THE 
EFFECT OF FLUIDS 
ON THE 
STRENGTH OF CATGUT. 
BY 
D. BRADEN KYLE, M.D., 
Assistant Demonstrator in Pathology, Jefferson Medical College. 
REPRINTED FROM THE THERAPEUTIC GAZETTE, MA Y rb, i8qa. 
DETROIT, MICH. : 
GEORGE S. DAVIS, PUBLISHER. 
1892. THE EFFECT OF FLUIDS ON THE 
STRENGTH OF CATGUT. 
IN view of the different methods employed 
by surgeons in using catgut ligatures, I 
have thought it might of some interest to 
test the strength of catgut after immersion 
in water and alcoholic solutions. 
Two bottles of the prepared gut were se- 
lected. In one the gut was preserved in sub- 
limated alcohol and in the other in juniper 
oil. Each bottle contained three sizes of the 
gut, No. i being the smallest, No. 2 medium, 
and No. 3 the largest size. The length of 
time of immersion in each case in the differ- 
ent solutions varied from twenty to forty 
minutes, or the time generally consumed in 
ordinary operations. The length of gut was 
in each case eight inches,-two inches for 
fastening and six inches for traction. The 
number of pounds required to overcome the 
resistance offered by the catgut was indicated 
by a graduated scale, care being taken to 
make traction in the direct line with the 
scale. The traction was a steady pull, the 
length of time before breaking being indi- 
cated by means of a stop-watch. No doubt 
some variation in the textile strength of the 
gut was due to inequality in the size of the 2 
Sublimated alcohol. 
Juniper oil. 
Minutes of time 
the catgut was 
exposed. 
Amount of trac- 
tions in pounds. 
Time of breaking, 
in fractions of a 
minute. * 
Amount of trac- 
tion in pounds. 
Time of breaking, 
in fraction of a 
minute. 
3 
3 
I 
3 
I 
3 
4 
Ri 
I 
4 
31 
12 
2I1 
3 
1 
4 
4 
2 
5 
Pure alcohol 
J 20 
4f 
4 
17 
t 
3 
1 
41 
Ml 
251 
1 
T 
1 
4 
7 
Alcohol and carbolic (I 
(40 
5 
71 
i7f 
T 
1 
4 
3 
4 
5 
14 
26 
1 
1 
3 
1 m. 
<D 
f 20 
41 
81 
19 
s 
1 
¥ 
3 
~5 
31 
I2f 
21 
1 
1 
1 
V 
to 40) acid, equal parts 
(40 
si 
4 
U 
1 
T 
2 
S' 
1 
4 
2 
"1 
20 
1 
J 
1 
4 
3 
C 
Corrosive sublimate and 
j 20 
2| 
91 
16 
1 
K 
1 
1 
2 
o 
alcohol, equal parts... 
140 
31 
8 
Ml 
1 
1 
y 
3 
4 
J 
Corrosive sublimate (1 
f 20 
2I 
81 
I21 
1 
5 
1 
t 
3 
4 
o 
O) 
to 1000), aq. sol 
(40 
71 
11 
1 
1 
3 
1 
Boiled water 
J 20 
2 
61 
13 
1 
1 
4 
21 
6f 
'3 
1 
1 
1 
I 40 
4 
51 
1 
1 
T 
I 
2 
6 
12 
1 
5 
1 
¥ 
1 
J gut used. In fact, this was proved by sev- 
eral comparative tests. 
The experiments showed that all aqueous 
solutions incline to greatly diminish the 
strength of gut, and that the longer the 
immersion the greater the diminution in 
strength. The result from immersion in 
boiled water showed the greatest diminu- 
tion. In pure alcohol an increase in strength 
was observed in direct ratio with the time of 
exposure. Alcohol and carbolic acid solu- 
'tion had very little effect. After twenty to 
forty minutes the strength was somewhat 
lessened. It was found that the catgut taken 
from the juniper oil, when subjected to the 
different solutions, showed better results 
than did that taken from the sublimate solu- 
tion. All sublimated solutions were found 
to lessen the strength of the catgut. 
The table opposite shows the result of 
experiments. 
3