:OMPANY MEETING

MILTON PROPRIETARY LIMITED

VALUE OF ELECTROLYTIC HYPOCHLORITE HE annual general meeting of Milton Proprietary, Limited, was held n February 26th at Winchester House, London, E.C., Mr. H. S. ough (chairman of the company) presiding. The chairman said that the accounts for the year to September 30th, u41, showed a net profit of £41,677. The satisfactory trading result the undertaking as a whole was attributable to an expansion in the mpany's business. The directors proposed to allocate £5,0043 to ereral reserve and to declare a dividend of it2+ per cent, on the dinary share capital.

Continuing, he said: Last year I referred to the growing recognition the value of the electrolytic hypochlorite type of antiseptic and Milton " in particular. During the last year not only have the aiseptic properties of "Milton " been more widely recognised than let before, but our claim that " Milton ," in addition to being an traordinarily versatile antiseptic, is a healing agent of considerable ,lue has been clearly established.

IRRIGATION TREATMENT OF WOUNDS

The treatment of wounds, ulcers and burns by irrigation with dilute lawns of " Milton " in specially designed coated silk " envelopes " Itch zre applied to the injured parts has been the subject of several des in the medical Press. " Milton," because of its " proteolytic " non cleanses the wound of dead tissue and paves the way for healing, y.ich it actualiy encourages, w.tile its antiseptic powers counteract d control infection.

ibis system of treatment is now in use in several hundred hospitals, chiding Service hospitals, and because of the qualities of " Milton "

d the advantages of the " envelopes " as dressings, some cases which fai'ied to respond to other methods have been healed successfully this treatment. Absence of pain, retention or early restoration of nction, avoidance of bandaging and changing of dressing, and free-

m from ultimate scarring and deformity are points emphasised by titers on the subject.

In these days, when of necessity so many activities are controlled, e value of unofficial research is sometimes overlooked. As manufac- ers of the only brand of stable electrolytic hypochlorite and the ,y one generally available, we have done everything possible in our

n laborator:es and by co-operating with independent workers to stover new uses for a type of hypochlorite which for years had been glected.

The development of the new irrigation technique is largely due to e adoption of that policy, while the perfection of the " envelopes " d for the application of the 'fluid is due to the efforts of a leading manufacturer.

In speaking of our own research I must refer to the death of . A. T. Masterman, M.A., D.Sc., F.R.S. last February. For nearly entv-five years he was associated with " Milton ' and was our incipal scientific adviser. He died just as an important discovery of was receiving general recognition. His death is a personal loss to members of the board.

In 1918 he foresaw the possibility of purifying air by the spraying kypochlorites, and twenty years later, in 1938, after many experi- ents conducted in co-operation with bacteriologists, he published

e results of his work and put forward the theory that hypochlorous :d gas set free by the decomposition of the hypochlorite by the rbonic acid gas in the air was the effective bactericidal agent. In 1940 the Horder Ccfmmittee endorsed Dr. Masterman's claims to the value of sodium hypochlorite for air purification, but there A Still controversy with regard to the theory he put forward. In Of last year a British Medial{ Journal leader referred to Masterman's work and said: " It may confidently be stated that hypochlorite method has more experimental work behind it than other."

" MILTON " AND MUSTARD GAS

Investigations carried out for us by a recognised authority on " war `es" have shown that " Milton " converts mustard gas into a non- ic substance. The immediate application of full-strength " Milton " . therefore be recommended for avoiding or minimising the effect contamination of the skin by mustard gas. This advice is in no way ended to supplant the official instructions to the public on the sub-

of mustard gas, but the presence of " Milton " in millions of mes provides for this purpose an additional and substantial safe- I mentioned last year the recommendation of " Milton " by name the largest water undertaking in the country for water sterilisation emergencies such as those which have already arisen in some the country. Many more water authorities have since followed thisd• While various local authorities and institutions have purchased

P,P.les of " Milton" to be held against such emergencies.

inis short and incomplete account of the companies work is an Atration of the vital importance of private enterprise.