1919 Hotson; on Sphagnum Dressings 235 



To hold the gauze along the sides No. 1 harness needles with the tem- 

 per drawn, or pieces of knitting needles about three inches (7.6 cm.) long, 

 may be used. These needles are forced into the table along the outside 

 lines three and one-thirty-second inches (7.86 cm.) from the cross lines, 

 so that when one of the straight edges is against them, a pencil will mark 

 along the edge directly over the cross line on the table. When cutting 

 gauze the bolt is laid on the end of the table bej'ond where the folding 

 is to take place. A layer of gauze is stretched out on the table and the 

 edges kept straight by putting the selvage over the needles. The straight 

 edge is slipped between the layers, thus holding the folds up to the guide. 

 One of the weights is placed on the straight edge to keep it from slipping. 

 Each of these weights is made of two strips of wood l/^ inch (3.2 mm.) 

 thick, 1% inches (4. 4 cm.) wide, and 2 feet 2 inches (81.3 cm.) long; 

 with lead strips between them ly^ inches (3.2 cm.) wide and weighing 

 6 or 8 pounds (2.7 — 3.6 kg.). The whole is covered with clotli. 



After the weight is placed on the straight edge the gauze is stretched 

 back to the opposite end and another straight edge and weight used in a 

 similar way there. This process is continued back and forward, each 

 time securing the selvage over the needles. When the four straight edges 

 have been used, the lower one is drawn out and used again. When a bolt 

 has thus been stretched out on the table, light lines are drawn where the 

 cuts are to be made. This cutting may be done with an electric cutter or 

 by hand. 



(b) A spreading and folding device 



A device (plate 46) for spreading and folding gauze has been designed 

 by Mr. W. H. Durham, superintendent of buildings and grounds at the 

 University of Washington, where it is installed. It has proved very con- 

 venient in avoiding confusion and delay that often arise in spreading the 

 gauze by hand. This device consists of a rather inexpensive framework 

 that is fastened to one end of the cutting table with a swinging arm to 

 carry the gauze back and forth. The bolt of gauze is laid between the 

 upright frames at one end of the table. The loose end of the gauze is 

 drawn over the glass tube directly above, then over the other upper glass 

 tube and down between the two glass tubes at the lower end of the swing- 

 ing arms. These glass tubes, it should be remembered, have a i/4-inch 

 (6.3 mm.) iron bolt running through them for support. 



The gauze is then spread on the table as already indicated. As the 

 arm is swung back and forward the gauze is spread and is always kept up 

 cut of the way. An extra board jjut on the upper end of the swinging 

 arm is just sufficient to balance the long arm so that it remains wherever 

 it is placed, and can easily be pushed up out of the way when not in 



