It is customary to place the child in a bath, either the same evening or on the following morning, the object of this being to remove and to facilitate the removal of the dressings, which are more or less saturated and clotted with blood. After the removal of these, the wound is redressed, as previously, except that some cerate--ointment of roses or some other mild ointment--is used. Some prefer the simple water dressing from beginning to end. Since the introduction of creasote, acid phénique, and carbolic acid, many mohels are in the practice of washing the parts with water impregnated with one of these before performing the operation, and using subsequently the same form of lotion at every dressing. In case of hæmorrhage there is an hæmostatic water or lotion, which has been long used by the German and Polish mohels with considerable success, and which, in ordinary cases, has been found to be all that was required. This water, called by the French "Mixture d'arguesbusade," "Eau vulneraire spiriteuse de Theden," and by the Germans as "Spritzwasser" and "Schusswasser," is composed as follows:--
Acetic acid, 10 grammes. Rectified spirits of wine, 5 " Diluted sulphuric acid, 2½ " Clarified honey, 8 "
This mixture is well mixed and filtered, and is then kept in a tightly-stoppered vial.
Dr. Bergson uses a mixture composed of diluted sulphuric acid, 1 part; alcohol, 3 parts; honey, 2 parts; and 6 parts of wine vinegar.
Hæmostatic powders are also used by the Hebrews, being more conveniently kept or carried than the hæmostatic waters. In Russia and in Poland they are composed of decomposed or decayed hawthorn-wood powder and lycopodium. That of Berlin is composed of Armenian bole, red clay, dragons' blood, powdered rose-leaves, powdered galls, and powdered subcarbonate of lead. In France a hæmostatic fluid, composed of dragons' blood digested in turpentine, is in vogue. The Eau de Pagliari is also used; it is composed of a mixture of tincture of benzoin, 8 ounces; powdered alum, 1 pound; and 10 pounds of water, boiled together for six hours, and is considered a powerful styptic. In addition to these, burnt linen, spiders' webs, starch-powder, powdered alum, and plaster-of-Paris powder are used by different mohels. Touching the bleeding points with a pointed pencil of nitrate of silver is also a practice understood by the Jewish circumcisers.