The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1869-03-24
: One of the exnerimenfa

OuO OI INC Oc4pCIluculal
commodes sent cut by the Earth Clos.
ct Company was placed at the dispo.
sal of DR.. AddinelI HeWsOn. Of the
Pennsylvania Hospital, in PhiIadel-
phia. Its introduction into the sur
gicaI ward, where it has been for two
n eeks in constant use by about twen-
~ patientS and has been subjected to
the severest test possible, has been 80
entirely satisfactory that it is proposed
to substitute earth-closets for water
closets wherever these exist in that
institution. as-
At the time of its introduction there
was lying in the ward patient sud-
ering from q very severe compound
fracture of the lower leg. The wound
was in an unhealthy condition. and
its eXudations, amounting to a pint
in twenty hours, were so often
sive as to cause sickening, and even
q dangerous stencil, that the excellent
ventilation of the ward and the uso
Of the usual disinfectants were hardly
able even TO mitigate.
It occurred to DR.. Hewson TO test
the power of dry earth TO absorb this
odor, as it had that of exeremeRt.
The effect was magical Not only
was the Of1ensiyeness entirely over
come, but the effect on the character
of the wound itself was such as no
previous treatment had been able to
compass. The supp1ration was, With
in 3 few days, 80 reduced that the
daily dressing OF q 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
a healthy granulation has ensued.
Such an Indication OF newly found
healing agent was not slisreg garded.
On Monday last, being In Philadel-
phia, was invited TO attend the
morning dressing of the h-treated
wounds. This is what saw:
| 1. Two patients suffering from seri
Gus VarieOse 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.
2. A railroad brakeman, whose
hand was-a year and q half ago
| crushed between the coupling heads
OF two cars, and who has never been
! free from pain, and seldom from i'm
| tense pain whose hand from the
wrist to the knuckles, was fostering
mass Of carlOus bones and lnfamGd
flesh, and whose system had been so
| reduced that he could not have sur.
ViVed the amputation which alone
can entirely relieve him, IS now hap
py in freedom from pain. His flesh
wound has taken on healthy char
acter, and his strength is fast return
ing. He even hopes to save his hand,
but the long-continued decay Of the
bone makes this impossible
8. Another brakeman, suffering
from q precisely similar injury, In no
respect less serious, but received with
in q few days, was Immediately treat
ed with dry earth. Its constant ap-
plication has entirely prevented In
hammation, and q healthy healing OF
the flesh ana knitting OF the bone
will soon return him Co his duties
with two useful hands,
4. A farm laborer recently had three
of his fingers nearly cut on and his
hand fearfully torn by horsepower
hay-cutter. Since the first applica-
ton of the dry earth ia few hours af-
ter the accident) he has been free
from pain, and he viii save his hand.
5. On Saturday last lRborer, en-
gagged breaking up condemned, shells,
, exploded one that was charged. The
powder burned the face and arms,
and, seriously, one Of his knees, which
was SSruck DY 9 1r&&lle0l OF Gno Iron
that completely shattered the knee
! pan, His burns and the fracture were
Immediately dressed with dry earth
and the freedom from pain and the
absence of Inflammation have been as
marked in his case as In Others. With
out this dressing the nes-ioint must
/ have inevitably become involved, and
the leg must have been lost. Now,
! the wound Is evidently healing, and,
, although it is too early to speek posi-
lively, there Is every reason 20 hops
,, that the only result Of the injury viii
!, be stiff knee.
6. Within q few days q woman was
! brought tn 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
Monday her eye was clear and calm
, and her voice was strong, and when
the doctor asked her how she felt, she
!, said she was great deal better, and
that she had no pain.
Z. 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 Buppu-
: ration, and this woman, toO-calm
and happy looking, with q healthy
, color and q steady Voice-Spoke far
! more than her cheerful words in
! thankfulness for her relief.