Recent communications1 have described the uses of rubber sponge in the field of otolaryngology. Certain additions should be made to this growing list because the use of rubber sponge makes possible ease of manipulation, increased comfort of the patient, reduction of the operating time and more constant results.
As practically every major rubber company is making some type of rubber sponge, and as there are increasing numbers of commercial uses for rubber sponge, the sponge can be obtained in various thicknesses and densities. For use by otolaryngologists the sponge should be easily compressed (i. e., of low density), of neutral color, about ½ inch (1.27 cm.) thick for most applications and with very small bubble formation. These small bubble sponges are usually smoother on one side than on the other; but neither side, because of the extremely small size of the bubbles, is actually rough.
Sponge of this character can