The intravenous administration of neo-salvarsan in syphilis / by J.A. Nixon.

  • Nixon, John Alexander, 1874-1951.
Date:
1913
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: The intravenous administration of neo-salvarsan in syphilis / by J.A. Nixon. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    Salvarsan solution. The stop-cock is turned over to the needle, and the solution injected into the vein. This alternate filling with the Neo-Salvarsan and injection into the vein is continued by appropriate reversing of the stop-cock until the whole of the solution is injected. A final syringeful of saline solution should be injected to wash through the whole of the Neo-Salvarsan into the vein, and avoid the possibility of infiltration of the subcutaneous tissues with Neo-Salvarsan on withdrawing the needle. If the subcutaneous swelling appears during injection, either the needle has become dislodged or the vein has been transfixed. A little saline solution should be injected to dilute the Neo- Salvarsan in the tissues, and a fresh vein must be taken for the remainder of the injection. The pain of subcutaneous injection of Neo-Salvarsan is intense and must be avoided. At the end of the injection a pad of sterilised gauze is bandaged over the spot, as bleeding sometimes take place. Carried out in this way, the operation should be followed by no reaction and no rise of temperature. Patients prefer the actual injection to be performed as quickly as possible. Using o.g grammes of Neo-Salvarsan in 250 c.c. of water, I find the injection may be made in just over five minutes. The solution is injected at room-temperature about 55°-6o° F. On a very cold day the flask of water may be warmed by standing in hot water prior to making the solution ; but the solution must on no account be warmed after the Neo-Salvarsan has been added. The solution must be freshly prepared at the time of injection, and it must not be carried about or agitated. With these precautions the danger of toxic decomposition products being formed from the Neo-Salvarsan is averted. Every instrument, towel, swab, etc., to be used at the operation is sterilised b}' boiling or super-heated steam. Sterilised towels are clipped round the patient’s arm, leaving only the iodine-painted area exposed. Sterilised towels are placed under the arm and over a sufficient surface of the table or bed on which the arm rests to ensure that the syringe and