Abstract: A soluble hemostatic gauze is made from a cotton gauze immersed in an aqueous solution of from 90% to 95% ethanol at room temperature for at least 50 minutes and then exposed to an aqueous solution of NaOH at a temperature of from 35° to 40° C. for from 90 to 150 minutes. Next the cotton gauze is kept in an aqueous solution of acetic chloride at a temperature of from 35° to 40° C. for from 90 to 150 minutes and then washed in an aqueous solution of ethanol for a sufficient time to neutralize the cotton gauze and remove residue salts from the gauze resulting in a soluble hemostatic gauze. That soluble hemostatic gauze is then dried. An antibiotic or other pharmaceutically effective agent may be linked to the gauze molecules.