Carbasus Absorbens. Absorbent Gauze.
Absorbent gauze consists of open-wove cotton gauze, known in the cotton trade as mulls, prepared from cotton deprived of its natural oil. Absorbent gauze for surgical purposes should be soft, free from dressing and sizing, freely absorbing water. The count of its mesh both on the warp and the weft varies from 16 to 24 per linear inch (2 ½ centimetres). The gauze should be free from starch and gum-like matters. One gramme, when incinerated, should yield practically no residue.
Selvedge absorbent ribbon gauze, from ¼ inch to 2 inches in width, is usually wound on spools or, better, packed in sterilised bottles. Ribbon gauze is used for packing cavities, as its edges do not fray.
