ANTISEPTIC PREPARATION OF INSTRUMENTS, ETC. 9 



operation the greatest care must be taken that the instru- 

 ments do not come in contact with anything which has not 

 been thoroughly cleansed and rendered aseptic, and when 

 finished with they should be carefully cleaned in very hot 

 water, dried, and put in a dry, clean place until required for 

 future use. 



Instrument cabinets, with tight-fitting doors to exclude 

 dust, and with glass shelves, can now be obtained at a corn- 



Fig. 4. — Instrument Cabinet. 



paratively small cost, and if placed in a dry situation nothing 

 further is necessary than to lay the instruments inside. 



In the event of the absence of a proper cabinet, the instru- 

 ments should be wrapped in clean lint or wadding and put 

 in a thoroughly dry and dust-proof place. 



Preparation of Silk and Wire. — Silk and wire for suture 

 purposes should be clean and carefully boiled for at least ten 

 or fifteen minutes in plain water (if soda is added the silk 



