Possible Clues:

• Caustic Aussie not wholly captivated by rep
• Styptic used in a stable hospital department
• (Medication) causing contraction - stern giant (anag)
• A hospital department keeps a length of catgut and some lotion
• A short Australian chap can be biting
• Sharp as wine with added peel, say
• Contracting is an awful strain on a fellow
• Cutting queue in a hospital department
• Lotion man applied to terrible strain
• (Of taste) sharp, bitter