BACTERIOLOGY IN A NUTSHELL. 



suspend the remaining red blood cells for cir- 

 culation through the system, and to restore a 

 normal amount of circulating fluid for the 

 heart and arteries to act upon." For wet dress- 

 ings, packs, purposes of irrigation and ' for 

 soaking of wounds or incisions after surgical 

 operation in septic and other cases, no better 

 solution than normal saline has yet been dis- 

 covered. In point of fact, it has few equals. 



When Preparing for an Operation the 

 nurse can make up a salt solution containing 

 two ounces of common salt to one pint of hot 

 water ; sterilize the solution by boiling fifteen to 

 twenty minutes, after altering, in a tightly- 

 closed sterile jar. One dram of this solution 

 added to each pint of sterile water is the 

 strength required for all injections necessary 

 when the patient is suffering from shock, 

 exhaustion, or other causes in which normal 

 salt is called for. It should be made anew for 

 each operation. Or, small tubes containing two 

 drams of pure table salt may be sterilized by the 

 intermittent method (one hour each day on 

 three successive days). The contents of one 

 tube dissolved in one qtiart of boiling filtered 

 water gives the physiological or normal 

 strength solution. Cool to proper temperature. 

 The saturated solution contains eleven and 

 one-half (iij^) ounces of salt dissolved in one 

 quart of boiling water. Sterilize in its container. 

 134 



