Abstract
An inquiry into the antiseptic properties of local anesthetics is interesting for two reasons: Firstly, in relation to the healing of post-operative wounds and secondly in connection with genito-urinary practice, where these drugs are introduced into the bladder cavity and may thus directly influence its bacterial flora. The following local anesthetics were studied by the authors: cocain, novocain, alpha-eucain, beta-eucain, stovain, holocain, alypin, apothesine and benzyl alcohol. Bacteriological tests were made in three ways. Firstly, the growth of bacteria in bouillon containing small amounts of the anesthetics was studied. Secondly, bacteria were suspended in weak solutions of the anesthetics for definite periods of time, then washed, and planted in various media in order to determine whether they will grow or not. Thirdly, bacteria were planted on agar impregnated with the various drugs and their growth in this medium was noted.
It was found that some local anesthetics possess definite antiseptic properties, while others are entirely devoid of such. It was interesting to find that the chief local anesthetics in use, namely, cocain and novocain, possess no antiseptic properties. On the other hand, some of the other bodies studied and in particular, benzyl alcohol, beta-eucain and holocain, showed distinct antiseptic properties. The fuller data will appear in due time in the Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics.
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