Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
Nov.,  1890. 
Antiseptic  Materials. 
56i 
To  purify  sponges,  the  method  given  in  the  National  Formulary 
(p.  121),  for  bleaching  sponges,  is  followed,  with  some  important 
modification  in  details. 
After  freeing  the  sponges  from  sand  and  any  other  obvious 
impurities  or  damaged  portions  by  beating,  washing  and  trimming, 
they  should  be  macerated  for  12  hours  in  a  solution  of  hydrochloric 
acid  (8  fl.  oz.)  and  water  (I  gallon),  to  remove  lime  salts.  Then, 
wash  thoroughly  with  water  to  remove  excess  of  acid.  Next, 
macerate  in  a  solution  of  potassium  permanganate  (240  gr.)  in 
water  (1  gallon),  wringing  them  occasionally  and  replacing  it  in 
the  liquid,  until  they  become,  only,  a  very  light  brown  color. 
(Excessive  oxidation  rots  the  sponge).  Remove,  wash  well  with 
water,  until  the  latter  runs  off  colorless.  Then  place  in  a  solution 
of  sodium  thiosulphate  (hyposulphite)  (8  oz.  av.)  in  water  {jy2  pt.) 
and  add  hydrochloric  acid  (8  fl.  oz.),  macerate,  expressing  frequently 
and  replacing  in  the  liquid,  until  they  are  sufficiently  light  in  color. 
Remove,  wash  well  with  water  to  remove  every  particle  of  sulphuric 
and  sulphurous  acid  and  store  in  dry  containers. 
Prof.  Perkins1  employs  sodium  bisulphite  in  place  of  sodium  thio- 
sulphate, in  which  case  no  free  sulphur  is  precipitated,  but  this 
appears  to  be  an  expensive  and  unnecessary  refinement,  since  pre- 
cipitated sulphur  is  readily  removed  by  washing. 
For  arresting  hemorrhages  physicians,  employ  a  ligature  of  either 
silk  (which  is  but  little  used),  or  catgut,  the  inner  media  of  sheep's 
intestines.  The  gut  must  be  perfectly  antiseptic,  so  that  it  can  be  left 
in  the  wound  with  a  surety  that  it  will  be  absorbed  without  septic 
poisoning.  For  the  purification  of  commercial  guts,  which  come 
in  five  sizes,  a,  b}  c,  d,  e,  or  I,  2,  3,  4,  5,  from  the  finest  made  to  the 
largest  cello  string,  and  which  can  be  procured  from  importers, 
wholesale  dealers  in  musical  or  butcher  supplies,  the  writer  follows 
the  method  of  Lister,  modified  by  Prof.  Samuel  Gross,  as  yielding 
the  most  satisfactory  results.  It  is  :  Macerate  in  stronger  ether  for 
24  hours.  Remove,  place  in  a  -^innr  mercuric  chloride  solution,  one- 
fifth  part  by  weight  of  which  is  alcohol,  the  rest  water,  and  mace, 
rate  for  30  minutes;  remove,  cut  into  pieces  of  three  or  six  feet  each, 
dry  and  place  in  oil  of  juniper,  to  macerate  for  ten  days,  after  which 
time  it  is  ready  for  use,  or  may  be  kept  indefinitely.  To  use, 
remove,  wipe  off  adhering  oil  with  an  antiseptic  towel,  or,  better, 
1  West.  Druggist,  Sept.,  15,  1890. 
