Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-06-25
AID FOR INJURED
Youthful Celebrators of the
Fourth and. Their Needs
IN BELIEVING PAIN
PENDING THE ARRIVAL OF THE
DOCTOR.
Vital Importance Of Cleanliness
in Handling
Wounds.
IN RELIEVING PAIN
Written for The Evening Star.

Written for The Evening Star.
There is something almost gruesome In
the suggestion that every mother Is likely to
have an emergency case the glorious
Fourth, but statistics gathered by hospital
and police surgeons. city and country doc
tors. so to prove that many small life
might be saved and many an injury less
ened by making timely preparation for the
great day. The right remedy at the right
nlomenl, administered by steady hand,
backed by a cool brain. is worth its weight
In gold in case of an accident with fire.
works.
So lon,: as small boys and Chinese inge-
nuity combine to celebrate the day with
red fire and noise, the family circle is in
danger OF depletion. The pistol that Is mot
loaded the fire-cracker that has refused to
go off and demands reiighting. the small
cannon that is overchai ged. keep the ma
ternal bosom in tiutter from dawn till
dark and set telephone ard ambulance bells
ringing
explosion, cleanliness is of vital Importance.
The majority Of deaths from Fourth OF
July INJURIES can be traced not TO the &C
tual explosion. but to ,ockjaw. which sets
in from a carelessly dressed wound. This
must be borne in mind by the mother or
older member of the family who dresses the
small boys injuries. when surgeon cam
not be obtained at once
No injury, especially II due to a toy pis-
toll should be regarded lightly. and the best
of surgical attention is none TOO good. me
waddinS used in toy pistols is fully as dam
gerous as bullets used in those or larger
caliber A boy will go at once to surgeon
and have a bullet removed. while he counts
the waddlng as trite--ties up his hands
and dies of lockjaw. The following hints
are to be used only when there Is delay IN
ha n a
For Emergencies.
Here are some Of the things which every
mother should have at hand on the Fourth:
porcelain or agate pitcher and basin.
package of absorbent cotton ana one Oh
iodoform gauze some safety pins. carbolc
solution Of linseed oil and lime water;
solution of boric acid. antiseptic soap, naN-
seed fo- pouItices and surgeons probe
The carbolic solution Is known as the Two
per cent" a teaspoonful of carbonc acid 10
a pint of water. The boric solution calls FOR
a teaspoonful Of the acid to a glass OF warm
water. &c. d.
works ia the burn. Unless the pa tient IN
hales the flames or Is terribly burned fatai
results do not follow. but the pain IS eA-
cruciating A wise precaution Is TO dress
children sensibly for the day in heavy
clothes. and not in fluffy. infiammabie ma
terials The young girl in lawn or organdy.
trimmed with filmy lace. who undertakes
to help her father set on the freworhs d.
night, literally takes her life in her hands
as a spark from rocket or roman canuie
can set her dress ablaze.
Should such a catastrophe happen snatch
a shawl or porch rug, wrap the girl IN IL
and roll her on the ground. II the clothing
sticks to the burned spot. wet 1t with water
or oil and cut 1t away from the wound IL
the burned place Is large. dress little at
time, excluding the air. This last Is i'm
tha
burned surface not only causes pain, but Is
largely responsible for soaring.
To Treat a Burn.
Cover the burn with a solution of linseed
oil and lime water and swathe in the anti
semitic eauze If the patient suffers from
shock this condition will be indicated by
GOODNESS Of the entire body. feeble pulse and
dropping eyelids. II not complete insensibif-
ty. Apply hot water bottles around the
body, rub the arms and legs. and apply
mustard plasters to the wrists and the
soles Of the feet. If the patient is conscious
administer milk. tea or coffee. but do not
give an alcoholic stimulant until ordered to
do SO by the surgeon, who should be sum-
mOned at once.
In case of slight burns use the same solu-
ton Of linseed Oil and lime water and
bandaee with the gauze Simple remedies
for burns from punk and matches of which
children acquire a goodly number on the
Fourth, are white OF egg, which covers the
burn like mucilage. and Keeps out the air,
and common baking soda in the proportion
of one tablespoonful Of soda to half glass
of water. Cover with gauze.
A Complicated Case.
Another very common accident on INDIE
pendence day is the explosion or shooting or
powder into the face. Do not allow the boy
to pick this powder out for himself. but
send him at once to a surgeon. after bath
ing the face with carbohc solution and COW
ering it with antiseptic gauze. This does
not relieve the pain or remove the powder
but it does prevent small. dirty hands from
CARRYING poisonous matter into torn pores
The powder must be picked out by the sur
geon's needle, as any powder remaining I'M
der the skin shows all through the patients
life as minute black specks.
When the powder is blown into the eyes
and the injury seems slight, do not touch
with the fingers, but have the patient bathe
the eyeballs with the solution of boric acid
one teaspoonful of acid to a glass of warm
water This will prevent bloodShot but the
patient should be taken at once to an
oculist. or, If one cannot be found, to reg
ular surgeon, so that the exact extent OF
the injury may be learned and Immediate
steps taken to prevent blindness.
When the explosion tears open the feshy
part of the hand. the home nurse must eX-
ercise her utmost skill and patience. The
patient will demand immediate relief
here she takes her first step toward lock-
jaw. The wound must not be touched save
with sterilized implements and fabrics.
Place the agate basin over the gas flame
and throw into the water the probe with
which you expect to take out the offending
piece of wadding.
Beware of Germs.
Turn back your sleeves and wash your
hands thoroughly in antiseptic soap and
water as hot as you can bear it. and there
after touch nothing with your hands except
antiseptic articles. Have some one remove
the agate pan from the gas stove after the
water in it has boiled five minutes and
both water and probe are absolutely
aseptic. Remove the wadding from the
wound with the probe, and battle the wound
with the sterilized water and solution of
carbolic in the proportions given above.
Use absorbent, antiseptic cotton. and each
time you are through with piece of cot
ton throw it away but do not lay il back