SO NOTES AND ABSTRACTS IN CHEMISTRY AND PHARMACY. 
The process of manufacture of the fluid is tedious, but sufficiently easy. The 
object to be aimed at is to saturate ether entirely with tannin and a colloidal 
substance, xyloidiue or gun-cotton. In the first step of the process, the tannin, 
rendered as pure as it can be, is treated with absolute alcohol, and is made to 
digest in the alcohol for several days. Then the ether, also absolute, is added 
until the whole of the thick alcoholic mixture is rendered quite fluid. Next the 
colloidal substance is put in until it ceases readily to dissolve. For the sake of 
its very agreeable odour, a little tincture of benzoin is finally admixed. 
The solution is now ready for use. It can be applied directly with a brush, 
or, mixed with equal quantities of ether, it can be applied in the form of spray. 
In order to give to the fluid a short name by which it may be known, I have 
called it “styptic colloid .” 
Properties .—When the solution is brought'into contact with an open surface 
of the body, the resultant phenomena are these: the heat of the body gradually 
volatilizes the ether and the alcohol, and the tannin and cotton, as the ether 
leaves them, are thus left stranded on the surface in intimate combination. In 
proportion as the ether passes off, the blood or the secretion of the surface per¬ 
meates the tannin and cotton; but tannin acts directly upon albumen, coagu¬ 
lating it, and transforming it into a kind of membrane, almost like leather. 
The cotton meanwhile unites the whole, gives substance to the mass, and 
adhesive quality. When all is solidified, the dressing becomes, in fact, a con¬ 
crete, having a true organic hold or basis on the tissues; and as the tannin, if 
the solution be freely applied, is in excess, any new exudative matter or blood 
is for several hours taken up by it, and the annealing is made the more com¬ 
plete. 
Thus, by this dressing, the air is excluded from every possible point in every 
possible direction, not by a mere septum, but by the combination of the animal 
fluids with the remedy; and because the air is excluded and fluid is absorbed 
there is no decomposition, i. e. no oxidation ; and because there is no oxidation 
there is no irritation. 
The styptic and adhesive qualities of this fluid are easily demonstrated by 
observing its direct action on blood, or serum, on pus, on albumen. You will 
see that it solidifies all these by mere contact w r ith them. 
To these properties I must also add that of complete deodorization. Here is 
putrid blood, here putrid ovarian serum, here putrid purulent substance. They 
are unapproachable when laid on an open surface, but we bring them into con¬ 
tact with the solution, and they are deodorized. Further, the decomposed sub¬ 
stance is fixed by the tannin and rendered inert. 
The method of employing this solution is thus described :—Suppose this an 
open wound, the two flaps of an amputation. I close it with silk ligatures in 
five places. This done, I take a little cotton wool, tease it out finely in a wine¬ 
glass, and saturate it with the styptic solution. Next, with a soft camel-hair 
brush, I apply the solution freely over the closed wound, letting it lie between 
the edges. If blood exude, it simply combines with the solution, making a mass 
much like red wax. I lay on the solution also for a little distance beyond the 
wound, and wait a few moments to allow for the evaporation of ether. Next I 
take from the wineglass the saturated cotton-wool with forceps, and lay a seam 
of it, half an inch wide and the eighth of ail inch in thickness, over the line of 
incision. Finally, I coat the whole over with another layer of the solution, wait 
until the layer is nearly dry, cover with a little dry cotton, and, if pressure be 
necessary, carry over the whole a bandage. 
If time is a matter of importance, the evaporation of the fluid can be hastened 
by gently blowing with the warm breath over the solution as each layer of it is 
applied with the brush. 
Presuming that a cavity has to be treated, the fluid is often more neatly and 
