Object of the present invention is to provide a dressing spray for the treatment of bleeding wounds. Another object is to provide a dressing spray which is efficacious and can be applied by the general population. A still further object is to provide a spray which may be sold over the counter.

According to the invention these and other objects are achieved by a liquid mixture for use as a dressing spray comprising a pharmaceutically efficacious amount of an anesthetic being either benzocaine or pramoxine hydrochloride a pharmaceutically efficacious amount of an antibiotic composition comprising polymyxin B or neomycin or bacitracin at least a pharmaceutically efficacious amount of a hemostatic compound and -film forming components and at least a solvent, in which the aforesaid pharmaceutically components are dispersed or solubilized, for forming a film adhering to and covering the wound when sprayed onto it. The above novel mixture is particularly efficacious for the treatment of bleeding wounds. The inventive mixture has the advantage that pain is alleviated, infections by bacteria prevented and bleeding stopped. In addition, the wound is protected from the environment by the film forming components sprayed onto the wound. A further advantage of the mixture is that it can be sold over-the-counter as the components contained in the mixture are approved for over-the-counter use.

Preferably, Benzocaine is present in a concentration between 10% and 30% (w/v), preferably between 15% and 25% (w/v), and most preferably at about 20 % (w/v). The aforementioned concentrations alleviate pain very effectively. Alternatively, instead of Benzocaine, pramoxine hydrochloride may be used. pramoxine hydrochloride may be present in the range between 1 and 25 mg/ml, preferably between 5 and 15 mg, and most preferably between 8 and 12 mg/ml liquid mixture.

Preferably the antibiotic neomycin is present in the mixture in a concentration between 0.5 and 10mg neomycin, preferably between 2 and 5 mg neomycin, and most preferably between 3 and 4 mg neomycin per 1 ml liquid mixture. These concentrations have proved to be very efficacious. Alternatively, between 5'000 and 15'000 units of polymyxin, preferably between 8000 and 12000, and most preferably about 10'000 units of polymyxin B in 1 ml can be used in the liquid mixture as the antibiotic. However, the best results are achieved if a combination of at least two of the antibiotics mentioned in claim 1 are used. Preferably, neomycin and polymyxin B are used in the mixture as they have a synergistic effect when used together.

The anesthetic compound, the antibiotics are most preferably solubilized or dispersed in styptic collodion. Styptic collodion is e. g. described in the Merck Index, 12th edition, 1996. Styptic collodion has the advantage that it contains film forming components and also hemostatic components. Styptic collodion is particularly advantageous as this dressing has already been widely used in the past with few problems associated with its use. It further does not occlude the injury completely as the film formed from it has microscopic holes.

Styptic collodion comprises nitrocellulose, camphor, caster oil, tannic acid, and at least a solvent. The solvent may be ether or ethanol or a combination of it. Other readily evaporatable solvents may also be used. If a mixture of ether and ethanol is used, they may be present in a ratio between 1: 1 to 4 : 1. In such a solvent mixture the active pharmaceutical components used in the mixture are readily solubilized.