Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 91.djvu/285

 Closing Up a Wound Without Using a Surgeon's Needle

ANEW method of drawing together the parts of a wound so as give Nature a chance to knit them permanently together again, eliminates the sur geon's needle, together with the pain of the sewing-up process. In this new method a lacing plaster is used, a strip on each side of the wound. After the wound has been cleaned and dressed, the plaster is ap- plied, one strip on each side of the cut, with the edges of the plaster about one- quarter of an inch from the edges of the wound.

Loops of thread, like a scalloped edging, are pro- vided in the plaster to receive the lacing, which is stiffened and used with- out a needle. The ends of these scallops are woven into the material so that they will not pull out. When the thread has been looped through opposite scallops in the sections of the plaster, the loops are drawn up, thus gently closing up the gap in the torn flesh. The wound is left exposed to the air through the threads, so that it may be drained and ex- amined occasionally with- out disturbing the ar- rangement of the plaster.

If a dressing of gauze is used, it may be changed when desired without re- moving the plaster. The threads are clipped and removed, leaving the wound exposed for the treatment. Afterwards the plaster is laced again with fresh thread. One application of the plaster strips is usually sufficient for the entire period of healing.

��Popular Science Monthly The

��Pretty Maids" of a Window Garden

��269 Chinese

how

���Lacing the plaster over a wound. The edges of the cut are gently drawn to- gether and held in place until healed

���How the "pretty maids" of a Chinese garden grow their verdant costumes

��MARY, Mary, quite contrary, does your garden grow?" "With tinkle bells and conchal shells and pretty maids all in a row." So goes the English nursery hyme,but it remained for the Chinese to make a practical application of the idea. The two photographs below show how the pretty maids are made to grow in the minia- ture flower gardens of China. But any little American girl may do the same thing with the head and arms of an old discarded doll. First an ordinary flower pot is filled with soil. Into the center of this is thrust a stick about ten or twelve inches long. To this other sticks are tied (ar- ranged as shown at left in the illustration) in order to give breadth to the lady's skirt when she is dressed in her verdant costume. The head of the doll should be fitted securely on these sticks, and the arms should be fastened with twine or wire.

Plant in the soil a few seeds of dwarf nasturtium, morning glory or any small creeper and keep them well watered. As the plants grow up, train the shoots on the framework of the doll and pinch them off as soon as they reach the neck in order to cause a thicker growth at the sides. Soon the entire frame will be covered, and the lady will be gorgeously attired. But in order to keep her looking her very best continually, it will be necessary to keep the vines closely cropped. Ornamentation is pro- vided by the blossoms.

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