Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-07-03

In anticipation Of the usual number
and variety Of Fourth OF July accidents.
through the careless handling of explos-
ives. DR.. w. c. Woodward. health officer
of the District, upon the suggestion of
the Commissioners. and for the first time
in the history Of his office. has prepared
a list of rules and directions TO follow III
caring for casualties.
The list will be furnished the public
upon application at the health depart
ment. A copy will be placed in all let
tiers going out from the health office to-
day.
Above all things. DR.. Woodward be-
lieves in cleanliness in the handling OF
wounds. II the wound is any way Sc
rious a physician should be summoned
without delay. He contends that no time
should be lost in treating accidents, no
matter how slight.
Rules and Directions.
His rules and directions follow:
An onuce of prevention is worth a
pound of cure.
wounds or burns. two things are OF the
greatest importance-first, cleanliness
| second rest.
Cleanliness is best obtained by free
washing with plenty of water. preferably
water that has been boiled. II necessary
to effect the removal Of dirt clean piece
CT soap may be used. Alcohol has anti
septic properties and facilitates the re-
moval of CRIME and dirt. After the
wound has been washed it must be irri-
gated freely with boiled water. to which
with advantage may be added common
ia bile salt, a small teaspoonful to the pint.
II powder is Embedded in the skin II
must be carefully picked out. Its re-
moval after the wound Is healed is DIM
cult. If the part in which the powder
grains are imbedded is an exposed por-
ton of the body. and Il is desired to
avoid Disagreement. 1t may be necessary
for these grains to he removed by a sur
geon. putting the patient. If necessary.
under an anesthetic.
Mechanical cleanliness. obtained by
careful washing and irrigation, is of the
utmost Importance. II 1t is desired to
use an antiseptic the safest in the hands
Of the layman is a saturated solution OF
boric acid. Buy the borfc acid at the
ing water. The water will take up when
cold about two teaspoonfuls to the pint.
This may be used to irrigate the wound.
or absorbent gauze or any clean piece OF
cloth may be saturated with 1t and ap-
piled to the injured part.
After the wound has been thoroughly
cleaned it should be covered with a piece
Of sterile absorbent gauze. which may
be obtained at almost any drug store. or
a clean handkerchief or cloth that has
liberal amount of clean sterile absorbent
cotton should be placed. The bandage
can then be applied SO as to keep the
wound at rest.
How to Check Hemorrhage.
Hemorrhage is not ordinarily a seri-
Gus factor in Fourth OF July injuries.
Such as occurs can usually be checked
by direct pressure over the bleeding
part using. as soon as possible. a per-
fectly clean boiled or baked cloth,
placed in contact with the wound be-
fore the pressure is applied. The
search for such a clean cloth can not.
of course. delay the application Of the
pressure. The pressure should be
made Immediately in the cleanest pos
sible manner.
In the case Of burns. the principles
of cleanliness and rest are OF as much
Importance as in the case of open
wounds. The immediate application
of a solution of baking soda, tea
spoonful to the pint. tends to relieve
the pain. So also does the applica-
ton of cold. through the medium Of an
ice bag. The burn may be dressed
with compress wet with boric acid
or the salt solution mentioned above
and covered with absorbent cotton. or
else the burn can be freely powdered
before being covered.
If the injured person seems to be
faint as the result of shock he should
be kept on his back with his head
low. He may be allowed cautiously
to smell ammonia. or teaspoOnful of
aromatic spirits of ammonia In a little
cold water or some strong coffee may
be given him. Application of hot
water bottles to the feet may be good
If the eXtremitieS are cold.
If there is to be an avoidance OF
tetanus lacerated wounds must be
thoroughly cleaned. audit may be neces-
sary to lay them open. scrape them
and irrigate them. An anesthetic
may have to be given. Tetanus anti
toxin should be used. Only by using
it can tetanus be avoided with rea-
sonable certainty. and tetanus. IL once
allowed to develop. is apt to terminate
fatally.
1t is better to have the advice and
assistance of surgeon with respect
to any Fourth of July injury. If called
in promptly he may be able to avert
serious consequences.