as pointed out above , the present invention is concerned with novel compositions and a method for the treatment of epidermal burns and wounds , particularly those infected with pseudomonas . the composition inhibits growth of the pseudomonas on the injured area , and promotes healing in burns and wounds . the composition of the present invention in its broadest embodiment comprises an aqueous solution of dextrose or dextrose metabolite , a buffering mixture of weak organic acids and / or alkali metal salts of weak organic acids , and a carrier , the solution being characterized as a relatively viscous solution having a ph ranging from about 3 . 0 to 6 . 5 . the most preferred composition may be characterized as containing the following formulation per liter of solution : this composition also contains about 600 to 1200 parts of water , and optionally about 5 to 100 parts of an alkali metal salt of acetic acid . preferably , the composition contains citric acid and an alkali metal salt of citric acid as important buffering components . the dextrose component of the composition is dextrose or a dextrose metabolite which is effective to provide antibacterial and antifungal properties to the composition when used in admixture with the other components . thus the dextrose or equivalent material is an important component in the composition . the buffering mixture is also an important ingredient of the composition . a sufficient amount of buffer should be present to provide a resulting solution having a ph of about 3 . 0 to 6 . 5 , most preferably in the range of 3 . 2 for antipruritic properties and 6 . 5 for wounds and burns . any buffer or mixture of buffers can be used for this purpose although mixtures of weak organic acids and alkali metal salts of organic acids are especially preferred . the amount of buffering agent present is also important since the total solution should contain about 7 to 15 weight percent of buffering agent for a suitable composition . the preferred buffering agents are polycarboxylic acids , phosphates , and the like which will provide the required ph range . the most preferred buffers , however , comprise a mixture of hydroxy polycarboxylic acids having about 3 to 8 carbon atoms and their alkali metal salts , or mixtures thereof . preferred organic acids include citric acid , malic acid , tartronic acid , tartaric acid , and mixtures thereof as well as the sodium and potassium salts of these acids . a highly preferred buffering system comprises a mixture of citric acid and sodium citrate . the composition optionally contains an alkali metal salt of acetic acid in an amount of about 1 to 4 parts by weight . the preferred alkali metal salt is sodium acetate , although any alkali metal salt of acetic acid may be used . the salt functions to increase the antifungal activity of the compound . this has also been shown to impart a longer shelf life to the composition . when the composition contains the alkali metal salt of acetic acid , the antifungal activity is improved so that it will not support the growth of bacteria or fungi . it is also preferred that the resulting solution be a viscous solution to inhibit drainage from the infected organs after topical application . thus , a carrier vehicle is included in the composition to increase the viscosity of the solution . suitable carriers include polyalkylene glycols , methyl cellulose and the like . the preferred carrier vehicle is a lower polyalkylene glycol such as glycerine . the carrier also provides the proper consistency to the composition so that the composition has sufficient viscosity for topical application . it also provides the necessary consistency to the solution so it can be used as a lubricant in the treatment of animals such as horses . a preferred formulation of the invention comprises the following components per liter of solution : ______________________________________ingredient parts by weight______________________________________dextrose 5 . 0 .- 5 . 0 .. 0 . hydroxy carboxylic acid 2 . 5 to 1 . 0 .. 0 . alkali metal salt of 2 . 5 to 1 . 0 .. 0 . hydroxy carboxylic acidcarrier 5 . 0 .- 15 . 0 . ______________________________________ in a more preferred aspect of the invention , the composition would also contain an alkali metal salt of acetic acid in an amount of about 5 to 100 parts per liter of solution . additionally , the remainder of the solution is preferably water . the most preferred composition for use in the present invention comprises the following components : ______________________________________ingredient amount______________________________________dextrose 5 . 0 .. 0 . gramscitric acid 1 . 0 .. 0 . gramssodium citrate 5 . 0 . gramsglycerine 1 . 0 .. 0 . ccsodium acetate 2 . 5 gramsdistilled water 9 . 0 .. 0 . cc______________________________________ the addition of sodium acetate in the most preferred embodiment increases the anti -- fungal activity of the compound . the sodium acetate containing compound was shown to have longer shelf life than the same compound without sodium acetate , since it will not support the growth of bacteria or fungi . the resulting composition is an aqueous solution with sufficient consistency to drain slowly . in use for treatment of contagious equine metritis , the composition is applied topically directly to the external genitalia of stallions and mares and preferably is used one time each day for at least two successive days . an effective amount is simply a thorough application of the viscous solution to the external genitalia manually . it has been found that this method will provide 100 % effectiveness in curing horses of the contagious equine metritis organism - caused disease . although the composition was originally developed for treatment of contagious equine metritis , it has been found that the composition is also effective against pseudomonas infections where the infection occurred on the external genitalia of the affected horses . this discovery led to the discovery of use of the composition of the invention for burn patients and patients with skin and muscle wounds