ANTISEPTIC SURGERY. 
IS? 
contain a sufficient amount of carbolized hot water to keep 
them submerged. Several gallons of sterilized water should be 
placed in a large fountain syringe, preferably made of metal, to 
admit of its sterilization. A quantity of towels and enough 
loose smocks or aprons for the operator and his assistants 
should be prepared by boiling in a solution of 1 to 1000 
of bichloride of mercury and afterwards dried and subjected to 
a heat of 212 degrees in an oven, when they may be carefully 
wrapped up until needed ; sponges should be made, not pur¬ 
chased. They may be made by taking pieces of antiseptic 
gauze and placing wads of antiseptic cotton in their center and 
tying them together, thus forming a very cheap and convenient 
absorbent. There should be an abundance of these and after 
having been subjected to heat of the oven they should be packed 
away in sterilized, wide-mouthed fruit jars. 
A large piece of rubber or oil cloth should be sterilized to 
be used between the held of operation and the table. The 
patient should be prepared for the operation by an assistant, 
who should see that the parts immediately adjacent to the seat 
of operation is shaved and thoroughly scrubbed ; first, with 
clean hot water, soap and brush, and then thoroughly rinsed by 
some antiseptic fluid from the fountain syringe, after which this 
part must be left untouched except with sterilized hands. The 
patient may now be placed upon the table and anaesthetized 
while the operator and his assistants are preparing their hands. 
This should be done in the following manner : First, a thorough 
scrubbing with hot water and soap, then a rinse in a carbolic 
solution, then in a strong solution of permanganate of potash, 
then in a solution of oxalic acid, and a final douche from the 
fountain syringe, after which they may be dried by wiping them 
on one of the sterilized towels. 
From then on those concerned must be impressed with the 
fact that they are to touch absolutely nothing that is unsterilized, 
wiping off perspiration, blowing the nose, scratching the face or 
putting hands in the pockets must be strictly forbidden. 
The assistants are then assigned to their individual duty 
