204 
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Along in the 1 the tcentury a e 
of the great peat moors in northern Germany aaa sus- 
ined a severe woun the forearm sence of any- 
thing better, to use, his fellow workmen wrapped up wound 
surgical attention. Imagine the surprise of the surgeon when, on 
removing the improvised dressing, it was found that the wound 
had almost completely healed.* 
With this incident the use of sphagnum in present-day surgery 
eet bog moss — been used by country Seoples in the 
same purpose that it is being used today; and moss was ‘‘at 
least recommended for use by army pUreeOns, both in the Napo- 
leonic and the Franco-Prussian wars.’ 
mu ge our indebtedness to the Germans, 
+ This incident is elated by aNeuber (Arch, f, klin. Chir. 27: 757-788. 1882), 
a hat tim ith th ical clinic at Kiel, 
pee! y. B. Sphagnum surgical dressings. Internat. Journ. Surgery 30: 
129- & f. in text. 1917. This comprehensive paper has been reprinted as a 
aes by the Canadian Red Cro: 
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