Bearing in mind that it is from the vitality of the atmospheric particles that all the mischief arises, it appears that all that is requisite is to dress the wound with some material capable of killing these septic germs, provided that any substance can be found reliable for this purpose, yet not too potent as a caustic.

'On a New Method of Treating Compound Fracture, Abscesses, etc:, With Observations on the Conditions of Suppuration', Part 1