205 
however, for demonstrating the value of the sphagnum in the 
aa antiseptic methods of surgery. Following the incident 
which I have related above, investigations were set on foot as to 
the nature and the properties both of the sphagnum and of the 
peat to which it gives rise, and a number of papers were published 
in German medical journals, in which the sphagnum, as related 
to surgical practice, was discussed from various points of view. 
An 
mi g 
widely used not only in private practice but in some of the largest 
hospitals. 
During the Russian-Japanese war, the Se used sphag- 
agnu 
until the patient reached Japan, which often took ten days, but 
almost invariably the wound was in good condition; much better 
it is said than when cotton was use In general, however, 
the value of sphagnum for use in el dressings has not been 
appreciated until quite recently. 
To what extent is sso being utilized in war hospital 
practice at the present ‘t 
Shortly after the ace of the war it began to be feared in 
England that there might be a shortage of cotton, and experi- 
ments were made with various materials—oakum, wood-pulp, 
and even sawdust—in the hope of finding some satisfactory 
substitute. * It at th e that attention was directed 
to the neglected possibilities of the sphagnu n 1914, 
sphagnum dressings were given a tho try- ne 
f large war hospitals in Scotland, and the results proved 
so satisfactory that sphagnum was at reco: for 
general u: tember, 1915, sphagnum dressings were 
formally accepted by the British War Office that time the 
total British pues of “praete Alcan dressings was barely 
ee otson, j.w. pp. 1-31. f. 1-18. Separate 
Red Cross. Seattle. 1918. 
aly eae a nas by Cathcart, C. W., and Balfour, I. B. in the Scotsman 
for November 914, and one by Cathcart in Brit. Med. Journ. 38: 137-139. 
915. 
