The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-07-06
BALM FOR BOYS BURNS
HOW TO QUICKLY RELIEVE 4TH
OF JULY SMARTS.
Cooking Soda Mixed With Water Is
Speedy Remedy-Any Bland Oil
Is Also Good-Lime Water and Lin
seed for More Serious Cases-Alco-
hoI Prevents Formation of BIsters.

May day may be the gladdest day of
all the bright new year, but for enthusi-
aSt1c manifestation of patriotic eXuber-
ance of spirits there is no day on the
calendar equal to the glorious Fourth.
But what difference the day after! The
treacherous firecracker and firework
leaves its mark on many small boy
and great is the smart thereof.
Burns are scientifically divided into sew
en- classes, but for all practical purposes
they may be divided into three, of the
first, second and third degree, The eff
feet of heat applied to the body varies
with it's intensity and the duration of
it's application. Thus the flash of gun
powder usually causes burn of the first
degree with more redness and tenderness
of the surface, subsiding after few
hours, and possibly followed by peeling
of the skin. In these. cases little cook
ing soda mixed with water to a paste
and applied over the burnt surface will
usually relieve the pain and lead to a
speedy cure. A bandage should be
loosely applied to keep the soda in place
and the application should be renewed, as
it dries; that is, the surface should be
kept constantly moist. The doctor, by
the way, who introduced this method of
| treating burns, plunged his hand into a
kettle full of boiling water, at the medical
meeting, where he was demonstrating it's
advantages, and then applied the soda to
prove it's value If soda is not at hand
apply any bland oil, like sweet oil (not
kerosene), or smear a little lard over
the burnt surface, the idea being to ex-
clude the air In many cases of a sim
pie burn, milk is one of the best emer-
gency remedies, and if nothing else can
be had, immersing the hand in rather hot
water will take out the fire
When Bllsters Form.
! Examination is more severe and blisters
are formed. Treatment may be the same
as in those of the first degree with the
caution not to break the bliSters. The
serum in them may be removed by prick
ing them with a needle, running it
through the base of the blister not
through the side or top. Enter the point
of the needle at the margin of the blister
as if it was boulder that you were try
ing to pry up. If this is done the skin
remains unbroken and forms a protection
to the raw surface beneath and the
burn is less painful and heals more rap
idly.
In the third degree of burns the skin
is destroyed, the surface being dirty look
ing and the blisters containing blood
stained fluid. This is the most painful
form because the sensitive ends of the
nerves being exposed the surface is
raw The classic remedy in such cases
is carron oil, composed of equal parts
of lime water and linseed OIL This should
be freshly made, the process being as fol-
lows. The lime water is put into a bowl
and the oil added slowly a little at time
the fluid being continually and vigorously
beaten with an egg beaten This emul-
sion is smeared over the injured surface
and gauze saturated in it is then laid over
the whole surface absorbent cotton being
placed over this and the whole held in
place with a light bandage. The dress
ing should be changed as seldom as pos
sible as every time the injured surface
is exposed to the air it is rendered more
painful and healing is delayed. In the
slighter forms of burn the oil may be
discontinued after four or five days, and
after the surface has been lightly wiped
dry with cotton wool it may be busted
with rice starch powder or flour and a
| thin layer of cotton applied over it to
protect it until the dried skin is shed"
| Flour or starch may, inded, be applied
as the first dressing, but where the sur
| face is much injured the flour is apt to
make disagreeable dressing.
| In burns of the first degree spirit OF