588 
Sp07iges. 
/Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
\  December,  1901. 
painters,  stone-masons,  bricklayers,  etc.  The  best  quality  and 
nicest  shapes  are  bleached  and  sold  on  the  market  for  a  cheap  bath 
sponge  and  are  as  good  in  appearance  as  the  higher  grades,  but 
give  no  satisfaction  in  wear. 
The  reef  sponges  (Exhibit  No.  14)  are  fine  in  texture,  but  lack 
strength,  are  extensively  bleached  for  toilet  purposes,  and  used  by 
manufacturers  and  engravers. 
Sponges  from  the  Mediterranean  sea  are  superior  in  quality  to 
either  the  Florida  or  West  Indies.  The  horny  fibres  being  far  less 
pronounced,  they  do  not  develop  to  the  same  thickness.  They 
are  finer  in  texture  and  more  pliable,  and  grow  in  deeper  water, 
having  a  surface  temperature  ol  500  to  570  in  winter,  which  is  clearer 
and  more  free  from  impurities  and  the  more  difficult  to  obtain.  The 
various  grades  are  called  white  Turkey,  i.  e.,  silk  surgeon  sponges; 
brown  Turkish,  i.  e.,  Zimocha,  being  similar  to  the  silk  sponge,  only 
coarser  and  darker  in  color ;  leather  sponges,  i.  e.t  wash-rag  or  ele- 
phant's ears  and  honeycomb  sponges;  all  of  which  have  several  dif- 
ferent varieties.  The  best  varieties  are  Mandruka  Turkey  cups  (Ex- 
hibit No.  15),  deriving  their  name  from  their  formation,  similar  to  a 
cup;  Turkey  solids  (Exhibit  No.  16)  which  are  the  same  variety,  only 
solid,  as  the  name  implies.  The  leather  sponges  (Exhibit  No.  17) 
are  thin,  flat  and  fine  in  texture,  used  chiefly  for  manufacturing  pur- 
poses and  used  considerably  in  Europe  by  veterinary  surgeons. 
Brown  Turkey,  i.  e.y  Zimocha  sponges  (Exhibit  No.  18)  is  similar  in 
texture  to  a  silk  sponge,  but  brittle.  It  is  chiefly  used  in  Europe 
for  a  horse  sponge  and  also  for  manufacturing  purposes.  Honey, 
comb  sponges  are  various  in  quality,  these  being  known  as  Man- 
druka (Exhibit  No.  19)  and  found  in  deep  water,  are  perfect  forms, 
and  have  a  close  fibre  and  no  horny  fibres  protruding  from  the  sur- 
face, and  are  characteristic  for  their  small  root.  This  latter  fact 
should  be  borne  in  mind  in  selling  sponges.  Many  people  object 
to  large  holes  in  the  sponge,  whereas,  the  root  is  the  chief  factor 
in  determining  its  strength.  The  "  catch  "  of  this  grade  is  diminish- 
ing yearly,  thereby  enhancing  their  value,  consequently  only  a  few 
dealers  import  them,  the  largest  supply  coming  to  Philadelphia. 
Next  in  quality  comes  the  Bengaza  (Exhibit  No.  20)  a  sponge 
similar  to  the  Mandruka,  though  somewhat  coarser,  but  a  nice  shape 
and  strong,  and  is  usually  solid  as  a  "  Mandruka."  This  sponge 
grows  in  deep  water.    The  cheaper  varieties  of  honeycomb,  i.  e.y 
