complete the process with an appUca- 

 tion of iodine thereafter. 



An application of iodine to the skin 

 covering the region that is about to be 

 invaded by the knife of the surgeon, has 

 been found much more efficacious and 

 much more reliable than has the wash- 

 ing and the scrubbing with antiseptic 

 solutions, soaps and other agents. Not 

 only this, but it has also greatly sim- 

 plified and shortened an otherwise te- 

 dious, prolonged and sloppy technique. 

 Whereas, the surgeon formerly spent 

 from fifteen minutes to half an hour 

 scrubbing and washing the field of 

 operation, he now applies a few coats of 

 iodine tincture — a few strokes of the 

 swab or brush — and it is done. 



This simplified technique has the 

 added advantage of the total elimina- 

 tion of basins, brushes, and sponges for 

 use in the preliminary stages of an 

 17 



