Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1849-1856, 1853-09-15
Mn. EDITOR -

H""u" i'e mas oeen cnuahHc'cu "''
destroyed in a dreadful manner by
scaIdIng and burning by hot steam, make
il desirable that any good ndvicc or
c. unset about the conduct OF people,
that are exposed TO such Affections
should be published, because such
mournlul accidents cannot, according TO
the aies, experience, be avoided totally
even with the greatest care as long as
steam is lhe chlel power oil locomo-
ton.
1t may, therefore, be OF some service
to travellers, who are obliged 10 avail
themselves o. steamers or railroad-trains
to become acquainted with the treat,
ment Of those LESSONS, which are cnus-
ed by steam, IN order that they may.
even unaided by medical atieD ance, be
able TO mitigate the pains ci any burn:
limb, prevent The awful consequences OF
such wounds and il ali easy and speedy
way recover their health.
Scaiding by fire or steam is usual.
ly thought TO produce only an external
or local atllctlon bu, the truth is, that
he pain as we'll as the wound, caused
by these agencies, Is like all other me-
chanical injuries, produced by the reac-
ron Of the vital force. concentrated in
The nervous system Of the human body,
towards the local roin, touched by ex-
ternal agencies. Such polencies as fire,
contusiuns, incisons etc. intrude as it
were. centrpetally, upon the human or
gani,m by way Of the nerves, the most
minute and delicate tibres of which are
spread all over the surface oi the body,
and these potencies are repulsed by the
vital lorcc, according 10 the peculiarly
Of contagious matter as far back as the
point of the attack. From that it be-
comes evident, tina, injuries like these
ought to be cured by internal medicines;
and whenever there are old wounds Of
this kind 10 be treated, The INTEL igent
medical practitioner Will reCur TO such
remedies. There is however, at the
occurrences spoken OF, mu h periculum
IN mora aud, by an lnstan, application
Of external medicines The invading pow.
er Of mlschief may be stopped, or, at
lcast, the counter-shock OF the con,agion
be weakened ia its effect.
Amongst the many remedies recon-
mended in such sad accidents there is,
however, none more eihcacions than
Cdmticum or LduSiic. II is prepared
from quick lime recently burnt, by slak-
ing or sleeping IT, for one minu'e into
di.tilled water and putting il then in
dry hottie, where il soon falls into pow
der. One ounce o! this powder is mixed
with lis weight Of bi-su' phatc Of po,assa,
which has been dissolved previously in
one ounce oi boiling water. II forms
30 thick mass which is brought into
an alembc and ,here!rom is distilled
the concentrated rausticunl, ten drops OF
which are mixed with ninety drops Of
spirit oi winc ana the remedy is then
ready for use.
II there be any par, OF the human
body injured by scalding, q few drops
OF this diluted Caustic may he fused in
TO half piut oil distilled, or even,-if
there is no such at hand-inio fresh
water and the injured part is then
dressed by bandages of linen cloths sat-
ura,ed with the diluted Caus,ir. When
time presses, mere lotion with this flu
ID may do before the bindings are pre-
| pared. The effect will be speedy, Ger
tain and lasting; although the pains
will soon die away, and the skin vii
recover in "a hours It's former appear
ance without showing any trace y! clca-
trization or scar.
A remedy scarcely less efficacious
than Caustic for burns, is the Tinciura
Canihoyi,i,s prepared hon nopathecal.
lv from the Spanish fy U.ytta ve,cato-
ria.) applied 10 the Injured part in the
same manner. as Causticum but this
physic seems 10 be more adapted to
/ LESSONS caused by fire and dry heat pro.
ceeding from glowing or molten met
II =, l..: ...l 81, h., ..,b;,l ,o,