JNew Adhesive Dressing;. By Dr. Mellez.—From his dissatisfac-
tion with the ordinary adhesive dressings, Dr. Mellez was led to adopt
a solution of ‘‘gum lac,” which is much used in the arts as a varnish
and adhesive.
He uses a solution of this substance in spirit of wine, made with the
aid of a moderate heat, and in such proportion as to give a mixture
having the consistence of jelly, or nearly approaching to it. It can be
made in a common wide-mouthed bottle, and a simple cork suffices for
its preservation. When he uses it, he spreads it with a spatula upon
pieces of cloth or taffetas, cut to the size required. According to him.
it possesses all the good qualities of collodion, and even in a higher
degree than that substance—viz., contraction during its dessication, im-
permeability to air, absence of all irritating action on the skin or wound,
intimate adherence to the skin, and resistance to the action of water,
fatty matters, or the discharges from the wound. It has not, like collo-
dion, the quality of being colourless ; but he believes that it might, if
required, be decolorized, and, if applied upon animal membrane, would
furnish a transparent dressing. Lt does not dry so quickly as collo-
dion, but that is the only advantage the latter possesses. The lac
dressing, however, does not require so long time as to be inconveni-
ent to the surgeon. Moreover, it is not indispensible for the lac, as
it is for the collodion, that the skin be absolutely dry. It has
further, the advantage (not to be overlooked) of being more moder-
ate in cost. (‘ Bulletin de Theraputique.’)—Monthly Journal, June
1850, p. 575.