and calcium sulphate have been utilized to provide the calcium ion which precipitates the insoluble calcium alginate which serves to entrap into the calcium alginate matrix other components as described herein it is clear as has been mentioned that other salts may be utilized to precipitate the alginate such as those of aluminum zinc copper or chromium and these insoluble alginates may readily be utilized to precipitate the coercive alginate mixture described in the examples provided herein without deviating from the essential merits of this invention however since the alginate compositions are to be utilized in and on biological tissues the particular salt utilized to precipitate the alginate should be dictated by any restraints of toxicity or other untoward reactions that might result from their use for the preparation of bandages dressings or surgical products note that in example 6 we utilized bovine collagen as a component in the alginate mixture so that the insoluble silver alginate calcium alginate foam gel will contain an agent which has haemostatic activity and therefore would serve to stem the flow of blood from a wound when a dressing containing collagen is placed thereon however it is clear that other collagens such as porcine collagen may be incorporated into the dressings described herein without deviating from the essential merits of this invention note that in example 3 we incorporate antibiotics into the alginate composition other medicaments and or drugs that may be delivered by means of this invention but are not limited to this invention include moisturizers e g water glycerin petrolatum dimethicon lactic acid salts alpha hydroxy acids many of the examples described herein utilize the surface active agents such as those characterized as tween 80 or pluronic l64 these surface active agents are utilized.