The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1869-03-11
ITO BE Continued
Tho Earth Closet and the Treatment
OF WOunIR.


Tho Earth Closet and the Treatment
OF Wounds.
From The Nc1V York Evening Post.
AS YOU were foremost in calliug the
attention. Of the American public to the
Earth Closet System-the use OF sifted
drv earth for the deterioration and
disinfection of human feces-and thus
become the pioneers OF reform that
promises not only unspeakable relief
| from the gravest annoyance of our
lives, but the prevention of the great
est waste OF the fertility OF the earth, 1t
is lust that to you should be commune
Gated an outgrowth of this system that
offers if possible a still greater benefit
to suffering humanity.
| One of the experimental cOmmodes
sent out by the Earth Closet Company
| was placed at the disposal of DIR. Add
nell HeWsOn, of the Pennsylvania Hos
pital Tin Philadelphia). Its introduce
lion into the surgical ward, where 1t
| has been Tor two weeks in constant use
| by about twenty patients, aud has oeen
\ subjected to the severest test possible,
has been so entirely satisfactory that 1t
! Is proposed to substitute earth closets
/ for wafer closets wherever these exist in
that institution.
At the time of its Introduction there
was lying in the ward patient suffer-
| ing 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
four hours, were so offensive as to cause
| a sickening and even dangerous stencil,
that the excellent ventilation of the
ward and the use of the usual disinfec.
tants were hardly able even to mitigate.
| 1t occurred to DR.. Hewson to test the
power of dry earth to absorb this odor,
ar ~ hoE nj nXnFpmpnt. effect
was magical. Not only was the otten-
siveness entirely overcome, but the
effect on the character OF the wound
itself was such as no previous treat
ment had been able to compass. The
suppuration was, within few days, so
reduced that the daily dressing OF a
single half pint of earth was not even
saturated; the edges of the flesh wound
lost their inf1amed character; the in
tense pain of the sore was entirely re-
lieved. and a healthy granulatton has
ensued.
Such an indication Of a newly found
healing agent was not disregarded'
On Monday last, being in Philad a.
phia 1 was invited to attend the
morning dressing of the earth-treated
wounds. This is what 1 saw:
First-two patients suffering from
serious varicose ulcers, after prolonged
suffering, and with little relief from
the usual treatment, have ceased to be
offensive 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.
Second-A railroad brakeman whose
hand was-a year and a half ago
crushed between the coupling heads OF
two cars, and who has never been free
from pain, and seldom from intense
pain; whose hand from the wrist to the
knuckles was a fostering mass OF
carious bones and intiamed flesh. and
whose system had been reduced that
he could not have snrvied 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
fast returning. He even hopss to save
his hand, but the long continued decay
of the bone makes this impossible.
Third-Another brakeman suffering
from a precisely similar injury, in no
respect less serious, but received with
in u few days, was Immediately treated
with dry earth. Its constant applica-
ton has entirely prevented 1nham-
nation and a healthy healing OF the
return him to his duties with two USE
full hands.
Fourth-A farm laborer, on Friday
last, had three OF his fingers nearly cut
off his hand fearfully torn by a horse
power hay cutter. Since the first APP
plication of the dry earth "a few hours
after the academy he has been Tree
from pain, and he will save his hand.
Fifth-On Saturday last laborer,
engaged in breaking up condemned
shells, exploded one that was charged.
The powder burned his face and arms,
and (seriouslv) one of his knees, which
was struck by a fragment of the iron
. liant nj
His burns and the fracture were i'm
medialeIY dressed with dry earth, and
the freedom from pain and the absence
of Inflammation have been as marked
in his case as in the others. Without
this dressing the knee joint must in
evitably have become involved, and
the leg must have been lost. Now the
wound is evidently healing, and (al-
though 1t is too early to speak positive.
Ivy there is every reason to hope that
the only result OF the injury Will be
stiff knee.
Sixth Within a few days a woman
was brought to the hospital with her
neck and large portion OF her body
very severely and dangerously burned.
That 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 doc-
tor asked her how she felt, she said she
was great deal Detteri ana thaL she
Seventh-Last Wednesday an entire
breast was removed for cancer, and the
wound was dressed with dry earth. 1t
is now healing rapidly. There has
been no Inflammation and no suppura-
ton, and this woman too-calm and
happy-looking, with healthy color
and steady voice-spoke far more
than her cheerful words in thankful
ness for her relief.
Surely, with our gratitude 10 the
Vicar of Fordington, who has conferred
the greatest benefit on the human race
that it has ever been given to one man
to accomplish, we must unite our
thanks to the senior surgeon of the
Pennsylvania Hospital for thus apply
ing the principles of his invention to
the savings of life and limb, and to the
alienation of unspeakable suffering.
And the end, trust, is not yet. It
seems inevitable that the pustules OF
smallpox must give up their pain and
their offensiveness at this magic touch
of mother earth, and If 1t is true that
its contagion spreads from its exuda-
lions, may we not hope that DIR. Hew-
son has bound its feet as Mr.. Moule has
those of cholera? Respectfully,
GEO. E. WARING, JR.