72 » VARIETIES OF LINT. 
four yards. The qualities most desired in lint are softness, a 
smooth surface, and moderate thickness. It should tear readily in 
one direction, and hold firmly in the other. Some lint will tear 
also across the grain, and this kind is preferred by Surgeons for 
the pocket case, as it is convenient to be able to dress small 
wounds without using scissors. For general purposes it is suffi- 
cient that it tears in one direction. When required for dressing 
wounds and ordinary hospital practice, rather thin lint is preferred, 
but for the application of lotions or for other purposes, where ab- 
sorbing qualities are desirable a thicker lint is better. 
We have stated that lint is, or ought to be, prepared from linen. 
The lint is more absorbent and less irritating to an abraded surface. 
Although cotton lint is not unfrequently sold, either mixed with 
linen or substituted for it, a lint maker who has a character to lose 
would run the risk of injuring his business by indulging in the 
practice, and he loses no opportunity of reminding his customers 
that his lint "has not a bit of cotton in it." Cotton being much 
cheaper than linen, is used chiefly on this account by those who 
push their trade by " underselling," and take advantage of the in- 
experience of their customers in judging the quality. The linen 
rags collected for the manufacture of lint vary in texture, size, 
shape, and other qualities. Consequently, notwithstanding the 
care which is taken in the selection, there is scarcely to be met with 
a parcel of lint, even of the best quality, absolutely uniform. When 
the retailer has an order for a pound of large lint of a particular 
description, he must occasionally break open four or five pound 
packets to accommodate his customer. The source whence the old 
rags are derived has also been considered objectionable by persons 
who are at all fastidious ; on which account various attempts have 
been made to introduce as a substitute a fabric of uniform texture 
and quality made on purpose. Hence the origin of several varie- 
ties of patent lint which have lately been in circulation. Of these 
we have before us 
Tosswill's Patent Lint (two qualities, one finer than the other.) 
Tipton's Patent Lint. 
Wackerbath and Ross's " Superior Golden Flax Lint." 
Taylor's Patent Lint (two kinds.) 
Patent Lint, manufactured by the " National Linen Company." 
