HOT WATER IN ABDOMINAL SECTION.

At the recent meeting of the California State Medical Society, Dr. Beverly McMonagle, Chairman of the Committee on Gynecology, read an interesting report on Pelvic Abscess and its Treatment by Abdominal Section. He mentioned one case in which "slight salivation followed the washing out of the abdominal cavity with a solution of bichloride 1:10,000." Since that occurrence he had used instead of antiseptic solutions in the abdominal cavity, pure water at a temperature varying from 110° to 120° F., but which had been thoroughly boiled. In the discussion that followed the reading of the report, Dr. H. W. Smith, of Placerville, said he had done some work in abdominal surgery; "and in using a 1:1,000 sublimate solution he had seen slight salivation follow. Since then he had used boiled water, and his cases had done much better than with either carbolic acid or corrosive sublimate.¹"

Dr. E. A.