NEW CURATIVE AGENT.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 532, 20 July 1869, Page 3

NEW CURATIVE AGENT.

Dr Monckton, Provincial Surgeon of Southland, has addressed the following letter to the Southland Times : — Now that the subject of utilising the material • and products of New Zealand flax is obtaining so large a share of public attention, it may not be amiss to furnish a little information upon its curative properties. A few years ago, while in charge of the Provincial Hospital, I received a highly concentrated decoction, from Mr' Scott, rope-maker, which had been obtained from residue of liquor left in his tanks after a very large quautity of flax leaves had passed through the their boiling or stewing processes. I used this with advantage at that time, as a dressing for small cuts, lacerations, &c. Since then, as I have advanced its uses to cases of greater magnitude, I have been surprised at the extraordinary healing properties it developed. In one case of compound and comminuted fracture, or, in plain English, a severe smash of thumb, including splintered condition of bones, and a ragged wouud of some extent, a constant dressing of Hut was applied, soaked in the solution, which completed a more rapid cure than anything else I am acquainted with would have done. During the whole time of its application there were healthy granulations and no discharge, except for 3 or 4 days, when the supply fell short, and Friar's balsam was applied in its place ; the wound immediately became offensive, and emitted a purulent discharge, which was rectified by re-ap-plying the original dressing. The above, though the most severe, is only one case out of many, and the effect produced showed it to have sufficient disinfecting, as well as curative properties, to form one of the most pleasant, and cleanly, as well as effective, of surgical dressings.