with a cotton swab. This is allowed to 

 dry for a minute or two; another ap- 

 plication is then made directly on top 

 of the first one, allowed to evaporate to 

 dryness, and the field is ready for the 

 incision. 



As iodine readily attacks metals, and 

 spoils the plating on instruments, no 

 instrument should be allowed to come 

 in contact with the painted area while 

 it is still moist; neither should the io- 

 dine be used for disinfecting- purposes 

 on any utensils or apparatus made of 

 metal. The fact that the iodine may 

 injure instruments can not be consid- 

 ered in the light of a disadvantage, if 

 the above precautions are taken. 



Another practice that has come to 

 be recognized quite generally among 

 surgeons is that of painting the edges 

 of the surgical wound with pure tinc- 

 ture of iodine just before the wound 

 is to be closed with sutures. Whether 

 20 



