The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1900-12-06
UNDER THE KNIFE.
THE SURGEONS THREAD.
Many Kinds Of Needles. A Variety O.
Stitches Used in Operations.

New York Sun.
Imagine a tailor who deliberately
plans to have the stitches he go care
fully sews give way at a certain time.
Suppose he should use one kind of
thread in a coat, warranted to break in
one week another kind in the trousers,
guaran teed to fall apart in a month,
and using permanent material only in
making up walstcoast. Yet, this is
exactly what the surgeon does every
day. Sutures, as Il e surgeons thread
Is called, are made from various ma
teriais according to the requirements.
Catgut, silk thread, silkworm gut, silver
wire, kangaroo tendons and horsehair
are in common use.
Catgut was at one time obtained
from members OF the feline tribe. As
Its use increased, the supply ran short.
Experiments showed that sheep fur
nlshed an acceptable substitute. So
catgut used by surgeons, jewelers. and
making of musical instruments comes
now from the submucosa, or middle
layer of the intestine of sheep. 1t
is the most commonly used of all sut-
uring material. Catgut stitches are
absorbed in from five to seven days,
depending on the individual upon
whom they are used. In occasional in
stances catgut stitches have been
known to be absorbed in thirty-slx
hours. By treating it with chronic
acid, such a suture will remain in po-
sition for many weeks. Because of its
adaptabillty and the cheapness of the
material catgut heads the list of surgi-
cal threads.
Silkworm gut can be more thorough
~ sterilized than any other known su-
ture material. In preparing sutures OF
all sorts, the usual method is to boil
the material in ether, allow 1t to soak
for twenty-four hours, then place it IN
alchohol for day or two and follow
this with bath of mercury solution.
Notwithstanding this thorough Cleans
ing, the microscope reveals germs
still present in varying mum bers in
many instances. Silk worm sutures
show fewer microorganlsms than
other materials treated in this way,
hence it is highly recommended for
surgical work. The material is extract
ed from a silkworm killed Immediately
before it begins to weave its cocoon
| Unfortunately for surgeons, silk
worm sutures are not absorbed, but
remain permanently in place. For
this reason its use Is restricted to spe
cial work.
The short, tough tendons taken
from the tail of a kangaroo furnish
surgeons with valuable thread. Kan
CARGO tendon stitches will hold fast fol
many days. The time of absorption
is estimated from four weeks to two
months. Horsehair and silver wire
sutures are non-absorbable. The
fluids of the body do not affect them
in any way, and once in place the
stitches will remain until forcibly re-
moved. By some it is asserted that
silver wire has distinct antiseptlc prop
critics. Nitrate of silver in solution /:
known to be a good germicide. Hence
it is argued that silver salt injurious
to germ development is formed by th'
contact OF body fluids with silver wire
Thus stitch Assesses are said to be o
rare occurrence when silver wire !
utilized.
Silk thread, such as is used by tall
ors, but of the finest quality and o
larger callber, is frequently used. Th
stitches are practically non-absorable
though at times no trace OF the threa'
has been found In the tissue at the ex
piration of year.
To accommodate this assortment c
threads special varieties of needles ar
naturally required. A surgeon
"house-wlfe" contains needles tha
! would scarcely be recognized as sue
, by the uninltiated. Besides tn
r needles curved in different segments {
a circle, surgeons use needles shape
? like spears, javelins and bayonet point
l Some are as long as bodkins. terminal
g ing in a point like miniature knil
:. blade. Others have the sharpene
end triangular, with the apices OF tn
: angles sharpened to razor edge. Som
few are formed like ordinary eewln
needles, but made of greater tens
= strength.
Instead of a thimble, a surgeon u.s.
d an instrument called needle holde
s. 1t is shaped like pair OF scissors, IL
y points of which are blunt clamps. IL
needle is held fast between the jaws
e the clamps until released by openin
3 the two blades as the scissors are ope
y ed. Then fresh hold is taken ar
= = the action repeated with every stltc