Medical Notes.

Waikato Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2057, 12 September 1885, Page 6 (Supplement)

Medical Notes.

Oxide of Zinc in the Treatment of Wounds. — Socin (Deutsche Med. Zeitung) speaks highly of this substance as an antiseptio in surgical praotice. For the irrigation of deep wounds he uses a one per cent, mixture with water; superficial open wounds should be washed with a ten per cent, mixture. Large raw surfaces, burns, contusions, etc, are dusted with the powder. As a permanent dressing, the writer recommends a paste composed of fifty parts, eaoh, of water and oxide of zinc, and five parts of chlorideof zinc. It forms a dry coating, beneath whioh healing takes place with unusual rapidity. Stress is laid on the fact that zino is of little service in the case of a wound that is already septic. Jaborandi in Erysipelas. — Dr. 3ydney Thompson (Therap. Gazette; Edinburgh Mid. Jour.) supgeata the following formula: Fluid extraotof jaborandi, 21 parts ; laudanum and glycerine, each, 1 parts. Thia mixture is to be painted over the affected surfaces every four houri. Oil of Peppermint in Burns.— Brame (cited in the Lancet) recommends this drug as an external application in cases of burns. The burned surface is moistened with water, and then painted over with tho oil, the effeot being to relieve the pain very quickly. Valotd of Cocoa is mentioned by the Lancet as a " new and reliable preparation," and is specially recommended for nervousness and sleeplessness from mental causes. Cold in the Treatment of Sciatica.— Debove (Prog. Med.) recommends the direct application of cold along the couree of the sciatica nerve, and especially ovei the painful points, by means of a spray of chloride of methyl. He reports several successful cases. The atomization is contiued until the patient complains of a burning pain over the scat of the application. — N. Y. Med. Jour.