EFFECT OF TOPICAL APPLICATION OF VITAMINS AND SOME OTHER CHEMICALS ON THE HEALING OF WOUNDS

Abstract

Many studies have been reported of the effect of various substances in promoting the healing of wounds. Most of these investigations have dealt with antibacterial drugs, but some have dealt with dietary measures which tend to improve the condition of the subject as a whole and in turn increase the rate of healing of wounds.¹ Deficiency in the body of proteins,² vitamins A and D^la and vitamins C³ impairs the rate of healing of wounds. A number of local factors influence healing. Messer and McClellan⁴ found that wounds benefited more from an alkaline pH than from an acid one. Several investigators⁵ reported that the local application of concentrated urea is of distinct aid in promoting healing of wounds, particularly for removing debris and necrotic tissues. However, this therapy is often associated with marked discomfort. Compounds containing the sulfhydryl radical⁶ stimulate growth of