CATGUT (probably a corruption, by popular confusion with kit, cat, of kit, fiddle, apparently from AS. cytere, from Lat. cithara, Gk. KtOcipa, Hamra, guitar, and gut, Ger. (lotte, gutter, from .\S. fp•otan, Got. giutan, Ger. geissen, bat. fun dcre, Gk. ;•at, chain, to pour). A substance employed in the manufacture of the strings of violins, harps, guitars, and other musical in struments, and also used for the cords •lock-weights, in the bows of archers, and for whip-eord. It is generally prepared from the intestines of sheep, rarely from those of the horse, ass, or mule, but never from those of the cat. The first stage in the operation is the thor ough cleansing of the intestines from ad herent. feculent and fatty matters, after which they are steeped in water fnr several days, so as to loosen the external membrane, whieh can then be removed by scraping with a blunt knife. The material which is thus scraped off is em ployed for the cords of battledores and rackets. and also as thread in sewing the ends of in testines together. The scraped intestines are
then steeped in water and scraped again. treated with a dilute solution of alkali (1 oz. potash, 4 oz. carbonate of potash, and three to four gal lons of water, with occasionally a.little alum), drawn through a perforated brass thimble, and assorted into their respective sizes. In order to destroy any adherent animal matter, which would lead to putrefaction and the consequent development of offensive odors, it. is customary to subject the catgut to the fumes of burning sulphur (sulphurous acid). The best strings are used for musical instruments, and those which come from Italy and are known as Roman strings cure the strongest. They are remarkable for their clearness and transparency. The surgeon also uses the best grades of catgut in closing wounds. Cords for clock-makers are made split longitudi nally into several lengths. Whip-cord is made from catgut which has been twisted in a manner .oniewhat, similar to single-corded ropes.