Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1885-11-26
HOME CURES.

Numerous Little Ailments and Accidents
which Can BE Treated without q Ply
sician's Aid--The Family Medicine Chest.
No household should be without
surgical drawer and a medicine-chest.
There are hundred little accidents and
ailments liable to occur at any time in
family, which little skill and knowl-
edge would set right without the neces-
sity of calling in physician. The prin-
eipal things to be kept in drawer for
emergencies are pair of old-fashioned
bleeding lancets, surgical scissors, pins,
needles, thread caustic silver in case,
strips of adhesive plasters, bandages,
lint and oiled silk. Also an eye lotion,
a stimulant lotion, one or two kinds OF
ointment, and liniment for sprains,
stiffness of joints, neck, etc. A small
bottle of turpentine and good-sized one
of camphor would likewise have place
in this drawer. The pins should be of
different sizes, as they are more con-
venient for fastening bandages. The
thread should be white and strong and
the needles of good size-large enough,
in fact, that eyes which have begun to
require the aid of glasses can thread
them in hurry. Old linen of any sort
can be utilized for bandages. Tear it
into strips and sew together. For finger
purposes the bandages should be from
one-half to two inches wide. Others may
be kept on hand of different widths.
Bandages can also be purchased at vari-
Gus shops where surgeons goods are
kept for sale.
In bandaging leg the art rests in
keeping the bandage flat and smooth
and winding it tight. Lay the end
along the instep first toward the toes;
bandage from there, including all the
foot but the heel. swathe the ankle and
so upward to the knee, or so far as re-
CURED 1t is good plan when ascend
ing the calf that the bandage be plated
half back over itself.
In cases of large swellings it is always
best to consult a physician, but in the
matter of small assesses, gum-boils
and the like, the trouble can be easily
attended to by any one having a modi-
cum of skill and judgment. Many peo-
pie have a foolish horror of the lancet,
and will endure pain for days from a
trifling swelling rather than submit to
its use 1t is common impression that
a boil should be allowed to ''come to
head before being opened. This is
mistake, for then the boil hardly re-
quires opening, as it will burst and dis
charge of itself The incision of the
lancet is almost painless, and affords in
Simultaneous relief. The proper time to
baggy feeling to the touch; this is an in
dication that matter has formed. AS
soon as this pus has vent to escape the
,,I Nv, nd af
fort to free itself ceases If this vent is
not made it eats through the tissues ly-
ing above it, which process is the occa-
sion of the severe pain always ex-
perfenced when boil is ''nearing
head When a gum-boil is to be
opened the lancet should be rolled about
with piece of soft rag till within half
an inch of the point The place where
the boil is the softest is the place to
make the incision. Gentle pressure is
required to squeeze out the matter, after
which the mouth can be well rinsed with
hot water. Water is the best dressing
for all sores that need stimulating, sooth-
ing, OF healing action A few drops of
earbolic acid should be put in clear,
cold water, and the application made with
a piece of7int. A piece of oiled silk is
then placed over the lint to retain the
moisture. and is kept in place by a band
age. Water dressing is sometimes used
instead of poultices for swellings which
are to be soothed and reduced and to
wounds after they have been properly
strapped.
The silver or lunar-caustic kept in the
drawer is to cauterize dog or cat-bites,
scratches, or any wounds received from
the teeth or claws of animals.
Adhesive plaster ought to be cut in
strips instead of being kept in a roll. 1t
is then ready for use at moments no.
tice. Before putting it on a wound one
must be careful to see that it is perfectly
clean, and no sand, glass, or any other
substance in it which would cause
fostering. A wound should never be COW
cred entirely up. No matter what the
size, use long, narrow strips of plaster.
Warm the back of the plaster when
ready to apply it and place it across the
wound, leaving small space on each
side for the lymph to escape. Sticking
plaster has no healing qualities of itself,
the benefit derived from its use being
entirely mechanical. Clean cuts are
better bound up with the blood, for the
plaster is useless until the bleeding
stops.
A good stimulating lotion for sores
and wounds is made with two grains of
nitrate of silver to one of distilled water.
If the sores have even, white edges and
but little discharge they do not require
stimulating Ulcerating sores require
stimulent applied with lint in the same
manner as the water dressing. Such
sores are largely dependent, however,
on the condition of the constitution for
healing. They can only heal when well
supplied with flesh-forming material,
and this must be furnished by the blood.
Therefore it is necessary to strengthen
the blood with good food, not to thin it
by various purgatives. A stimulating
lotion is made with either powdered
alum or sulphate of zinc and distilled
water, four grains OF either being suffi-
cient allowance for each ounce of water
.'Goulard WATER is made by mixing
one teaspoonful of sugar of lead to a
pint of water. 1t is made more cooling
by the addition of small quantity of
spirits of wine. 1t is an excellent lotion
for hot and painful swelling.
Poultices are the best application for
local Inflammation of any kind The
simplest poultices are made of oatmeal,
linseed meal, or bread and water This
last is made by pouring boiling water
over pieces of bread, covering up the
vessel for a short time and then drain
ing off the water Charcoal is de-
sirable addition in case of ulcers. Lin
seed meal poultices are made by stirring
the meal into boiling water until thick
enough to spread on the cloth. Oatmeal
III 4