The Fairfield herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1849-1876, 1869-03-17
tfrom tho Evening Post.]
The Earth Olosot and the Treatment O
Wounds


attention ofthe American public to the
Earth Close: System--the use Of sited
dry earth for the deodorization and dis.
Injection Of human faces-and thus be-
came the pioneer Of reform that prom
'ses not only nnspeakaJle relief from the
gravest annoyance Of our lives, but the
greatest waste Of the fertility of the
earth, It is just that to you should be
communicated an outgrowth Of this sys-
tenn 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 DR.. Add.
nell Hewson, OF the Pennsylvania Hos.
p'ta', in Philadelphia. It's introduction
INTO the surgical ward, where IT has
been tor two weeks in constant use by
about twenty patients, and has been
subjected to the severest test possible,
has been SO entirely satisfactory that it
IS proposed TO substitute earth closets for
water closets wherever these exist in
that institution.
At the time Of its introduction there
was lying IN the ward patient suffer-
ing IRON very severe compound !rac.
t"rc OF the lower leg. The wound was
IN an unhealthy condition. and its exnda.
ions, amounting to pint in twenty
'our hours, were 80 offensive as to cause
a slckening and even dangerous stencil,
That the excellent ventilation Of the
ward and the usc Of the usual dianfcct-
ants were. hardly able even to mitigate
1t occurred to DR.. flcwson to test the
power OF dry earth to absorb this odor,
os it had that of cxcremcnt. The
elect was magical. Not only was the
ottenslveness entircl Y overcome, but the
effect on the character OF the wound
itself was such as no previous treatment
had been able to compass. The suppur.
ration was within few days 80 rcdned
that the daily dressing Of single half
pint of earth was not even saturated :;
the edges Of the flesh wound lost their
'Eflamcd character the in: cnso pain of
the sore was entirely relieved and a
healthy granulation has ensued
Such an indication ola newly-found
healing agent was not disrrgarded.
On Monday last, being in Philadel-
phia, | was invited to attend the morn.
ing dressing Of the carth.lrcalcd wounds.
This is what saw:
First. Two patients, suffering from
serious varicosc ulcers, after prolonged
suffering, and with little relief from the
usual treatment. have ceased to be often.
sve to their ward mates; 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 year and half ago, crushed
between the coupling heads Of two cars
and who has meyer 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
innamed flesh, and whose system had
been so reduced that he could not have
survived the ampntation, which alone
can entirely relieve hlm. is now happy
in freedom from pain. His llcsh-wound
has taken on healthy character, and
his strength is fast returning. He even
hopes TO save his hand, but the long
continued decay Of the bone makes thus
impossible.
Third. Anota,or brakeman, suffering
from precisely similar injury, in no re.
spcct less serious, bnt received within n
few days, was Immediately treated with
dry earth. It's constant application has
entirely prevented inflammation, and a
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
lase had three O: his fingers nearly cut
of and his hand fearfully torn by n
horsepower hay-cutter. Since the
first application Of the dry earth "a fow
hours after the accident) he hos been
free from pain, and ho will save his
hand.
Fifth. On Saturday last, laborer en-.
gagged in breaking up condemned shells,
exploded one that was charged. The
powder burned his face and arms, and
(seriously) one OF his knees, which was
was struck by fragment of the iron,
that completely shattered the knee.pan.
His burns and the fracture were imme.
diately dressed with dry earth. and the
freedom from pain and tho absence ol
Inflammation have been As marked in
this case rs in the others. Without this
dressing the knee-joint must inevitably
have become involved, and the leg must
have been lost. Now tho wound is
evidently healing, and although it is too
early to speak positively, there is every
reason to hope that the only result OF
the injury will DO stiff knee.
Sixth. Within few days woman
was brought to the hospital with her
neck and largo part of her body very
severely and dang rously burned. That
she could escape long weeks of agony
was beyond hope. Yet on Monday he,
eye was clear and calm, and her voice
was strong, and when tho doctor asked
her how she felt she SAID she was n
great deal better, and that she had no
pain.
Seventh. Last Wednesday an entire
| kFaAat Syao rep,o~,l e.. ,n.oz. A.