoying by its
constancy and abundance do women seek assistance.