Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1872-12-12
Frozen Limbs.

-AVSTlN. M1MN.-
THURSDAY MORNING, DEC. II, 1879.
Er01cn Limbs.
It is the time Of year at which PEG
ple arc likely to be exposed to the cold
lu many instances, they will became
more or less frozen. Several sad calam
tiles Of this kind have already occurred
within cur knowledge.
The extremitics usually suffer first
The feet md the hands IRE often Who'll
" frozen, ard in such cases the suffer.
or usually luses both. if indeed no d.
not lose his life. At such times very
much depends upon the treatment em'
p'oycd, and it is highly essential that
ever, body should know what to do, and
how to do it, rs It Is seldom that ply
stefan can BE- had Immediately.
The ordinary method Of removing
frost in such cases is by applying snow
or ice water to the CONCEALED part
This is no doubt correct, both in prao'
tice and in theory. OF course the cir
culatcry system Of tho frozen part il
completely involved. The arterial yes.
sells lio deeply buried in the limb -
They must be reached aud tho frost
removed from, them at the same time
that the surface is relieved. In other
words such IN application must be made
a. to start the frost from the interior
Of the limb, IS soon ~ it gives WY at
the surface. Were = frozen foot to be
placed in . warm oven tho outer por-
,ions would soon be relieved Of frost,
but the blood vessels being still impri-
soued, and there being no circulation
to restore or to preserve it, modification
would take place immediately, and the
part would slough of as though it had
been burned. The application Of snow,
or of ice water 10 no doubt the best Of
any that can be made, for, while either in
AN atmosphere above the point Of congcl-
alton, will remove frost, it preserves in
the part affected. a temperature so low
as to prevent the destructitn Of the
Nesh by natural causes in fact, it
preserves a continuity between the ex-
terror warmth, and the interior frost, so
that as tast a. the surface is relieved it
rs occupied again, and thus continuous
~, until the frost has all been with
drawn through the surface. At this
moment the affected portion Of the limb
IS Of uniform temperature, and eircula-
zion may be readily restored, if there
be sufficient vital force at the scat Of
life.
tits circulation of tho blood which
gives warmth to the body. If cold be
so overpowering as to drive back the
blood from the extremities they not
only freeze in consequence, blu: the heat
Of the whole system is thereby greatly
reduced. If, therefore, the feet be
frozen, while it will b entirely proper
to immcrse them in ice water, great
care should be taken that no part which
is not occupied BY the frost should be
exposed to the cold application. Every
thing possible should be done to restore
the body to its natural temperature,
and to invigorate the action Of the
hc.rt so that strong circulation may
be established throughout the System
Al soon as the frost shall be removed.
1fa person whose feet are frozen, is i'm.
mersed to his knees in ice water until
the frost be removed, the process will
have 50 chilled him, and reduced his
vital force IA to make it impossible to
extend the circulation aud sustain it,
Under such circumstances the patient
will die. Warmth should be promoted
by every proper means, but the frozen
part should never be rubbed, nor sub
jected to friction Of any kind. The
surface is covered by network Of
capillary vessels, and until the circsla-
ton Of the blood be fully restored in
them, they are liable to complete
destruction by rubbing. Az soon as
relieved, the injured part should he
protected by application Of cotton wool
thoroughly saturated with olive oil !;
warm drinks and rich diet will aid
the work Of restoration.