Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1869-03-30
Remarkable Cures with Dry Earth.
1t has been pronosed within the las

1t has been proposed within the last
year or two, to substitute earth clos
cts for water closets, in the arrange
ments of houses, hospitals, &c. They
have been adopted to some extent in
England, where they meet with much
favor. The system, it appears, was
tried recently in the Pennsylvania
Hospital at Philadelphia. The result
was not only highly satisfactory as to
the specific object, but led to the i'm
portant medical discovery that the
most serious and offensive sores and
wounds are rapidly cured by the ap-
plication of dry earth when other rem
edies have failed. A correspondent
Of the New York Post, George E.
Waring, Jr.) gives an account of the
success Of the system as applied at
the hospital, and says it has been so
complete that it is proposed to sub
stitute earth closets for water closets
wherever these exist in that institu
ton. OF the curative qualities of
dry earth he gives numerous illustra-
tons. The first case tried was as fol-
lows:
At the time of its introduction
there was lying in the ward a patient
suffering from very severe compound
fracture Of the lower leg. The wound
was in an unhealthy condition, and its
exudations, amounting to a pint in
twenty-four hours, were so offensive as
to cause a siohoning and evon danger
Gus stencil, that the excellent ventila-
ton of the ward and the usual disin
fectants were hardly able even to mi
tigate. 1t occurred to DR.. Hcwson
to test the power of dry earth to alb
sorb this odor, as it had that Of exc
crement. The effect was magical Not
only was the ofensiveness entirely
overcome, but the effect on the charac-
ter of the wound itself was such as no
previous treatment had been able to
compass. The suppuration was, with
in few days, so reduced that the
daily dressing of single half pint OF
earth was not even saturated; the
edges Of the flesh wound lost their
infamed character the intense pain
of the sore was entirely relieved, and
healthy granulatiOn has ensued."
The hint thus obtained was not dis
regarded, and earth was afterwards
used in the dressing Of wounds. Nine
cases which he witnessed on Monday
last, are described by Mr.. Warning.
We copy several Of the cases mention
ed:
Two patients suffering from seri-
Gus varicose ulcers, after prolonged
suffering, and with little relief from
the usual treatment, have ceased to
be offensive 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.
A railroad brakeman whose hand
was-a year and 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 lnfamed flesh, and
whose system had been so reduced
that he could not have survived the
amputation, which alone can entirely
relieve him, is now happy IN freedom
from pain. His flesh wound has taken
on a healthy character, an his
strength is fast returning. He even
hopes to save his hand, but the long
continued decay Of the bone makes
this impossible.
Another brakeman suffering from q
precisely similar injury, in no respect
less serious, but received within few
days, was Immediately treated with
dry earth. Its constant application
has entirely prevented Inflammation
and a healthy healing of the flesh anC
knitting of the bone will soon return
him to his duties with two usefu
hands"
In the case of a woman who hac
been dangerously burned she wa;
quickly relieved of pain and is recov
ering fast. Last Wednesday an en-
tire breast was removed for cancer
and the wound dressed with dry earth
1t is now healing rapidly. There ha
been no Inflammation and no suppura
ton.
These are remarkable statements
and will no doubt attract general at
tention from the medical profession
- Boston Journal.