Wound infections : and some new methods for the study of the various factors which come into consideration in their treatment / by Sir Almroth E. Wright.

  • Wright, Almroth, 1861-1947.
Date:
1915
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Wound infections : and some new methods for the study of the various factors which come into consideration in their treatment / by Sir Almroth E. Wright. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    sero-saprophytes. This, however, will come up for consideration in connexion with treatment by vaccine therapy. As just announced, I pass now to consider what agents we have at disposal for increasing the outflow of lymph. In this connexion we have already seen that the lymph flow from the wound can be in¬ creased by the application of hot fomentations. It can be increased also by introducing ether into the wound—the ether, like the hot fomentations, no doubt acting by inducing active hyperaemia. But I think that better than either of these, because it is more continuous in its action, and because it renders the lymph incoagulable, and also perhaps because it represses emigration, is the lymphagogic application which I have been recom¬ mending now these many years back. This consists of a 5 per cent, solution of common salt, mixed with i per cent, of sodium citrate. This brings into play osmotic forces, and “ draws ” the lymph out of the walls of the wound by a vis a fronts. The sodium citrate is added with a view to decalcifying the outflowing lymph and rendering it incoagulable. I may perhaps be allowed to say with regard to this lymphagogic solution—or, rather, with regard to the simple 5 per cent, salt solution, which I find works in most cases equally well that it has in