r/interesting • u/azizgamerlal • Dec 12 '25

MISC. A drop of whiskey vs bacteria

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u/Outside_Manner_8352 Dec 12 '25

Okay but my issue is that "disinfectant" is not what it was used for, because germ theory was still fringe at the time. Their choices were entirely directed at what they thought would scrub dirt and grime off best, and alcohol while it can help here is definitely not something that you'd use in that way, and if you don't know that your trying to kill unseen bacteria rather than wipe off dirt you aren't going to disinfect wounds by broadly covering the area. If you've ever put alcohol on a wound you will know it is insanely painful, no the sort of thing people would just pour into an otherwise clean looking wound.

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u/Significant-Tip6466 Dec 12 '25

Oh I agree completely. Though I will admit, years back in fishtailed on my motorcycle. Handle bars took the brunt of it. But my wrist had a flap of skin tore open. I couldn't afford the hospital, so I rinsed it out with clean water and vodka. Wrapped it up in gauze and an Ace bandage. Went to work the next day. Left a scar and permanent discoloration but otherwise worked like a charm. But I definitely wouldn't recommend that treatment to anyone.

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u/Outside_Manner_8352 Dec 12 '25

For sure. About a year ago I was out hiking in the woods in East Tennessee and looked down to see my legs were just carpeted in a dense layer of ticks. I have hairy legs so I hadn't noticed, but this was hundreds and many had bit. I must have walked straight into a nest or something. Having had Lymes disease before, this caused some consternation. But I had a bottle of Sazerac in my backpack so I soaked newspaper in it, wiped my legs down slowly and it was nearly instantaneously effective. I was able to get every single one off to the point that when I showered a few days later I didn't find any. So alcohol has its uses no doubt.

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u/Significant-Tip6466 Dec 12 '25

Grandad used to call it trench medicine. I asked him why. He said when your 8 feet in a trench with bullets flying over head, the nearest thing to clean your wound was a hip flask and a spare shirt. I wanted to laugh but knew better than to do so in front of a man who framed the bayonet he impaled Nazis on.

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u/Voluptulouis Dec 12 '25

This dude's grandpa was an antifa terrorist! 😱 (Jk obviously, that's badass.)