This is the book that I was given back in the early 1960s to learn suturing. It can be downloaded in PDF format here:
(DEAD LINK) File Attached Below

Been looking for something like that. Thanks

Thanks Jonas for this invaluable addition to my preps.

WOW THANKS HERES SOM KARMA BACK AT YA!!

So what's the best way to learn to suture? This is what I was told by an old surgeon-friend. It's what I did and it does work. Note, this is for cutaneous sutures (skin sutures) only. Sub-cutaneous suturing is best left to a board certified surgeon. After you download, print out and read the book:

1. Buy a fresh (not smoked) ham. You may have to order it from your butcher.
2, Get a handful of outdated 000 or 0000 Dermalon suture packets with the atraumatic needles attached, a scalpel with a #20 blade, a surgical scissors, and a needle-holder (NOT a hemostat). A friend working in a hospital will be helpful here.
3. Make a 4" incision in the skin of the fresh ham with the scalpel.
4. Suture the incision.
5. Make another incision.
6. Suture it.
7. After about 10 - 15 incisions, you'll have a good idea about how to suture.
8. Remove sutures with surgical scissors (NOW you can use a hemostat to pull out the sutures).
7. Bake ham at 350F for 25 minutes per pound and serve with red cabbage for Sunday dinner.

Thanks for the tips on learning to suture. Medical skills are one area I could use more help with. I also dl'ed that book as well.

So what is the expiration on sutures...do the compounds actually break down in the foil or is it just for liability purpose? We bought a grip of expired sutures of varying sizes, in both chromic, silk, and gut (is that right..I can't find the pack right now but it's around here somewhere). They are all sealed and whatnot, but have past the expiration dates.....should I count on these for backup, or strictly for practice (as they were sold for such). Any input?


Oh yeah......

GREAT INFO THANKS

Very good, JP. I actually worked for Ethicon for a time in the 80s. They were making staplers for wound closure. Thanks for the post.