Under this designation Haegler has recently brought forward a combination of basic gallic acid with bismuth-oxy-iodide. It is dermatol, in which iodine replaces OH. It occurs as a greenish-gray voluminous powder, without odor or taste, and permanent in the air. It is slightly soluble in water, and decomposes in acid and alkaline solutions. For topical administration the powder may be dusted over the affected surface, or it may be applied in the form of gauze to 10 to 20 per cent; as an ointment, 10 to 20 per cent; and as a collodion— airol collodion—10 per cent. For internal administration it may be used in powder, in capsule, or in wafer, or it may be suspended in equal parts of glycerine and water. As an injection in tubercular abscesses, Haegler proposes an emulsion of 10 per cent in equal parts of water and glycerine. The dose for use internally ranges from 5 to 15 grains or more. As respects its comparative toxicity, the fatal dose in cats is between 3 and 4 grm. (45 to 60 grains) per kilogramme of body-weight. The toxic dose of iodoform in the same animals is about 1 grm. (15½ grains).

The bacteriological researches of Haegler have demonstrated that airol is about equal to iodoform as a poison of the bacillus of cholera and other pathogenic organisms. As it has the composition of derma-tol, and contains besides a considerable proportion of iodine, it should possess a wider range of attributes than this much-vaunted remedy. As a dressing for wounds, it has been used in the same manner and under the same conditions as iodoform. The gauze, ointment, and collodion preparation are thus employed. In chronic otorrhoea and chronic nasal catarrh it is used as powder and ointment successfully.

Authorities referred to:

Haegler, Dr. C. S. Ueber Airol, ein neues Ersatzmittel des Iodoforms, und ahnliche antiseptische Pulvermittel. Beit. z. klin. Chirurgie, Band xv, Heft i. Therapeut. Monatshefte, February, 1896.