Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1879-11-06
HOME DOCTOR.
guRNn AID aCALnH.

tefeht IN their nature, the difference
being simply that one il caused by moist
heat, and the other by dry. They arc
often 30 slight as to be of little moment,
but occasionally they are 10 severe as 10
require the most prompt and energetic
treatment.
Whom burn does not break the skin,
1t La OF little consequence, and should
be treated like any ordinary inham-
nation. Keeping cold water upon the
part until the Bmarting ceases, and then
the application Of glycerine, or, il this
is not tolerated, common lard rubbed
upon the burned surface, is all the treat
ment necessary. If blisters are formed,
they should be pricked 10 let ont the
water, and then a poultice OF slippery
elm bark and water, or a mixture OF
beeswax and lard melted together and
spread upon "A cloth, may be applied
with great comfort 10 the patient.
But II tho injury is more extensive,
covering over large surface, and es-
pecially il the tissues OF the skin are
destroyed the difficulty il necessarily
distressing and often dangerous. In
such cases the nervous system may be-
come affected, 80 that the patient will
have severe chills, the pulse may be
small, frequent and feeble, the breath
ing becomes oppressed, there is a ten
dency TO delirium, and death may occur
as result Of the shock to the nervous
system. In general, il one limb is en-
tirely involved, or greater part OF the
trunk, the prospect OF recovery is small.
The treatment in the seycrest cases
should be both constitutional and local
The shock to the nervous system is best
relieved by prolonged hot fun bath.
The patient should be immersed in
water at 100 degrees, save the injured
part, and the temperature Of the water
should be increased until it cannot be
tolerated any hotter. The bath should
be continued until the nervous prostra-
ton is relieved, or from thirty to forty
minutes.
II the burns are deep, q good applica-
ton is a thick solution Of gum arabic,
which may be prepared in a few min
utes by dissolying the gum in hot water.
After il is applied, it may be busted
over with powder, and so the tissues
underneath will be completely protect
ed. Another good remedy is collodion
and sweet oil, in the proportion Of one
part of tho oil to two parts Of collodion.
This may be kept in an air-tiRht bottle
for any length Of time, and may be sp-
piled by camel's-hair brush. 1t imme-
diately forms n firm covering 10 the ex-
posed surfaces, and 30 takes the place
OF the destroyed cuticle. II these sub
stances are not at hand, common dry
flour may be busted upon the injured
part to the depth of half an inch or so.
All hnimonis 10 draw out the fire" are
worse than useless, for there is no FIRE
there to draw out. II Bhould be borne
in mind that these, as well as all ether
injuries, are healed by the action Of the
vital forces alone, and all that can be
done from without is TO protect the ex-
posed surface from the irritating inliu-
ence Of the atmosphere, and 10 balance
the general circulation, should il be-
come disturbed. People in geneial
trust too much 10 external agencies, and
too little 10 the only true source OF heal
ing, the vitality within.
CUTS AND SORES.
!. Accidental cuts from knives, cut
ting tools, scythes, etc, are more likely
to occur on the face and limbs than on
the body. All tha: is requisite in gen
eral is TO bring the parts together as &C
curaiely As possible, and TO bind them
up; this is usually done by adhesive
plaster, when the cut cease to bleed.
Nothing is 30 good for this purpose as
paper previously washed over on one
side with thick gum water and then
dried; when used, ii is only 10 be vet
ted with the tongue. When the cut
bleeds but little it is well 20 soak the
part in warm water for a few minutes,
or keep a wet cloth on IT, This re-
moves inflammation and pain, and also
q tendency 10 fainting which cut gives
some persons. II the bleeding be too
copious, dab the part with a rag wetted
with creosote. 2. A good salve for
sores is unsalted butter and grated car
rois simmercd well and strained clear.
3. To stop bleeding from wounds, an
equal quantity of salt and -four, put on
a cloth and applied to q wound, will
stop bleeding. 1t may be left on for
days or weeks. 4. The best application
for any and all flesh cuts and raw cores
is gas-cod tar, which may be had at any
gas works where gas is made from coal.
A barrel OF it, costing So, has been in
use at the Kirby homestead for ten
years and is not half gone yet. Coal
tar, when applied to q fesh-cut, shuts
out the air anu thus stops the smart
ing; it will also keep of the flies. II
is very healing, and IL is antiseptic-
that is. cleansing will prevent the