The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1889-07-11
CHAPTER XIV.
SANITARY EMERGENCIES.

SANITARY EMERGENCIES.
Self-heIp Is a national virtue of North
America, and i'm all mechanical arts Yankee
will rely on his own ingenuity i'm nine out of
10 cases, where our European contemporaries
would apply 10 a professional tradesman. In
hygienic emergencies aud domestic surgery
however. even our versatile countrymen are
apt to rely on the assistance of medical special
lists, and neglect the often simple means of self
help.
There are people who cannot rid themselves
of a splinter without invoking the aid OF q
physician. i once saw Yucatan Indian per-
form that operation with a common bodkin.
In climbing up ravine he had run large
thorn into his hand. and ut once reached back
TO get hold of his shawl pin. The thorn had
broken off close to the skin, but instead of
digging about at random, the operator first as
ccrtained the whereabouts of the stump by eau
tiously pressing the wound in several dircc-
tons. He then inserted the bodkin Just under
the skin, in line at right angle with that of
the thorn, which he soon pried out by using tho
point of the pin as a prod and its head rs
lever, with slow stcadiness that obviatcd all
danger of the thorn breaking beneath the skin.
WOUNDS
For ordinary wounds compression and loose
bandage IS generally better than piasters,
which often introduce substances that have 10
be removed by suppuratiou before the wound
can heal. The vitality of savages has been
greatly overrated. Oar Indians and the natives
of the South Sea Islands snccuufb to epidemics
that would cost the average Caucasian only y
short fever but those same savages recover
from wounds with rapidity which has evil
IDENTIFY much 10 do with the difference III the
mode of treatment Instead of plastering n
sore with irritating ointments and combining
the patient in a stiling bedroom they just
join the edges Of the wound, wrap IL up with
strip of cloth and string, and let Nature do
the rest. or content themselves with counter
acting inflammation by frequent abutions.
For similar purposes wounded animals lick
their hurts and remain ms quiet rs possible. to
facilitate the reunion of tho ruptured tissues.
Compression is also the best dyptic Ii bleed
ing cannot be stopped by simple handage, a
ligainre should be applied little above the
wound, and frightened by twisted strings which,
however should be loosened as soon ms the hem
orrhage has subsidized. Styptie water or agaric
may be used Ia extreme casss. Inflammation
can be prevented ty the frequent application Of
fresh water, either pure or mixed with o few
drops of vinegar or tincturc of myrrh the
remedial value of dFHica having, in this respect,
been greatly ovcrrated. INFLAMMATION should.
nevertheless, supervcne. tic best application is
a catapiasm OF camomie leaves, followed by an
ointment of warm mutton talow, The pa
tient in such cases should be kept on low.
H0u-Stimnlsting diet. and i'm warm weather
should he bedded in the airicst room Of the
house. All hospital Surgeons know how often
trifing wounds are apt 10 become malignant In
Midsummer. The healing of severe bruises is
often retarded for weeks. If the injury should
extend 10 the bone. In snch cases the wound
may remain open in spite of NIL remedies, till
the affected part OF the bouy structure Ii re-
moved by cxfoiation. The stitch.lke pains
preceding the issue of the bone indicate tile
time when its removal may be effected without
difficulty. after which the sore will heal la the
course of few days.
BURNS
cerRte OF equal parts OF wax. taIlow and
iinaced oil Is tue best dressing for severe burns
involving the destruction Of extensive tissues
Escharotie plasters may somewhat accelerate
the formation Of new skin, but az the risk of
leaving an unsightly scar. The same result
often follows the use OF 0piRteg o. ether Ap.
plications Of that sort may temporarily ease
the pain, but discoor and wrinkle the new It's.
sue in way that would permanently contrast
it with the surrounding skin. The best pain
killer" il immersion in oftenrenewed cold
water. Cold water not oBly relieves the burn
ing pain bot benumbs the feeling OF tho afiict-
ed part sufficiently 10 relieve insomnia aud
other complications. Constipation frequent
coneomiiant Of seop-distnrbing wounds, should
never be relieved By purgatives, but should be
countcrneted by an aperient huid dict: pea
soup, stewed prnncs and liberal drafts of some
cooling non stimulating bevcrage--lemonade
or cold water with q few drops Of raspberry
strip.
Clean. oft-carded cotton has a remark able Of.
feet in mitigating the torture of severe burns,
while wool seems 20 aggraVAte IL, as well as the
tendency to inflammation The old time plan
TO obviate that tendency by bleeding Las saeri-
feed many lives. for under no other cirenm-
stances has the patient more urgent need of all
bis vital resources than during the reproduction
OF large surfaces Of tegumcnta tissue We
might as well drain of the sap OF u tree after
peeling away large strips OF It's bark. In burns
penetrating the skin suppnration Is almost IN.
ayodable. but can be limited by additions with
weak tineture of aioes. in the course of the
healing process the patient should avoid high
temperature aud all artificial slimulautA.
sUFFocATfoR AND sTnARaLI.n.
Chcrryst0nes, and similar objects, obstruet
Ing the windpipe, can often be removed by
instruc;ing the patient 10 lean forward aud
accompany f0rcibe cough by sudden con
traction Of the shoulders. A slap on the back
has frequently the same effect, aud remember
u case where pin. lodged In the gullct was
elected by the movement Of "A tr0ttng horse
saddlcd in haste 10 carry the patient 10 the hos
pitAl. If such substances have not passed IN so
deep as TO be- out Of sight they can be extracted
with pair OF small foreeps, or even scissors, or
loosened by means Of IA hooked wire. Fish.
bones, lodged III manner 10 defy all coughing
efforts, can In that way often DO removed with.
out the aid OF a Surgeon, thus saving the pa
tient hours of pain and distress. A little piece
OF sponge, tied 10 string, may often prove even
more effective. After securely fastening a dry
piece Of sponge, IL should be- pushed into the
guliet, and, il possible, beyond the obstructing
substance. by making the patient swallow a
few drops OF water the sponge can be consider
ably distended, and, in being drawn back, will
bring out the obstructing body along with IT,
In extreme cases, before resorting to trache-
OtOmy, vomiting should be excited by taking
an emetic In the form Of iuke-warm fluid.
that can generally be swallowed in spite OF ali
| but the most desperate distractions The effect
will react both on the wndpipe and gnlet. If
any indigestibe but not otherwise injurious
substance should have been swallowed i'm the
attempt TO disodge IL from the gullet, no APP
| prehension about possible consequences need
be entertained. since the stomach will rid itself
| OF small glass button or metal bullet about
| DC easily as Of cherrystone.
Snfocating fits, brought on by the inhalation
of n0xions vapors or by mechanical means (as by
| infants entangling themselves in Il coil Of bed
| ciothingl, can generally be relieved by expos
Ing the patient 10 a strong draft oe cool air and
! bathing his temples with cod water. The
| irritation OF the 0lfact0ry nerves by sponging
the nostrils with vinegar, camphor etc, has
| often a marvellous effect In restoring suspended
| animation Combined with artificial resnira-