SOME CIRCUMSTANCES OF DIFFICULTY 205 



a calico bandage are so apt to do. I should add that, during the changing of 

 the dressings, two of Richardson's spray-producers, worked simultaneously by 

 two dressers so that each commanded half of the large wound, proved adequate 

 to the purpose. 



The other great difficulty was the vicinity of the wound to the bed. Had 

 the discharges been permitted to soak into the bedding, they would have soon 

 putrefied there after losing the volatile antiseptic ; and the products of putre- 

 faction, soaking back into the dressing, would in all probability have neutralized 

 its antiseptic virtue, and the fermentation would have penetrated to the wound. 

 This danger was averted in the simple way you see here illustrated — bv having 

 the gluteal region repose on a layer of folded gauze lying on a piece of macintosh 

 cloth. In this manner the bed in which he lay was rendered itself antiseptic 

 at the part with which the wound was concerned, and putrefaction was avoided 

 from first to last. 



While speaking of the advantages of the gauze, there is one other to which 

 I cannot forbear alluding. If you apply this mass of it, consisting of thirty-two 

 layers, closely to the face, you find you can breathe freely through it, as through 

 a respirator. Hence, Sir, one great advantage of this dressing will be, that it 

 will deprive those who discuss the antiseptic treatment of all excuse for speaking 

 of it as operating by ' excluding the air '. We do not exclude the gases of the 

 atmosphere at all, but adopt efficient means to destroy the energy of its floating 

 ferments. 



