Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1900-07-20
IN CASE OF BURNS.
What to Do Before the Doctor Can Be
Summoned


Many times persons clothing is
ignited from flames of a gas stove or
carelessly dropped matches. In such
cases the person is usually a woman;
not that women are more careless
than men, but their flowing house
gowns are more easily ignited. The
majority of women, when they find
their clothing in flames, will start to
run away from the danger.
Such a procedure is quite likely to
prove fatal. If person is alone, a
quilt, rug or portierre, or any large
wrap, should be thrown about the
body. Then, by lying upon the floor
and rolling over the flames can be
quickly smothered. If some one is
near at hand to give assistance, so
much the better. In any case, the
first thing to do is to see that every
spark of fire is eXtinguished. That
duty performed, the clothing should
be removed from the burned portions
of the body. There are many lotions
that will relieve the pain. The one
main point that should be kept in
mind, however, is to keep the air from
the burns
Nothing is better than flour to pro-
tect the burned surface from the air.
Make liberal use of the flour and COW
er every part of the body that the
fire has reached. When this is done
cover the patient with wraps, protect
him from all draughts, and when the
doctor comes he will dress the burns.
Almost any kind of oil is excellent,
except, of course, kerosene and sim
liar oils. The very best oil that can
be applied in linseed. This oil, mixed
with lime water forms carron oil, an
old remedy for burns which has been
in use for over two hundred years
Immediately upon application carron
oil forms a false skin or film over the
burned surface, which effectually pre-
vents the air from reaching the in
jured parts. Collodion is also an ex-
cellent lotion to apply to burns. This
preparation is antiseptic, and also a
disinfectant. 1t keeps the burns alb
solutely clean, free from air, dirt and
microbes.
Not long ago, in one of the city hos
pitals, silver foil was used as cover
ing for burns. OF course the foil
served its purpose very WELL but in
most households such an article is
seldom to be found And even if the
foil is obtainable, it is rather diff
cult to properly apply 1t.
Paraffine or wax candles can be
melted and poured over the burns.
This quickly hardens, and forms a
coating through which the air cannot
penetrate. This treatment also re-
lieves the pain. Care should be TAX
en- that when melted and ready to
pour on the injured parts it is not
too hot. One argument against the
use of paraffine is that it is removed
with difficulty.
All these remedies are merely pre-
liminary precautions taken before the
arrival of the doctor. In cases where
the burns are extensive | should adj
wise the application of flour or linseed
oil. Keep the injured person as quiet
as possible and out of the air, and
send for the doctor at once. Where
the burns are slight and the doctors
services are not required, the carron
oil or collodion will prove excellent
remedies. 1t would be a wise precau-
tion to have bottle of either lotion
on hand. Where the patient is suffer
ing from inhalation of smoke heated
milk will aid in reviving Hmm. Y.
Herald.