Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-10-18
Household Surgery.

Inc following directions for taking proper
care of ordinary hurts. copied from Chambers
Journal. will be found OF. great service:
There are hundred and fifty little accidents
liable to occur in household, which modicum
Of applied surgical skill would suffice 10 set
right. thus obviating the necessity for calling in
a surgeon or medical maa.
1t is about a few OF the more common OF these
that wish to give some useful hints.
Whether you have medicine chest in the
house or not, there are several handy articles
which should always be kept ready in clean
drawer in case OF emergency. A little case con-
tanning pair of culinary surgical lancets of the
old-iashloned bleeding pattern surgical Scis-
sOrs. pins, needles and thread-these are all the
Instruments required. Appliances will include
one or two baudages. some lint and oiled silk
a bit OF caustic silver in case, and some strips
OF adhesive plaster. There should be slim
ulant lotion. an eye lotion a liniment for sprains
stiffness III joints. etc, and one OF two kinds Of
ointment.
Poultices are handy to allay Inflammation
and TO s0othe pain. They are invaluable in
swelling abOu he throat. in whitlOws abscesses
etc small L: tie of turpentine and one OF
carron oil sf0i.;d also find place in the family
surgical drawer.
The laacets will be sometimes required to
open small assesses or gum-bois. Large
sweliings containing matter had better be seen
to by the family physician. Many people have
the greatest horror of the lancet and Will suffer
eXcruciatin[ pain for days from trfing abscess
rather than submit to have it opened And vet
In case Of this kind the relief that follows
simple and almost painless incision is instanta-
neOus. Others, again, are willing to have an
abscess OpeLe when it ''cOmes to a head"
But it hardly wants opening then as it will
break OF Its own accord The time to open an
aoscess is when there is tiuctuatlng baggy feel
to the touch. giving indication of the presence
OF pus-in other words. Of the formation of
matter. If this matter cannot have sent it will
eat through the tissues that lie immediately
above it, and while doing SO cause much pain
and Inconvenience.
When gulu-hoil needs to be Opened the lam
Get should be rolled round with piece of rag
to within about half an inch of the point. 1t NAV
then be freely used at that part OF the boil
which is softest. After gum-boil has been
opened gentle pressure is needed to squeeze out
the matter, and the mouth should be well rinsed
with hot water
counsel the keeping of pins and needles and
thread in the surgical drawer In order that they
may be always ready at hand. The pins should
be of different sizes; they are handy for fasten-
Ing bandages etc. The thread should be strong
and white, and the needles of fair size needles
with good honest eyes In their heads, needles
that even man can thread.
AS to bandages. they can either be bought or
made. For econOmy's sake think they should
De made, and for this purpose old linen of any
KIND can be washed and utilized Tear it into
strips and sew it neatly together. The band
ages may De o. two or even three different
breadths one about one and half inches for
finger purposes, another about two inches and
third about three. These are called roller
bandages. There are also various forms of
tailed bandages for application to the scalp. for
instance, and to parts Of the body to which a
roller bandage is not suited. The shapes of
these will suggest themselves to a person of
sense The scalp bandage, may MENTION how
ever. is broad one, with four tails; this peng
iaid upon the head and brow; the two foremost
Toll t.I
crossed on the back Of the neck, brought around
and tied under the chin while the two hinder
most tallsare brought forward and tied under
the chin. In bandaging a leg the art lies in
Keeping the bandage flat. smooth and moder-
ateiy tight. Lay the end along the instep first
toward the toes. and bandage from the toes in
Guiding all the foot except the heel. then swath
the ankles, and so upward as far az the knee or
above IT, in ascending the calf of the leg at
every turn the bandage should be plated half
back over itself This IL not absolutely neces-
sary for, having bandaged the lower half of the
leg. You may carry the roller right away I'D to
under the knee and turn there, AID so on down
again 10 whatever position the bandageis found
TO lie best and --LATEST in.
Charpie is made by stretching or holding strips
OF Old linen very tightly and scraping it with a
rough knife. Charpie is useful application to
wounds and may take the place of lint. but
after ali 1t ls not so handy it does not lie so
nat, and you cannot spread ointment very well
on It.
In case of sores that we wish to take on n
kindly healing action, or those that need stirnu-
lat1ng or soothing, water dressing is invaluable
1t is very simple and easy Of application. You
have only to dip piece of lint in clean cold
| water. to which probably few drops OF pure
carboiic acid have been added, then apply it to
the sore, which it must more than cover.
piece of oiled silk is then applied over the lint
to retain its moisture. and the whole Is kept in
position by means Of a retaining bandage
water dressing is also applied to wounds
after they have been properly strapped. aud it
may sometimes take the place of poultice for
sweings which we want to soothe and reduce
The morsel OF lunar-caustic in case can be
bought at a chemists shop for l believe. a few
cents il Is used to cauterze dog or cat or
| skunk bites, and also scratches that may be sup
| posed poisonous.
1t Is well-knowa fact that hydrophobia is
much more likely TO be caused by a skunk than
dog bite. and for one would never 90 into
the woods, where there was possibility of be-
Ing bitten by one of these creatures, without
carrying morsei of caustic In my pocket In case
| OF an accident. ''O
II Is very foolish plan. not to say cruel to
| nave the dog that has bitten you DESTROYED.
| When this is done it Ia obviously impossible to
| discover whether or not he was rabd at the
/ time he made use of hia teeth 7 of hf,, ,i,,o