At first surgeon dresses ... wrapping key component of cleaning wounds (6,9)
I believe the answer is:
saline solutions
'component of cleaning wounds' is the definition.
'at first surgeon dresses wrapping key' is the wordplay.
'at' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'first surgeon' becomes 's' (sst letter of 'surgeon').
'dresses wrapping' becomes 'saline' (I am not sure about this - if you are sure you should believe this answer much more).
'key' becomes 'solution' (I've seen this before).
'saline'+'solution'='salinesolution'
's' put after 'salinesolution' is 'SALINE SOLUTIONS'.
Can you help me to learn more?
I've seen this clue in The Everyman puzzle in The Observer.
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