The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1841-12-25
TREATMENT OF BURNS.-We


TREATMENT OF BURNS.-We
find in recent number of the London
Medical Gazette the following commune
cation on the treatment'of burns, bya
emiRsn, Scotch'physician:-.Nat. Gazette.
Sir.-Considering the vast number of
accidents which daily occur by burning,
it may not perhaps be unacceptable to the
profession to have their attention directed
to an application which have been in
the habit of Hsiag IN such cases for some
time past, with very decided advantage,
The plan Of treatment which | adopt, and
heresalludd to, is nothing novel, and may,
perhaps, be employed by many, if not
known to most. 8 II is, therefore, solely
with the view Of detailing what appears
to me most valuable form of application,
in cases of burning, as we'll as OF inviting
its more general use, that now trouble
you with the remafks.-The more com .
mon Of The applications generally en-
ployed appears tome liable to many oh
lections. The common sweet or train oil
is remedy frequently resor,cd to, in the
hurry and hustle Of the moment attending
these accidents, by friends or neighbours
of the patient, who may happen to be
present at the time This application,
too, is not unfrequenly sanctioned by the
practitioner. Granting the occasional
ultimate benefit of this application, and
waving its filthy nature, the strong objec-
ton to its use is this--lhat it seldom or
never affords instant relief to the suffer
ing patient. The same, I think, holds
true in respect of the linimentum aqup
calcis, or Carron oil, so very Frequently
employed. The common raw cotton, or
waddng, has, of late wears, and perhaps
deservedly too, held especial favour as a
local application.
1t must, however, be admitted, that the
patient derives no mmcdiaie relief to his
suAerings upon its irstapplication; but on
the contrary, not unfrequently complains
of augmented pain for some time after
wards. This may very easily be account
ted for; both by its acting as an irritating
body, by its di,ect contact with the red o,
raw surface, as well as by increasing for
a time the temperature of the part to which
it may be applied Besides, it in a few
days becomes saturated with discharge
from the secreting surface, and conse-
quenlly not only proves annoying to the
patient, but also means of keeping up
discharge in more trivia! cases. The OBJ
Jeclons are in great measure got rid of
by using common soap, which, besides its
great value as local application. com
mands the additional advantage of always
being at hand in cases of emergency.
The mode in which am in the habit of
it is this:-A common shaving
box may always be procured, from which
a good lather may, in the course of a min
nte or two, by easily obtained. The
lather is then gently lard over the burnt
surface by means of a shaving brush, and
so SOON as the first coat begins
to dry, or the pain return. This practice
ought to be repeated occasionally during
the first day, or until such time as the pain
Is relieved. The benefit accruing to the
patient is immediate, and the result OF the
practice highly satisfactory; for in more
superficial burns if early applied, YES
ication is prevented, and, in the course
of few days, desquamation of the cuticle
follows, without leaving a raw surface.
Of course; this, as a remedial measures,
is most applicable to superficial burns; but
even in such cases as involve destruction
of the more deep tissues, it is not used
without advantage, in so far as the person.
al comfort Of the patient is concerned.
In such cases, after the lapse of few
days, the crust formed by the soap is cas-
lily removed, SO as to permit the employ
ment Of other remedies, if necessary. /
am not prepared to say whether the ben
eft and Simultaneous relief following the
application of the lalher, are to be ascribed
to its chemical composition, or simply to
the fact of its atlording some degree of
protection from atmospheric agency, or
both. We're il necessary, could easily
adduce many cases in illustration of its
extreme value as a local application; but
as this would be needlessly encroaching
upon the space of your journal, leave il
to those of the profession who have not
yet tested its efficiency, to substanliate
by the result of their own experience, the
truth of the preceding statements, remain
sir, your very obedient servant.
TIOS. WILLIAMSON, M. D.
Leith, Sept z. 1871.