Catgut suture treatment produces roughly twice the stitch-holding time of plain catgut, but greater tissue inflammation occurs. Full tensile strength is extended to 18–21 days. It is brown rather than straw-colored, and has improved smoothness due to the dry presentation of the thread (plain catgut is wet). It is otherwise similar to plain catgut. Fast catgut suture is heat-treated to give even more rapid absorption in the body. The first known absorbable sutures were made of the intestines of sheep. The manufacturing process was similar to that of natural musical strings for violins and guitar, and also of natural strings for tennis
Jinghu (instrument) Jinghu (instrument) The jinghu (京胡; pinyin: jīnghú) is a Chinese bowed string instrument in the "huqin" family, used primarily in Beijing opera. It is the smallest and highest pitched instrument in the "huqin" family. Like most of its relatives, the "jinghu" has 2 strings that are customarily tuned to the interval of a 5th which the hair of the non-detachable bow passes in between. The strings were formerly made of silk, but in modern times are increasingly made of steel or nylon. Unlike other "huqin" instruments ("erhu", "gaohu", "zhonghu", etc.) it is made of bamboo. Its cylindrical soundbox is covered