(from αντι and σεπτος, putrid, of τεκτον, to putrefy), an appellation given to such substances as resist putrefaction.

We have some curious experiments in relation to antiseptic substances by Dr. Pringle, who has ascertained their several virtues. Thus, in order to settle the antiseptic virtue of salts, he compared it with that of common sea salt; which being one of the weakest, he supposes equal to unity, and expresses the proportional strength of the rest by higher numbers, as in the following table.

| Salts, their antiseptic virtue. | |-----------------------------| | Sea salt - 1 | | Sal gemmae - 1+ | | Tartar vitriolated - 2 | | Spiritus Mindereri - 2 | | Tartarus solubilis - 2 | | Sal diureticus - 2+ | | Crude sal ammoniac - 3 | | Saline mixture - 3 | | Nitre - 4 | | Salt of hartshorn - 4 | | Salt of wormwood - 4 | | Borax - 12 | | Salt of amber - 20 | | Alum - 30 |

In this table the proportions are marked in integral numbers: only to some there is added the sign +, to show, that those salts are possessed of a stronger antiseptic virtue than the number in the table expresses, by some fractions: unless in the three last, where the same sign imports that the salt may be stronger by some units.

Some resinous and other substances even exceed the antiseptic virtues of the neutral salts; thus myrrh, asafoetida, terra japonica, and aloes, are at least 12 times more antiseptic than sea salt. Two grains of camphor are equivalent to 60 grains of that salt. An infusion of a few grains of Virginian snake-root, in powder, exceeds 12 times its weight of sea salt. Chamomile flowers have nearly the same extraordinary quality. The Jesuits bark has it also. Besides these, pepper, ginger, saffron, contrayerva root, are 12 times more antiseptic than sea salt. Dried sage, rhubarb, the root of the wild valerian, mint, angelica, ground ivy, senna, green tea, red roses, wormwood, mustard, and horse radish, were likewise found more antiseptic than the standard.

To the class of antiseptic medicines may likewise be added fermented liquors, acids, spirits, and even those plants called anti-acids, and erroneously supposed hasteners of putrefaction, particularly horse radish. Now vegetables, possessing this virtue, are the more valuable, in that being usually free of acrimony, they may be taken in much greater quantities than either spirits, acids, resins, or even the neutral salts.

Antiseptics are prescribed in all putrid, malignant, and pestilential cases. It is to be remarked, however, that different kinds of them are to be given in different diseases, and even in different stages of the same disease. Thus, the bark is a specific in gangrene, when the vessels are relaxed, and the blood resolved or disposed to putrefaction; but will fail, if the vessels are too full, or the blood be too thick. With the same caution is the bark to be used in wounds, viz. chiefly in cases of absorbed matter, when it infects the humours, and brings on a hectic fever.

By the great antiseptic virtue of alum, the bark, and other astringents, it should seem, that astriction had no small share in the cure of putrid disorders; and, indeed, the very nature of putrefaction consists in a separation or disunion of the parts. But as astringents are improper to be administered in many cases, contrayer- Antiseptics va root, snake root, camphor, &c. may supply their place; which, though highly antiseptic, have very little, or any, of an astringent quality.