The Washington times., 1915-10-07
SUBSTITUTE COTTON
FOUND BY GERMANS
IS USED IN SURGERY
Process Is Secret, U. S. Consuls
Report to Department Of
Agriculture.
Germany and the Scandinavian coun-

Germany and the Scandinavian coun-
| tries are making a substitute for raw
! cotton, and for absorbent cotton, from
| wood pulp and cellulose. This cotton
substitute is made by. secret process.
and Is being extensively used Great
Britain, too, has a substitute for cotton
for use as a surgical dressing, accord
ing to official reports coming to the
Several samples Of the cotton made
from wood pulp In the north OF Europe
have been received by the Government.
and reports on the processes and their
success, as well as the uses of such cot
ton are being sought. The Forestry
bureau Of the Department OF Agricul-
ture has an Exhibit exhibit Of this cotton re- re-,
appearance and feel Of the boil cotton
of the South. The layman would read
ily mistake It for American raw cotton.
both from Its appearance and the touch.
Whether It. can be put to al lof the
uses of real cotton IL not known. The
extent OF Its manufacture In Germany
Is likewise problematical. as only meager
reports have been received from Ameri-
can consular officers.
May Be Good Gun Cotton.
Military authorities are deeply in
terested In the problem as to whether or
not Germany, making and receiving a
way of making 1t into gun cotton ana
There can be little doubt that German
chemists have been at work on a substi-
tute for cotton. Germany has been hard
pressed to keep UP her supply of this
most important war time staple: For
many months Germany and Austria
Rave had to depend entirely on reserve
supplies.
Government authorities are confident
that the wood pulp and cellulose substi-
tSte will never r have an apPryselia,sbIle
less. ever since first reports OF Its manu-
facture were received, reports on the
process and the extent of manufacture
tion. however. is coming from Germany.
1t Is generally conceded that the prod
uct can be used in surgery, and II Ger
many has a sufficient amount the way
into explosives. 1t is regarded as sig
nificant that while several German firms
in Germany advertise the manufacture
OF this substitute, It can not be gener-
ally obtained.
Cheaper Than Cotton.
The following reports have SO far
been received: From Consul General
julius q. Lay. at Berlin:
Although several firms in Germany
advertise that they manufacture sub
stitutes for absorbent cotton, such sub
stitutes are not generally sold to tho
at every drug store.
since the present European war be-
gan the demand for cotton substitutes
has Increased. The high prices OF cot
ton and the possibility that they may
soar higher have caused many expert
ments to be made with paper pulp and
cellulose materials. The substitutes so
far produced are generally much cheap
er than cotton. but their sale has been
retarded by the fact that they do not
possess all Of It's good qualities.
THE only substitute for absorbent
cotton that has found a large sale in
sold by Fritz Seyffert. Barbarossa-
strasse 32a. This particular substitute
Is made OF pure pine ccllulose and can
be commercially produced much cheap
er than absorbent cotton. 1t Is chiefly
used to stop bleeding. 1t Is claimed that
It absorbs blood better than cotton, but
It cannot compete with that fiber as a
dressing for wound. Physicians state.
factorily as second dressing.
Mr.. Seyffert states that lignin Is
made according to a secret process"
Sweden Produces 1t.
From Consul Emil Sauer at Goteborg.
Sweden:
There are two firms In Sweden $50
far as this office was able to ascertain)
that manufacture cellulose wadding
from chemical wool pulp for dressing
wounds. There are the Frovifors Bruks
Aktiebolag. Frovi. and the Stora Kop-
perbergs Bergslags Aktiebolag. Falun.
The latter is in the consular district OF
Stockholm.
The wadding is prepared In very thin
sheets-like tissue paper. but crimped-
and in general appears to be manuiac-
tured in the same way as tissue paper.
This consulate was not able to secure
details regarding the process of manu-
facture. as these are held secret. The
Frovifers Company. however. expressed
a willingness to sell Its process to an
American firm"
From Consul Augustus f. Ingram.
Bradford. England:
"A recent article IN the Yorkshire
Post described In very Interesting
manner the collection in Westmoreland
fells-it also Is found on the Yorkshire
moors-of the bog moss Sphagnum Gym
bifolium. which Is of great value as a
surgical dressing. The moss IL permeated
with minute tubes which in natural
state hold water eight or nine times
the weight Of the plant 30 that when IT
is drv 1t Is one of the most absorbent
materials known.
1T is antiseptic. soft. light, and cool.
As very little preparation Is nece ssary
before use II 1t Is carefully gathered
for It has only to be sterilized and
placed in flannel bags-it Is a very eco
nomical dressing. 1t has for some time
been used in hospitals in this country,
and before the war was supplied from
Germany. In German towns 1t Is said
to be common sight to see country
women with big baskets of plants going
into chemists shops to sell or ex-
change their goods.
THE moss is easier to pick over II the
water has not been wrung from It: but.
pluckea In handfuls--the strands Elk and
seven inches long coming away with no
particles OF soil about their roots-it
SHOULD be spread on the rocks or prefer
ably on nearby bushes SO that the air
can get at 1t from above and below.
Later II Is sterilized"