[By John F. Andkhson, Assistant Surgeon, United States Prm.iu Health 
AND MaRINP>H0SPITAL SERVICE.] 
Gelatin injections are now used rather extensively, in EnrojK* (*s])e- 
cially, as a means of treatment for aneurism and as a dii-ect and ])ro[>hy- 
lactic hemostalic. It is generally used in a 2 per cent solution in 
water, boiled immediately before use, and, as a hemostatic, injected 
subcutaneously. There seems a great variation in the amount of solu- 
tion used, some using 200 c. c. and others as high as 1,000 c. c. 
Gelatin is a substance obtained from the nitrogenous portions of bone, 
hides, connective tissue, etc. The collagen when boiled is changed to 
gelatin. Glue is impure gelatin to which has been added some jH eserV- 
ative and some substance to increase its i)Ower of adhesion. Bone and 
hide gelatin are the two principal kinds of gelatin. fsingla.ss is gelatin 
made from the bladders of sturgeons. According to Whijiple (5), the 
general process of manufacturing hide gelatin is as follows : 
The hide scraps are first macerated and sul>jected to tlie action of a solution of lime 
or caustic soda in pits for two or three weeks. This dissolves most of tlie Mood and 
saponifies the fats. The excess of lime or .soda is then largely removed by washing and 
the solution steamed to di.ssolve the gelatin, but an excess of heat is a\oi<led. 
Sulphurous acid is u.sed to bleach the gelatin. When of sufficient strength, the gelatin 
is allowed to harden in molds or on slabs, and is ultimately dried in sheets on wire nets. 
Bone geletiu is made in a ^mewhat similar manner. The bones are cru.shed, boiled, 
treated with hydrochloric acid, and the gelatin is dissolved as before, washed, bleached, 
and dried in .sheets. The process requires a number of weeks. 
According to the National Dispensatory, gelatin is made by boiling 
in water for a long time bone cartilage, animal skin, tendons, and liga- 
ments. These substances become soluble in the boiling water, and when 
the mass is allowed to cool, form a jelly. The animal tissues are plac« d 
upon a sieve or perforated diaphragm some distance from the bottom of 
the boiler. When the solution has become sufliciently saturated it is 
drawn off and allowed to cool, and the jelly is then cut into thin sheets 
and placed on wire nettings to dry. While so exposeil to th(‘ air for 
drying it could easily become infected with tetanus sjrores, as the gela- 
tin is often manufactured in conjunction with the other procedures that 
go on in a large meat-packing house. • 
Kuhn (1) reported a case of tetanus following the injection of gela- 
tin in a hemophiliac. 
Gerulanos, Georgi, and Lorenzo (2) riqrort four cases ol tetanus fol- 
lowing the injection of gelatin for the puriiose of arresting liemorrliage 
a 
