Collodion

Collodion is made by dissolving gun-cotton (pyroxylin) in ether and rectified spirit. The liquid on exposure to the air rapidly loses it's volatile constituents, and "sets" forming a jelly-like, tenacious, solid mass. If collodion be painted over an abraded surface, as evaporation occurs a, protecting film is formed; moreover, this film tends to shrink, and so will serve to maintain the edges of a wound in apposition. From ordinary collodion is prepared Collodium flexile (collodion, 48; Canada balsam, 2; castor oil, 1); while Collodium resicans is the name given to a solution of gun-cotton (one part) in blistering fluid (20 parts).