THE EFFECT OF SURGICAL SOLUTION OF CHLORINATED SODA (DAKIN'S SOLUTION) IN THE PERICARDIAL CAVITY

Abstract

Within recent years surgical solution of chlorinated soda (Dakin's solution) has been used to irrigate the pericardial cavity in the treatment of purulent pericarditis. There has been no agreement of opinion concerning its effect in these cases. It is my purpose in this report to show experimentally the effect of surgical solution of chlorinated soda in the pericardial cavity. This solution has won for itself a place of great value in the treatment of certain forms of infection, but its indiscriminate use is not devoid of danger. In the abdomen it produces an inflammatory reaction,¹ and when brought into contact with normal intestine, it produces perforation of the wall. The cases of pericarditis in which surgical solution of chlorinated soda was used are reviewed to determine if possible the effect that the solution might have had. In the case reported by Pool² "two Carrel tubes... were inserted (into