See Flax, Linen, and Linum.

surgery, is the scrapings of fine linen, used by surgeons in dressing wounds. It is made into various forms, which acquire different names according to the difference of their figures.—Lint made up in an oval or orbicular form is called a pledgit; if in a cylindrical form, or in shape of a date, or olive-stone, it is called a daffil.

These different forms of lint are required for many purposes; as, 1. To stop blood in fresh wounds, by filling them up with dry lint before the application of a bandage; though, if scraped lint be not at hand, a piece of fine linen may be torn into small rags, and applied in the same manner. In very large hemorrhages the lint or rags should be first dipped in some styptic liquor, as alcohol, or oil of turpentine; or sprinkled with some styptic powder. 2. To agglutinate or heal wounds; to which end lint is very serviceable, if spread with some digestive ointment, balsam, or vulnerary liquor. 3. In drying up wounds and ulcers, and forwarding the formation of a cicatrix. 4. In keeping the lips of wounds at a proper distance, that they may not hastily unite before the bottom is well digested and healed. 5. They are highly necessary to preserve wounds from the injuries of the air.—Surgeons of former ages formed compresses of sponge, wool, feathers, or cotton; linen being scarce; but lint is far preferable to all these, and is at present universally used.