220 



the dressing, is laid down. Over this is spread a layer of sphag- 

 num. The cotton backing gives shape to the pad, and it serves 

 to hold the sphagnum in place and to prevent it from slipping 

 around. But in addition to this, being non-absorbent, it pre- 

 vents the pad from becoming too rapidly soaked through to the 

 back. Over the sphagnum is then spread a double layer of very 

 thin gauze paper, the so-called Scott paper tissue. This is 

 folded under at the edges to form a sort of e;ivelope for the sphag- 

 num. This gauze paper does not affect in the least the absorbing 

 capacity of the pad, but it does serve to prevent fine particles 

 of sphagnum from working through the cloth covering and irri- 

 tating the wounds, and it therefore makes it possible to use 

 gauze for the outer wrapping of the dressing. Pads of this 

 type are more complicated than those composed entirely of 

 sphagnum, and they are somewhat more expensive. But they 

 are quite easily made, and they are cheaper and at the same time 

 much more absorbent than the ordinary cotton pads. 



Sphagnum dressings, however made, are decidedly bulky. In 

 order to flatten them out and to economize space in packing, it is 

 customary to run them through a clothes wringer. After this 

 treatment the dressings are ready to be sent to the hospitals, 

 where they are sterilized shortly before being used. Sometimes, 

 however, for emergency use in field hospitals, etc, the dressings 

 are sterilized before being sent out by being dipped in an antisep- 

 tic solution. George E. Nichols 



Sheffield Scientific School, 

 Yale University 



