3229

1. Select catgut of several sizes

2. Cut into one-foot lengths.

3. Place in ether five (5) days.

(4) Place in Bergman's solution A VIII. ten (10) days.

(5) Keep in alcoholic ether solution of iodoform (see A VIII.)

N. B. - This softens quickly when put into water at time of operating.

II. Silk.

3230

1. Cut into one-foot lengths.

2. Boil in solution A I (2).

3. Keep in solution A VII.

N. B. - Sutures thus kept a long time become weaker, but are aseptically reliable and strong if prepared in smaller quantities more frequently.

111. Silk Worm Gut, Horse Hair and Wire. 3231.

May be disinfected by heat, boiling one-halt hour and put into carbolic solution A II. just before operating.

E. - Dressings And Sponges. I. Wet Antiseptic Dressings. 3232.

1. Bleached cheese cloth or unbleached, deprived of fat by boiling with caustic soda or lye. Boiling with soft soap will help; wash out alkali.

2. Keep in solution A I. (2) for use. Uses: For stuffing septic wounds.

II. Dry Aseptic Gauze or Cotton.

3233

1. Boil the antiseptic gauze in sufficient quantity of plain filtered water

2. Pour off water and continue heat till dry.

3. Keep in jars covered with sublimate cotton.

III. Dry Antiseptic Gauze or Cotton.

3234

1. Prepare the wet gauze as in E I.

2. Dry slowly over moderate heat.

IV. Cloths for Field of Operation.

3235

1. Old cotton cloths, not useful in any other way.

2. Wash thoroughly by boiling.

3. Keep as in E I.

N. B. - If used for laying instruments on to, should be washed off in carbolic solution.

V. Cloths for Sponging.

3236

Prepare as in I., or as in II., according to indications.

VI. Sterilized Iodoform Gause.

3237

1. Use gauze as prepared in II.

2. Saturate a given weight of gauze with the quantity of iodoform (dissolved in solution A III.) required to make 10 percent, (or 20 per cent.) gauze.

3. Open out and evaporate ether at moderate heat.

4. Stuff in bottles, tent-fashipn.

5. Keep well closed.

Uses: As protective, or for stuffing cavities, especially suppurating and tubercular.

The gauzes more difficult to make had best be purchased, such as Lister's latest gauze of double cyanide of mercury and zinc.

VII. Kocher's Ten Per Cent. Bismuth Gauze.

3238

Can be made by saturating aseptic gauze with a mixture of bismuth in aseptic water and drying at moderate heat.

Uses: Stuffing, for secondary suture.