BARBOUR'S LINEN FLAX THREAD AS A SUBSTITUTE FOR PAGENSTECHER THREAD

To the Editor:  —As Pagenstecher thread, used by many surgeons in gastric and intestinal work, has not been imported for many months, the supply has become practically exhausted. It may be of interest, therefore, for those who have not found a satisfactory substitute, to know that Barbour's linen flax thread is stronger, smoother and a much better product than Pagenstecher linen. This material can be obtained in almost any size, at 18 cents per spool of 200 yards, as compared with 20 cents per skein of 50 yards for Pagenstecher thread (less than one quarter the price). No. 60 or 70 is a satisfactory size for intestinal work. The war has demonstrated that with little inconvenience we can dispense with practically everything we formerly used bearing the label, "Made in Germany," and linen thread for surgical work is no exception. I do not know where Barbour's thread is made, but