One of the most time consuming and troublesome procedures for the nurse or intern at the operating table is the preparation of the catgut. Especially is this true in extensive pelvic operations, in which there is likely to be a demand for large amounts of catgut of varying sizes. One method frequently employed is that of breaking the glass tube, soaking the catgut, laboriously cutting it into half, third or quarter lengths, as the case may be, and finally wrapping it in damp gauze sponges. The stringing out and cutting of the catgut is peculiarly difficult, especially when one has but little experience with the procedure.
In order to facilitate this process, we have designed a rack in which the catgut can be placed, cut and stored during the operation. This has been in almost daily use for four months in the gynecologic operating rooms of the Johns Hopkins