2-378-670 - Historica Graphica Collection/Heritage Images

Preparing cat gut at the London Hospital's own factory, London, 20th century. Cat gut is a kind of chord prepared from the intestine of animals and used for musical instruments. The work seen here is taking place in the annexe of the London Hospital, where sufficient profit is made from the manufacture of cat gut to support about 26 in-patients annually. The lower photograph shows lengths of gut being prepared, while (top left) we see lengths being spun into ligatures and (top right) being sterilised in a bath.