Cryotherapy: a new method.

Abstract

CARBON dioxide cryotherapy was introduced by Pusey 1 in 1907 for the treatment of cutaneous lesions and has enjoyed well deserved popularity among dermatologists through the ensuing years. In 1904 Roozeboom 2 found the temperature of solid carbon dioxide in acetone to be —88 C. Wohl and Losanitsch 3 in 1905 found the temperature to be — 86 C. Thiel and Caspar 4 found that solid carbon dioxide in saturated solution in alcohol, ether and acetone approximated — 80 C. However, Lange 5 cited the temperature of alcohol with solid carbon dioxide as — 72 C., of chloroform with solid carbon dioxide as — 77 C. and of ether with solid carbon dioxide as — 100 C. Acetone with solid carbon dioxide was not mentioned. On the basis of these data the temperature of carbon dioxide cryotherapy is believed to be in the vicinity of —80 C. Solid carbon