All clothing about the site of operation should be removed and rubber cloth placed to surround the field and cover the clothing. This should be covered again with sterilized towels. Everything that touches the patient after this has been done should be aseptic; indeed, hands employed during operation must be immersed from time to time in 1-500 bichlorid solution, and allowed to remain wet. CHAPTER III REQUIREMENTS DURING OPERATION SPONGES AND SPONGING Natural or sea sponges are now little used in surgery, owing to their peculiar cellular construction. They invite and readily retain spores and germs, are difficult to clean, and require almost constant attention to be at all safe. Many methods for rendering these sponges aseptic have been proposed, but at best the life of such a sponge is short and hardly pays for the labor and time expended. The absorbing power of a sponge is, of course, its essential quality. For plastic operations sterilized absorbent cotton made into small balls answers every purpose. These puffs of cotton are covered with gauze to prevent the fraying out of the fibers. To further improve them, their centers may be made up of cellulose or wood fiber. When an absorbent cotton sponge is moistened and squeezed out it does not answer as well, since its absorbing qualities are much reduced; the addition of the other material overcomes this. A much-used and inexpensive sponge having great absorbing power is made in the form of a small compress of sterilized gauze held together with one or two stitches of thread. All of the above sponges are sterilized with the needed dressings and are burned after use. When removed from the sterilizer they are placed in a suitable basin containing six per cent sterilized salt water. It is well to place the receptacle close by the assistant who is to sponge. An enameled iron basin rack, as shown in Fig. 12, answers the purpose best. [Illustration: FIG. 12.—BASINS AND RACK.] The soiled sponges are thrown into a lower empty basin or one placed at the operator’s feet. As they are removed from the solution they are squeezed as dry as possible and pressed upon, rather than wiped across, the operative field. It must be remembered that the surgeon’s work must not be hampered by slow or inefficient sponging, and that this procedure must be quick and timely. It is well for the assistant to become accustomed to the habit of the operator.