The Press., 1909-06-30
FIRST AID TO
 THE INJURED

ERE are some of the things
 which every mother should
 have at hand on the Fourth:
 A porcelain or agate pitcher and basin, a package of absorbent cotton and one of iodoform gauge, some safety pins, a carbonic solution, a solution of linseed oil and limewa- ter, solution of boric acid, antiseptic soap, haxseed for poultices and sur geon's probe. The carbolic solution is known as the "2 per cent" a teaspoon full of carbolic acid to pint of water. The boric solution calls for a teaspoon full of the acid to glass of warm wa ter.
 The simplest form of injury from fireworks is the burn. Cover the burn if at all severe with a solution of lin seed oil and limewater and swathe in antiseptfc gauge. Simple remedies for burns from punk and matches, of which children acquire goodly num- Der 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 a glass of water. Cover with gauge.
 Another very common accident on Independence day is the explosion or shooting of 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 bathing the face with carbolic solution and covering it with antiseptic gauge. This does not relieve the pain or remove the powder but it does prevent small, dirty hands from carrying poisonous matter into torn pores ~..
 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 tablespoon full of acid to 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 regular surgeon.
 When the explosion tears open the fieshy part of the hand the home nurse must exercise her utmost skill and pa. tience. The patient will demand im- mediate relief something ''to make him feel better''-but here she takes her first step to ward off lockjaw. The wound must not be touched save with sterilized implements and fab rics. 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 wad- ding.
 Turn back your sleeves and wash your hands thoroughly in antiseptic soap and water as hot as you can bear ek and thereafter 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 asep- tic. Remove the wadding from the wound with the probe and bathe the wound with the sterilized water and a carbolic solution in the proportions given above. Use absorbent antisep- tic cotton, and each time you are through with piece of the cotton throw it away, but do not lay 1t back in the water. -.. -
 Wrap in iodoform gauge and leave the rest to the surgeon. Linseed oil and Hmewater will relieve the pain; but, not being purely aseptic, they car ry danger with relief. Cleanliness and freedom from death dealing germs are more important at this stage of the proceedings than relief from pain.