1004 TiiAxsACTioys of the American Institute. 



Carbolic Collodion. 



Dr. J. ^[. Ilirsli, of Chicago, lias published in a new journal, The 

 Arts, a description of the method of preparing his new mixture for 

 stopping hemorrhage. Taking advantage of the astringent property 

 in carbolic acid, which even in dilute solution will check the flow of 

 blood, he prevents external coagulation ; objectionable on account of 

 its liability to break oflT and allow the flow to commence anew; by 

 adding to carbolic acid, or phenol, collodion, wliicli almost instantly 

 forms an artificial covering closely fitting the wound, so that coagu- 

 lation has to take place within or beneath this coating. Ordinary 

 collodion, which is a solution of gun-cotton dissolved in ether,, con- 

 tracts greatly upon the evaporation of the latter, and frequently scales 

 off. To obviate this, he uses glycerin, Avliich has the property of 

 rendering the collodion elastic. . He finds that carbolate of glycerin 

 is soluble in all proportions in collodion. The highly irritating and 

 poisonous property of carbolic acid suggests that it should be used 

 very sj>aringly in this compound. 



On this item Mr. J. A. Coleman remarked that several members 

 of his family having the hooping cough, were greatly relieved by 

 breat^iing the fumes of cresylic acid, a solution of which was put in 

 a saucer and placed in the room where the sick were confined. 



The Chairman said cresylic acid in its sanitary elFects resembles 

 carbolic or phenic acid. 



Prepaeatiox of .Fiber for Shoddy. 

 The wool fiber of old rags and carpets, made of a combination of 

 wool with cotton or linen threads, can be separated by the use of 

 metallic chlorides or sulphates, the chloride of aluminum being the 

 most available. To obtain the latter, 100 pounds of sulj^hate of 

 aluminum is dissolved in 100 gallons of hot water; on adding to this 

 solution fifty pounds of common salt, a chemical change produces 

 sulphate of sodium and chloride of aluminunl. After the rags have 

 been saturated with a solution of chloride of aluminum, the excess of 

 liquid is drained ofl" and the material is heated to about 200® 

 Fahrenheit. The chloride of aluininum is decomposed during this 

 process, and the volatile products, acting on the cotton or linen, decom- 

 pose it, wdiile the animal fiber remains unchanged, and on being 

 rubbed up or carded the vegetable matter is separated in the form of 

 dust. In SQine cases it is found more effective to first immerse the 

 rags in a strong solution of sulphate of aluminum, and then ])]ace 



