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
Music history of the United States during the colonial era on the State of Virginia", which refers to it as a "banjar", and notes that the instrument came from Africa. Other names included "bangoe", "banshaw", "bangelo", "banza", "bangil" and "banjer". The instrument was described in West Africa as early as 1620 by Richard Jobson, but was present for some time before. In North America, the banjo was typically made by hollowing out a gourd or calabash and attaching a long neck. The slaves then stretched a piece of animal hide, usually raccoon, over the bowl and attached four strings. Jefferson claimed that the "banjar" with which he was familiar was