USE OF SALINE IN SOLUTIONS FOR LOCAL ANESTHESIA

Abstract

To the Editor: —In a recent review of my book on local anesthesia (The Journal, October 28, p. 1418) I am criticized for not advocating the use of physiologic solution of sodium chloride in making up the anesthetic solution. Why should one use it in making up anesthetic solution? I have tried about all the various mixtures advised for the making up of anesthetic solutions in the clinic, in my leg, and in bunnies and bow-wows. There is no difference in the feel injected in one's own skin, and slides of animal tissue show no injury when plain tap water is used. Clinical experience convinces me that anesthesia is more prompt when a hypotonic medicine is used. Wise boys tell me that theoretically a hypotonic solution is more quickly absorbed than an isotonic or a hypertonic one. Be it remembered that after one dissolves a few tablets of procaine in