Abstract:
Absorbent Cotton also known as “Surgical Cotton” or “Cotton Wool” is made
from well carded cotton fibers. It is bleached to get good white colour and softened.
The sterilized absorbent cotton may be of slightly white in colour. The material
should be of uniform quality and offer appreciable resistance when pulled. The
average staple length of absorbent cotton is not less than 1.5 cm. It is called
absorbent cotton as it absorbs fluids immediately. It should be soft in order to give
maximum protection to the wound irritation. The main physical properties desired in
a surgical dressing are inertness and lack of irritation during use. Absorbent Cotton
provides these properties when manufactured according to certain standards. Raw
Cotton is processed by a series of process and rendered hydrophilic in character and
free from other external organic impurities for enabling it’s use in surgical dressing.