infected with pseudomonas bacterias , particularly pseudomonas aeruginosa . when the composition was applied to accidental skin burns , it not only gave dramatic relief of pain , but also prevented the blistering of the epidermis as well as dramatically accelerating wound healing . the same results were obtained in several cases with skin burns from sun , steam , heat , friction and grease . the compound was also shown to accelerate the healing of contact ( allergenic ) dermatitis . when the compound was applied at the time of exposure to poison ivy , the skin lesions of poison ivy did not develop . when applied to early cases , the compound was shown to be antipruritic within a few minutes of application , and greatly accelerated the healing of the skin lesions . similar relief and reduction of swelling was observed in cases of insect - induced skin reactions . the composition is also useful in healing burns caused by friction , chemical and heat . in experiments involving skin and wound lesions of dogs , cats , cattle and horses , the composition of the invention was shown to greatly accelerate the healing of superficial and deep skin and muscle wounds . it not only prevented bacterial and fungal infections of the wound , but it dramatically hastened the healing of the wound and the new growth of skin thereover . in numerous cases of animal wounds involving cats , dogs , cattle and horses , the composition dramatically promoted complete wound healing after other &# 34 ; state of the art &# 34 ; medical treatments failed to produce satisfactory results . although the exact mechanism by which the composition works is not known , it was originally developed to enhance the normal bacteria flora of the skin to produce an anti - bacterial - like metabolite to inhibit the growth of the contagious equine metritis ( cem ) organism . in addition to the production of the antibacterial metabolite , it appears that the rapid healing of wounds caused by the composition of the invention provides an environment that discourages the growth of pathogenic bacteria and fungi . further , the composition has other beneficial properties and functions , including anti - pruritic properties , reduction of tissue fluids in epidermal vesicles and wound lesions , increased circulation to wound lesions and inhibition of bacterial and fungal growth in wounds . in preliminary tests on numerous cases of burns and naturally induced viral , bacterial , fungal , allergic and traumatic diseases of the eye , external ear , nose , oral mucosa , periodontal tissues , external genitalia , vagina , uterus , perianal and dermal tissue , and muscles affected with deep wound lesions , the composition was shown to dramatically accelerate the healing of lesions in the mucous membranes , epidermis , dermis and muscles . with the exception of neoplasia , the compound was effective on any type of lesion . the following examples are to illustrate the invention , but the invention is not to be considered as limited thereto . in the examples and throughout the specification , parts are by weight unless otherwise indicated . ______________________________________ingredient parts by weight______________________________________dextrose 25 . 0 . gramscitric acid 5 . 0 . gramssodium citrate 25 gramsglycerine 1 . 0 .. 0 . ccs . water 4 . 0 .. 0 . ccs . ______________________________________ the resulting composition was a viscous solution having a ph of 3 . 20 . to show the effectiveness of the compound on cem , twenty horses were selected for testing . each of the twenty horses was treated with a single treatment of the solution by manually applying topically directly to the external genitalia of the horses . from this test , 17 of the horses were found to be cured by the single treatment . the three horses which were not cured with the single treatment were then treated again with two successive treatments which were found to successfully cure the disease . accordingly , in the field it is recommended that the disease be treated one time per day with application of the composition on at least two successive days . ______________________________________ingredient parts by weight______________________________________distilled water 9 . 0 .. 0 . cc . glycerine 1 . 0 .. 0 . cc . dextrose 5 . 0 .. 0 . gramscitric acid 1 . 0 .. 0 . gramssodium citrate 5 . 0 . gramssodium acetate 2 . 5 grams______________________________________ the resulting composition is a viscous solution having a ph of 3 . 0 . the compound of the invention is topically applied to ten patients having second degree epidermal heat burns . in all ten cases , the patients experience dramatic relief of pain , and no blistering of the burn area occurs . further , the healing time of the burn is dramatically accelerated . in addition , none of the patients develop pseudomonas aeruginosa infections in the area of the burn . similar results are obtained in cases where the skin burns are caused from sun , steam , friction and grease . the invention has been described herein with reference to certain preferred embodiments . however , as obvious variations thereon will become apparent to those skilled in the art , the invention is not to be considered as limited thereto .
a composition is provided for the treatment of contagious equine metritis , a contagious venereal disease of horses . the composition appears to function as a biological inhibitor and has antibacterial and antifungal activity when applied to the normal flora and secretions of the epidermis and mucous membranes . also , the composition has antipruritic and anti - inflammatory activity . the composition is efficacious in the treatment of lesions produced by bacteria , fungi , allergies , viruses , trauma , and burns to the epidermis , dermis , muscles and mucous membranes of the surface or in body cavities of animals and man . the composition preferably comprises an aqueous solution of dextrose , citric acid and a buffering mixture of the salts of citric acid and acetic acid to provide an optional ph between 3 . 0 to 6 . 5 for various wound lesions .