The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1882-03-11
A Remedy for Burns and Scalds.


Accidental burns and scalds. even
when not very severe, extensive, or
dangerous, commonly cause so much
pain for an indefinite time, depending
probably as to duration and severity a
good deal on the age of the sufferer, and
on the greater or less degree of sensi-
tiveness of the individuals skin or con-
stitution-not forgetting the feverish
reaction, and the dangerous internal
secondary infiammations that are apt to
follow in some caSeS--that any easily
applied and quickly-avalable remedy
and relief, without perhaps the imme-
diate necessity of calling in professional
assistance, will be acknowledged as
boon by most persons; and especially
so, when it is remembered that the
sooner the agonizing burning pain in the
part can be allayed, the less chance there
is OF dangerous secondary effects, be-
sides sloughing, etc, so severely trying
to children and old persons.
The usual first applications to
these painful injuries, whether So
called p0pu,ar remedies, or such as are
usually recommended by members of
the profession, are numerous enough,
but can not unfortunately hitherto be
considered as generally successful in
giving certain and speedy relief from
pain, and, too often, intense suffering
One friend will recommend that the
parts be covered with flour from the
dredger; another will advise fine cotton
wood, or wadding; another, starch in
powder, or soap, or treacle, etc; but
hardly one of such applications can be
said to give more than very uncertain or
temporary relief from pain. although,
perhaps. by occupying the attention of
the sufferer, they may in this way prove
of some mental benefit during his suffer-
ings-being indeed employed really for
want OF anything better-alt although, in
fact, some of these applications, such as
treacle, flour, starch, etc, prove so dis
agreeable in their after-eifects, being
often difficult to remove and renew, as
to add frequently to the poor patients
depression and suffering owing to their
adhering to the injured parts in dry
cakes very irritating to the raw surface.
1t is now many years ago that the au-
thor of this paper, while engaged in
some investigations as to the qualities
and effects of the alkalies in inilamma-
tons OF the skin, etc, was fortunate
enough to discover that a saline lotion,
or SGtUr0ted solution of the bicar-
donated soda in either plain water
or camphorated water if applied
speedily, or as soon as possible, to
burned or scalded part, was most effect
ual in Immediately relieving the acute
burning pain; and when the burn was
only superficial or not severe, remov-
ing all pain in the course of a very short
time: having also the very great advan-
tage of cleanliness, and, if applied at
once, of preventing the usual conse-
quences-a painful blistering. of the
skin, separation of the epidermis, and
perhaps more or less of suppuration.
For this purpose, all that is necessary
is to cut piece of lint or old soft rag,
or even thick blotting-paper, of size
sufficient TO cover the burned or scalded
parts, and to keep it constantly well
wetted with the sodiac lotion so as to
prevent its drying. BY this means, it
usually happens that all pain ceases in
from a quarter to half an hour, or even
in much less time.
When the main part of a limb, such
as the hand and forearm or the foot and
leg, has been burned, it is best, when
practicable, to plunge the part at once
into jug, or pail, or other convenient
vessel filled with the soda lotion, and
keep it there until the pain subsidies; or
the limb may be swathed or encircled
with surgeons cotton bandage pre-
viousl y soaked in the saturated solution,
and kept constantly wetted with it, the
relief being usually immediate, pro-
Vided the solution be saturated and
cold. The Practitioner.
"A Massachusetts man has put