The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1871-08-03
Extinguishing Burning Clothes.

There are few accidents more terrible than
the setting fire to the loose vestments worn by
women. Instantly the lower part of the dress
is ignited the flames rush upward with great
velocity, and the whole of the garments are in
volved in the confagration. Even if almost
Immediately extinguished, so large portion of
the skin is scorched that death often ensues
from the shock to the system, though perhaps
the actual injury does not appear to be Sc.
we're.
The first impulse of the victim is to rush
about shrieking for help; the second to open
the door, if possible, and run along the pas
sages out into the open air, thus tanning the
flame to the utmost. No line of action could
be more fatal in its consequences. 1t cannot
be too constantly borne in mind that the only
safety is to fall down quickly on the floor; if a
small portion of the dress only is ignited, it
may be put out by thrusting it under the body
and by rolling upon it. By rolling over and
over the person on fire is comparatively safe, as
the flames ascend away from the body, and
The course of action for by-standers is evi.
dent; it is to seize any woolen covering near
at hand as blanket shawl, hearth-rug, coat,
or curtain, throw it instantly around the suf-
ferer, and roll her OH the floor in its folds
Scores of lives have been saved by bystanders
taking off their coats, and instantly eXtinguish-
ing the flames in this manner. AS soon as the
victim is on the ground the greatest danger is
over; the flames no longer rise to the face, and
the breathing of the overheated air, which is
always fatal, is prevented.
1t may be asked, what is the best treatment
to be adopted for the sufferer before the arrival
of medical aid. If the burn is severe, the pa
tient should be laid in bed and the clothes
removed with as little disturbance as possible;
they should, if requisite, be cut off, so as to
avoid the slightest injury to the burned surface.
Then, to exclude the air, some application is
requisite; cotton wool does very we'll, but the
simplest, the nearest to hand, the most easily
applied, and certainly one of the most efica.
cious, is -four, profusely dredged on out of
common fOur-dredger.
1t cannot be too strongly borne in mind that
cold water or other cold applications to an ex-
tensive burn are fatal. Persons suffering from
burns rarely die from the immediate injury;
the cause of death is either the shock to the
system or congestion of the lungs, both of
which would be greatly intensified by cold ap-
piled to the outer surface of the body. The
danger of burn or scald is not in proportion
to its intensity or severity so much as to extent
of surface injured; thus severe burn confined
to a small portion of the body is seldom fstal.
A comparatively slight scald extending over
a large surface is rarely recovered from. Thus,
lamentable accidents often occur from children
pulling cup of hot tea from the edge of a ta-
Bile; the liquid runs down inside the clothes,
spreads over the chest, and, from the extent
rather than the severity of the injury, it is Of
ten fatal.-Rarper's Bazar.