SPHAGNUM MOSS.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 223, 3 November 1916, Page 8 (Supplement)

SPHAGNUM MOSS.

*». . One of the cliu; dioiovcrics or the war is s'liiagiiu.'u i.tusa .;- a d.css.ng u>r wound*, jt k r.ipiuiy m.-.Kiiig huid»a\ among surgeons auu ruraes, aim tno d. in..ii i tin catena la uVi.U'ap Die supply. I lie ijnel d.'inA at juimuurgii !■ reci;\in;, orui rs uoiu the ttar OiUto lor some LU.WiJ itress.Ugs .i week. I'lio p. cuiiar viru.vs oi spluignum iuo-s an- a, iighUHs-s—.-.viiL-Ji makes it much iii-:e eoi:i;orr,sii!« tii.n ration u.'i'i, in hot weather—its a.lny, con iorta , ):c tilling, and its relua.Kablo po. ers of absorption, by v.hieii it tarries m its v.l-v. -ute fully ten tijii; s its own weight oi water. I'.ie m ;-s grows abundantly upon moorlands wherever peat and heather are found. The ueauMlui rol velvet variety (which is not very comwou) s found in the drier places in the form of little i ush'jus, often mixed with, heat.'ier. Tli re is a more s.endar green variety unic}. grows actually in water, filling open field drain.-, and bog holes. But the standby is the brenw variety, which is found in great bed- with > peaty bottom in such quantif.es that, itean be freely pulled up n double handful* the size of a Rugby fotoball.

The moss is being gathered in most i '. the moorland part., of the Brti/»h Isles by .-hi pherds, keeper;;, voluntary work-

ers el" all sorts, mmisters, school children, hoy scouts, etc. At the central depots ti' ' moss is picked and cleaned, autifepticr.ll> treated, and then put under an hydraulic press. The dressings in tlie : r final form are lik«> lit.t'e square biscuit-, with gauze on either side. These are being sent m a continuous stream to every fi'e-M of war. The.y are especially useful jor field dressings, as an enormous number or ihe: i can !>e packed in n small space.