Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1918-07-18
Sphangum Moss
Substitute Dressing

The truth of the old adage that
necessity is the mother of inven-
tion," is particularly noticeable in
times of great emergency such as is
now stimulating the thought of sci
ontists the world over, War had
been declared only a few months
when it was seen that there was like
~ to be shortage of absorbent cot
ton, and in an effort 10 avert Such
a calamity experiments were begun
with a kind of moss known as sphag-
mum, or peat moss, as a substitute.
Like many other great discoveries
and inventions, the use OF sphagnum
as a surgical dressing was discovered
tv accident. In the early eighties
c. the last century a workman at one
Of the outlying peat moors in north
Germany accidentally sustained a Sc
"ere lacerated wound of the forearm.
y the absence Of anything better to
apply TO the wound, his fellow work
man wrapped it up with fragments
OF peat which were lying near, and
after an interval of ten days he ar
rived at the surgical clinic at Kiel
With the original dressing undisturb-
ed. When the peat dressing was re-
moved, it was found that the wounl
lad healed in q most satisfactory
manner.
Shortly after the war broke out
in 1914, Dr.. c W. Cathcart, an Edin-
urgh surgeon and lieute1ant-coloael
II the medical corps Of the British
army, began experim srting with
srhagnum moss in one Of the Scot
Lsb war hospitals. The first publish
ed account Of these experiments. to-
Eether with the general account of
the moss as surgical dressing. aY-
peared in the Scotsman OF November
1914. DR.. Cathca-t then formed an
organization fer collecting and pre-
laring the peat moss for surgical
pads in Edinburgh.
The sphsgnum work in america
lag been more recent than in Europe.
During the summer of 1916. DR.. J.
p. Porter Of McGil UNIVERSITY be-
came interested in peat moss fo- sur
seal dressings. Samples were COL
lected in eastern Canada, and ssnt
to Britain for approval. In the
spring and summer Of 1917 this
v ork was continued by the Canadian |
ded Cross under the direction OF D.. !
Porter. Although a very large num-
'er of dressings wo-e made. yet the |
organization was extended and per-
ieoted, and the bogs containing the
desirable moss located, SO that If the
demand became more urgent the pro-
tuction of this kind of dressing coull
re rapidly pushed.
When the United States entered
he war more interest was taken in
he work by Americans. Quantities
Il sphagnum moss was gathered in
canada and shipped to New York.
and there made into surgical dress
ngs similar to those made bv the
canadians While this work was 60
Ag on in the east, similar work was
started in the west. Early in July.
I9lf, a request came from the
french relief to the president of the
University of Washington az Seattle
o ascertain if suitable moss fer sur
'ical dressings grew in this region
Investigation discovered moss bogs
llcng the Pacific from Oregon TO
Alaska.
interest is awakening in the varl-
us colleges and schools in the north
'est in locating bogs and gathering
he moss. Sveral fine peat bogs have
een discovered along the coast of
his state, and some inland. 1t IS
laimed that good sphagnum has
cen located near Eugene, end that
esearch may find it around the in
aricr lakes.
Samples Of sphaglum moss are on
here at the Red Cross
eadquarters, and at the public IL
rary. 1t is doubtful if any exists
this section on account of the
lck of moist areas, but it is thought
may be found around the klamath
Ike country and various sections in
ict direction.
The collection of sphagnum moss
going to be an important factor
war work, ana the Locating of the
ogs is one of the most essential fea-
lres.