The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-07-06

wine (alcohoD will relieve the pain and
bring about speedy cure and if used
quickly will usually prevent the fornna-
ton of blisters and prevent soaring. The
surface is to be first covered with abb
Sorbent cotton and then the sDirit is
poured over it until it is Thoroughly sat
urated. Then cover it with some i'm
pervious material such as oiled silk or
rubber dam" This causes intense
smarting at first, but soon benunbs the
surface. AS the spirit evaporates the
cotton should be again saturated. When
this dressing is used take care that the
patient does not go near fire or light for
the spirit is very infiammable and if the
dressing should take fire the result would
be serious. Flexible collodion is another
good application acting as an artificial
skin. Mucilage is sometimes recommend
ed as domestic remedy and carpenters
sometimes cover burn with hot glue
or Shellac but these. while thew Drotact
the surface from the air for q while
form stiff, unyielding coating which
soon cracks and irritates the surface. A
good household remedy that answers AZ
protective is the white of a fresh egg
smeared over the surface, but still bet
ter one Is vaseline, especially carbolated
vaseline.
The danger to life does not depend en-
tlrely upon the degree of the burn The
part OF the body injured, but more espe-
an important influence upon the result
Thus burn of the first degree involving
large surface may be more serious than
one OF the third degree, but slight in ex-
tent The risk to life, especially in chill
dfen, is fairly measured by the extent of
surface involved, and when more than
haH OF the body is injured the result is
most always fatal
Danger From Shocks.
The danger from burns is partly due
to shock, which may be followed bv COL
lapse, shivering and GOODNESS. For this
reason it is always necessary to keen a
burned person warm by light but warm
clothing and hot water bottles to the
feet or sides Stimulants must also be
given, brandy or perhaps better aromatic
spirit of ammonia, and beef tea or milk
and eggs Feed and stimulants should
pc given in goodly quantity, but the pa
tlent should never be disturbed while
asleep, as sleep is extremely beneficial
Inc location Of the burn also has an
influence on the final result Burns over
the chest cause complications of the lungs
or heart; those over the abdomen are
perhaps the most serious Of all. az thew
cause intestinal trouble or possibly peri
tonltlS. Kidney trouble is also immf-
nent in burns of any extent because the
eXcretory functions of the skin are
checked and thus double amount of
caemia is also common complication.
especially in later stages of the burn
when the stage of suppuration ensues
To allay pain and Inflammation, opium
is usually given, say a one-grain pill eV-
cry three or four hours or oftener. if main
is very severe. Stimulants must also be
nationally used and quinine is usually in
Dictated in at least two-grain pills three
times day.
Deformity One of the Prospects.
In extensive burns the healing is al
ways slow and if the skin has been de-
stroyed there is danger of contraction Of
the skin and flesh leading to deformity.
In burns between the fingers the cotton
dressing should always be crowded be-
tween the fingers to keep them from
! growing ''webbed." Splints are also
used to keep the parts straight and free
Fourth of July burns are worse than
| others on account of the bruise or lacera-
ton that usually accompanies them. and
| on account of the introduction of gun
| powder and other foreign material into
! them. The wounds should be thoroughly
washed with warm water in which a few
| drops of carbolic acid have been placed
| or little sulpho -naphthol may be used
| or any diSinfectant. A so called anti
| septic tablet containing corrosive sub
| Innate is still better, but a very weak
] solution should be used. The water
| by squeezing it from a piece of clean
| cloth, not sponge, unless 1t is new.
| Then the remedies already suggested may
| be applied, or in some cases benzoinated
| zinc ointment or compound tincture of
| benzoin may be used. If the wound needs
-, to be held by plaster use lead plaster in
narrow strips tapping them across each
| other so as to form a grated covering to
allow the escape of secretions from the
wound. Pain may be relieved by using
| lead water if the surface is not lacerated.
In fact, ordinary white lead paint is rec
i commended by some as a dressing for
burns
If clothing must be removed it should
| not be pulled off so as to take skin and
| flesh along with it, but carefully cut
away. and if small pieces stick it is
| usually best to leave them for a while or
| to try to soak them off gradually, never
| using tearing force.
The danger from lockjaw or blood poi
soning is due in all probability to the
| bruising Of the tissues, especially the
nerves, so that the flesh around the in
| jured spot is, so to speak, killed and
| sloughs away. Leon Noel.