OILED  PAPER  IN  SURGICAL  DRESSINGS.  365 
caterpillars,  butterflies,  mordella,  slugs,  &c.  It  has  the  same 
effect  when  sprinkled  on  the  foliage  of  fruit  trees.  A  paste  of 
one  part  of  powdered  chloride  of  lime  and  one-half  part  of 
some  fatty  matter,  placed  in  a  narrow  band  round  the  trunk  of 
the  tree,  prevents  insects  from  creeping  up  it.  It  has  even 
been  noticed  that  rats  and  mice  quit  places  in  which  a  certain 
quantity  of  chloride  of  lime  has  been  spread.  This  salt,  dried 
and  finely  powdered,  can,  no  doubt,  be  employed  for  the  same 
purposes  as  flour  of  sulphur,  and  be  spread  by  the  same  means. 
■ — Chem.  News,  London,  from  Dingier  s  Polytechnisches  Journal. 
OILED  PAPER,  AS  AN  ECONOMICAL  SUBSTITUTE  FOR  OILED 
SILK  IN  SURGICAL  DRESSINGS. 
During  a  visit  to  England  and  Scotland,  in  the  summer  of 
1860,  I  noticed  in  the  Glasgow  Royal  Infirmary  that  they  used 
an  oiled  paper  as  a  substitute  for  oiled  silk,  in  surgical  dressings. 
The  article  was  invented  by  Dr.  McGhie,  the  Superintendent  of 
the  Infirmary,  and  possesses  many  advantages  besides  that  of 
being  economical. 
The  following  is  the  mode  of  preparation  : — Take  good  "  tis- 
sue "  paper,  free  from  holes,  as  many  sheets  as  may  be  required  ; 
boiled  linseed  oil,  say  one  quart ;  to  which  add  one  ounce  sul- 
phate of  zinc,  and  re-boil  for  an  hour  or  longer.  A  little  bees- 
wax and  turpentine  may  be  added,  while  the  oil  is  hot.  Use  a 
square  board,  larger  than  the  sheet  of  paper.  Coat  the  first 
sheet  on  both  sides  with  a  paint  or  paste-brush  ;  the  rest  of  the 
sheets  only  require  to  be  coated  on  one  side,  as  the  oil  strikes 
through.  Place  the  second  sheet  on  the  top  of  the  first,  slightly 
projecting  at  one  end,  for  convenience  of  lifting,  and  so  on, 
seriatim.  When  all  the  sheets  are  coated,  hang  them  up  to  dry 
in  a  moderately  warm  place,  for  twenty-four  hours.  When  taken 
down,  each  sheet  may  be  dusted  over  with  French  chalk,  which 
will  prevent  them  from  adhering.  If  sufficient  wax  and  turpen- 
tine have  been  used  in  the  mixture,  the  chalk  dusting  will  not  be 
needed. 
Dr.  McGhie,  in  his  pamphlet,  claims  the  following  advantages 
for  oiled  paper  as  compared  with  silk  : — 
1.  Economy. — A  sheet  costs  from  one  to  two  cents  only. 
