The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-01-18
MEETING EMERGENCIES OF
LIES SMALL ILLS IN HOME
Supplies to Be Kept Hand in Preparation for Accidents
Burns Neuralgia Cramps Insect Stngs Poison Ivy Head
ache Toothache Etc-Keep Medicine Chest Locked
BY MARY 7AYLoR-Ross (Household EsperD

Among the several accomplish
ments, trades and professions which
belong to the many-sided housekeeper
Is knowledge of what is best to do In
cases of emergency, to save present
suffering, or to prevent a serious out
come in the small ills Of life that come
to every household.
First in Importance is preparation
for accidents. They may not happen
for year-they may come within
day-one cannot know, and the only
safe way is to be prepared
Supplies that will prove useful in
such an emergency are rolls of band
ages, of various widths, made from
sections of old sheets, washed very
clean, torn into strips and rolled very,
very tight. A jar of borated gauze.
for doing up small wounds as we'll as
large, will lessen the chances Of con-
tamination and blood poisoning. Rolls
of absorbent Gotten can be purchased
in a pasteboard carton that opens
like a box of biscuits, and which will
last an ordinary family for some
months. Use bit of this instead of a
powder puff for baby and throw it
away, using a fresh piece every time.
This can be bought from rs cents up,
according to the width of the cotton.
A supply Of court plaster comes in
long tin box in which it will keep per-
fectly until used. Narrow strips of
InlS, uSeQ TO draw together Ine cages
to long, or a deep cut, after the
wound has been we'll washed out in
warm water would save many child
from an ugly scar. Use bit of the
absorbent cotton for washing out the
wound, instead of sponge-always of
doubtful cleanliness The few times
that adhesive plaster would be used in
a lifetime hardly makes it necessary
to keep supply on hand, for a physi-
clan always carries some about with
him. Select the court plaster that is
on silk, for this is finest and best for
dressing wounds A bottle of carbolic
acid for use in the water with which
wound Is washed completes the sup
plies for accidents, unless one includes
bottle of per oxide of hydrogen.
which, however, deteriorates, and is
best bought in very small quantities.
For burns (external) there are
many good remedies, but one that is
apt to be at hand, and is most effica-
cious. is alcohOl-pure alcohol. Cider
vinegar is another remedy for burns,
and every one is familiar with soda
moistened with water that is so often
used to alleviate the pain of burn,
A bottle Of sweet oil and lime is kept
on hand in many homes; and a small
bottle of collodion will be found of
great service In relieving the sting of
the small burns that are so irritat-
ing to tired nerves, whether of a child
or busy housewife. Burns that are
serious-those that affect. the true or
under skin as we'll as the surface Gu
ticle, should have the attention of a
physician, for home treatment is not
adequate, and what seems like a
very small burn may prove very
troublesome. The writer has known
e. burn less than an inch in diameter
10 remain sore for months, and re-
quire frequent dressing to prevent
blood poison.
For neuralgia, cramps and such ills
as seem to call for the application of
heat, the hot-water bottle may be
used or Il pair Of hop pillows or sacks
of salt, heated one after the other
and applied to the seat Of the pain
Better than any of these and holding
it's heat better than even a hot-Water
bottle, is a bag of sand. When one Wis
it's the beach, sack of sand should
be gathered and taken home, then
filed into the soft bag Of flannel
(outing fanneD, which may be placed
on a. pan and set in the small hot
oven Of the kitchen range to bake
For cold beds at night during the win
ter these sand bags will be found most
comfortable. When one is in a great
hurry to apply heat, the stove lid from
one Of the back stove holes can be
slipped into the leg Of an old stocking
wrapped a little more and applied to
the. seat Of the pain. This is quick
and effectual If the time is summer
and artificial heat not at hand, an or
binary lamy chimney, after the lamp
has been lighted for ten or fifteen
minutes, will be found as hot as can
be borne, even when wrapped in an
old stocking. This is especially good
for a baby, being light in weight.
In a family where there are chill
dren one is sure to need something
to relieve the sting of. insects. Tine
ture Of iodine is excellent for this
purpose; paint 1t over the spot, and
If the stfngs are severe apply a Sec
ond coat as soon as the first is dry.
This will soon relieve the pain and
kill the poison.