Absorbable tissue adhesives

A composition of matter which comprises at least one 2-cyanoacrylate ester of the general formula (I) ##STR5## wherein R is selected from the group consisting of alkyl groups having from 1 to about 8 carbon atoms and alkoxyalkyl groups having the formula R.sub.1 --O--R.sub.2 -- wherein R.sub.1 is an alkyl group having from 1 to about 8 carbon atoms and R.sub.2 is an alkylene group having from 3 to about 6 carbon atoms, in admixture with from about 2 percent to about 25 percent of at least one oxalic acid polymer of the general formula (II) ##STR6## wherein each R.sub.3 is an alkylene group having from 2 to about 4 carbon atoms, each p is an integer from 1 to about 4, with the proviso that not more than about 1 of each 20 p's is 1, and n is the degree of polymerization which results in a polymer which does not initiate polymerization upon mixing with the 2-cyanoacrylate

• monomer and standing for about 12 hours.