Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-04-18
WORKMEN AS DOCTORS.
From the American Architect.

From the American Architect
paper was recently cad before the Conserva-
toire des Arts ct Meters in Paris, by DR.. Hector
George and reported by LIE Genie CiUii, ON the
early treatment of cases of accident to workmen.
Notwithstanding all the precautions which are
now taken in the best managed manufactures
an appalling number of such accidents occur
every year. and their sad consequences might
be greatly alleviated if all workmen were made
familiar with the simple rules which DIR. George
collected in his discourse. The first class of
wounds treated of comprises those caused by
crushing tearing, such, tor instance, as the
result of striking finger or thumb by a mis-
directed blow of a hammer, or of having the
arm or hand caught in belts or gearing. The
consequence of these accidents is usually
pounding and crushing of the flesh end often of
the bones, which is apt to result in mr. flea
ton, and the common practice of SURGEONS in
such cases is to amputate the injured member
at once. According to DR. George, however if
the patient is treated in time, the limb can
often be saved by the simple application of
water During the period of the Napoleonic
wars, to follow the doctor story, while testing
cannon at Strasbourg, eleven artillery men
were injured, either by the premature explosion
| of the guns or by the bursting of imperfect
pieces, and were brought into the hospital to-
gether, The wounds, some of which were
| caused by the tearing of the hands by the ex-
| plosion of guns while the cartridge was being
rammed into place, while others were contu-
all serious, and a discussion took place mong
the surgeons as to the amputatiOns to be per-
formed. In the midst OF this an AlSatian miller
came in, and begged the privilege of treating
the wounded, earnestly promising to cure them
He was allowed a trial, and Immediately called
for some water, into which he threw little
white powder, which was afterward found to be
alum. He then proceeded to battle the wounds
with the water, accompanying his movements
with mysterious gestures and muttered words
of unknown import After bathing the wounds
thoroughly, he covered them with lint, and
the water, which he renewed by sprinkling
every three hours. At the end of six weeks all
that time the water treatment has been en-
ployed in similar cases by surgeons of great dis
function, and with signal success The applica-
ton is very simple. Water of any kind may be
used, without alum or incantations, only taking
care thatit is clean, and cool in summer and
slightly warmed in winter. The wound is first
to be carefully washed and then covered with
a wet linen bandage, or, what is better, soft
wooden material, thoroughly soaked, and with
from irritating the wound. The bandages must
be Kept moist by frequent applications of
the wound relieves the pain, and keeps the It's
sues in Il favorable condition for healing. Ac-
cordlng TO the account, the treatment is par
tlcularly advantageous for wounds in the
hands, which form eghty-seven per cent of all
the injuries caused by machinery.
The next class of accidents mentioned COM
prlSeS those which cause punctured wounds.
Although less frightful in appearance than
more extensive injuries, punctured wounds are
often followed by serious, or even fatal conse
quences, through the poisoning of the system
by infectious matters SO introduced into the
Is well known. often lose their health, and
sometimes their lives, from the results OF an
accidental scratch from a scalpel used in dis
SectIng SubJect.and butchers not unfrequently
suffer in similar way, particularly if they
have been handling an animal infected with
contagious disease In such cases the old prac-
t1ce Was to burn out the wound at once with u
white-hot iron, or some less terrible caustic; but
it seems that an effect equally favorable can
be Obtained by keeping the wound open and
encouraging it to bleed. The extraction of the
blood nom the puncture is particularly neceS-
sary when the wound is first given and the
injured part should be held under a thin stream
OF tepid water, and the blood even sucked out
by some self-sacritcing person, as is done by
savageS when one OF their number is bitten by
venomOuS snake.
For burns, the doctor advises the application
of cold water for first application, with per-
maps coat OF Varnlsh later, TO prevent the pain
full contact of air with the injured skin. Where
the burn is deep, so that the skin is blistered,
the utmost care must be taken in removing the
clothes not to tear away the skin, which is
likely to adhere strongly to the cloth: as the
exposure of the nerves of the inner skin to the
air by the removal OF the epidermis causes pain
SO intense as often to prove fatal to the patient.
If, by misfortune, the bGstered epidermis
should be torn, it must be restored to its place
piece by piece, or, if this is. impracticable an
artificial skin must be at once app led, formed
OF olled linen or paper, if nothing better can be
mad. III the materials are at hand the best ap-
pilcatlon is a mixture of equal parts of lime
water and olive oil, covered with fine linen and
a piece of cotton batting; and as soon as these
are applied physician must be sent for. We
are rather surprised not to have found some
thlng IN the paper about the application of
common soda or saleratus to superficial burns.
The IMMINENT of lime water and oil has little
or the same alkaline character, but neither of
them is as easily procured at least i'll most
households, as the saleratus or soda, which are
known to relieve so ettectually the pain of an
ordinary burn.
In cases OF fracture, as, for example the break
ing OF the leg of a workman by falling from a
stage, the first thing TO be done is to lift the
sufferer with great care, assigning one person
10 manage the injured limb. A blind, or board
of some kind, is then to be slipped benea tn, and
the patient gently laid It, placing pillow
under the broken leg, which should be ex-
tended at full length. He is then to be carried
very gently, avoiding all jolts and collisions to
ms mouse, remembering, in case it is necessary
to take him up or down stairs, to keep his feet
highest, so that the weight of the body may not
come upon the injured member. Once at home
his clothes are to be taken off by ripping the
seams, and the leg gently bandaged with wet
linen, to await the surgeons arrival. Lastly
Tor wounds which cause serious bleeding at
tent1on must be given at once to checking this
since the loss OF only two or three quarts of
blood is fatal. The first thing to be done is to
raise the bleeding part as high as possible, SO
that the weight of the blood may of itselfdrawi it
away from the open vein or artery. simple
bandage should then be applied, either above
or below the wound, according as the blood is
brightcolOred and flows in pulsations or is
dark and flows uniformly, placing stone or a
knot in the bandage if necessary, to press upon
the spot where, as is found by testing with the
finger, the flow seems to be best controlled. AS
soon as possible, the wound should be washed
with clear water, and wet linen cloth applied
over 1t; and. as before, a surgeons aid should be
sought at once.