Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1869-03-18
The Earth Closet and the Treatment OF
Wounds.

The Earth Closet and the Treatment OF
Wounds.
Correspondence of the n. Y. Evening Post.
As you were formost in calling the at
tention of the American public to the
Earth Closet System-tke use of sifted
dry earth for the deodsrization and dis
infections of human f@ces-and thus
become the pioneers of reform that
promises not only unspeakable relief
from the gravest annoyance of urliyes,
| bHt the prevention ofthe greatest waste
of the fertility of earth, il is just that
to you should be communicated an out
growth Of this system that offers if pos,
sible still greater benefit TO suffering
humanity. ....... .s.5..4.
One of the experimental commodes
sent out by the Earth Closet Company
was placed at the disposal of DR.. Addi-
Hospital lin Philidelphia). Its intro
duction into the surgical ward, where it
has been for two weeks in constant use
by about twenty patients, and has been
subjected to the seyerest test possible,
has been SO entirely satisfactory that it
e proposed to substitute earth closets for
|. water closets wherever these exists in
that Institution. .f-5..L
At the time of Its introduction there
was lying in the ward patient suffer-
in,s from very severe compound frac-
ture Of the lower leg. The wound was
| in an unhealthy condition, and its exu-
dations, amounting TO pint in twenty
feur hours, were so offensive as TO cause
q sickening and even dangerous stencil,
that thet-xcellent ventilation Of the ward
and the use of the usual disinfectants
| we're hardly able even to mitigate. 1t
occurred 20 DIR. Hewson to test the pow
Ter of dry earth To absorb this oder, as it
had that of excrement. The effect was
most magical. Not emily was the Of
| fensiveness entirely overcome, but the
l effect on the character of the wound it
| self was such as no previous treatment
had been able to compass. The sup
puration was, within few days, SO re-
duced that the daily dressing of single
half pint of earth was not even satura-
ted the edges of the flesh wound lost
their infamed character; the intense
pain of the sore was entirely relieved,
and q healthy granulation has ensued.
Such an indication of newly-found
healing agent was not disregarded.
On Monday last, being in Philadel-
phia, was invited to attend the MORN
ing DIRE sing ofthe earth-treated wounds.
This is what saw: ds.al- =
First-two patients suffering from Sc
rious varicose ulcers, after prolonged suf
fering, and with little relief from the
usual treatment, have ceased to be Of
fensive to their wardmates; they find
their sores growing daily smaller; all
pain and inflammation have left them;
and they feel the certainty of an early
cure. .s.5-,ra.. yrsl.lssli---l 4-es-3
Second-A railroad brakeman whose
hand was-a year and half ago-erush-
ed between the coupling heads of two
cars, and who has never been free from
inten e pain whose hand from the wrist
To the knuckles was fostering mass of
carious bones and inflamed flesh, and
whose system had been so reduced that
he could not have survived the amputa-
ton which alone can entirely relieve
him is now happy in freedom from pain.
His flesh wound has taken on healthy
character, and his strength is fastreturn-
ing. He even hopes to save his hand,
but the long continued decay sfthe bone
makes this impossible. ,n=3
Third-Another brakeman suffering
from a precisely similar injury, in no re-
spect less serious, but received within
a few days, was Immediately treated
with dry earth, Its constant applica-
tion has entirely prevented inflammation
and healthy healing of the flesh and
knitting of the bone will soon return him
to his duties with two useful hands.
Fourth-A farm laborer, ON Friday
last, had three of his fingers nearly cut
off and his hand fearfully torn by a
horse power hay cutter. Since the first
application of the dry earth(a few hours
after the accident) he has been free from
pain, and he will save his hand.
Fifth-On Saturday lsat labOrer, en- /
gagged in breaking up condemned shells,
exploded one that was charged. The
powder burned his face. and arms, and
lsefiOusly) one of his knees, which was
struck by a fragment of the iron that
completely shsttered the knee-pan.-i
His burns and the fracture were imme-
diateiy dressed with dry earth, and the
freedom from pain aud the absence of
inflammation have been as marked
i'm this case as in. the others. Without
this dressing the knee joint must inevi- |
tably have become involved, and the |
leg must have been lost. Now, the
wound is evidently healing, and (alt- |
hOugh it is too early to speak positively |
there is every reason to hope that the
only result of the injury will be stiff
knee. ,f.... 81. ...a.-. ts..- o.
Sixth-,Within a few days woman |
was brought TO the hospital with her /
neck and large portion of her body |
very severely and dangerously burned.
That at she could escape long weeks of |
agony was beyond hope. Yet on Mon |
day her eye was clear and calm and her
voice was strong, and when the doctor
asked her hsw she felt, she said she was
a great deal better, and that she had |
no pain. al -.sI.r..... --rasL ~
Seventh-Last Wednesday an entire |
breast was removed for cancer, and the
wound was dressed with dry earth. It |
is now healing rapidly. There has been
no inflammation and no suppuration and |
ing, with healthy color and steady |
yoice-spoke far more than cheerful |
in thankfulness for her relief. ~. nj
Surely, with our gratitude to the Vicar
of Fordington, who has conferred the
greatest benefit on the human race that
it has ever been given to one man to ac-
complish, we must unite our thanks to |,
the senior surgeon of the Pennsylvania
Hospital for thus applying the princi-
pies of his invention to the saving of
life and limb, and the alienation of un-
speakable suffering. -...-..t
And the end, trust, is not yet. 1t
seems inevitable that the pustules of
smallpox must give up their pain and
their offensiveness at this magic touch
of mothe earth, and If it is true that its
contagion spreads from its exudations,
may we not hape that DIR. Hewson has
bound its feet as Mr.. Moule has those of
cholera? Respectfully,
Gro. Z. WARING, JR.
NEW YORK, February "a, 1859.
-Four Negroes Hanged In Msrylzpd.--