Semi-weekly herald., 1911-05-04
NAILS AND BLOOD POISONING

Our Rrandmothers used to tell n
that wounds from rusty nails wer
poisonous, and that we must not mel
or scratch 4 ''sore" with the finpe
nails, as they too were poisonous t,
wounds.
These admonitions were based %,
observation and experience. an,
though we now know that neither O
these old sayings is literally true, ",
also know that under ordinary condi.
tions both rusty nails and finger nail,
may poison a wound even to the ex.
tent of producing serious or even fa.
tai blood poisoning, and, what is more
we know why it is so and how Ia
prevent it.
About thirty years ago Lord Lister
began the treatment of wounds, both
accidental and surgical, by what was
called the antiseptic method. His prac-
tice was based upon the theory that
poisoning (infection) of wounds and
of the whole system through wound
(blood poisoning) was produced bv
organisms (bacteria) which caused
pus (suppuration) in wound These
conclusions were arrived at through
the study of wounds and by expert
nients on animals, and as result of
work along these lines by pasteur.
Lister and others, many thousands of
human lives have been saved and
many life saving surgical operations,
previously impossible or eytra-hazard
Gus, have become safe and untold hu-
man suffering has been prevented o,.
relieved. This admirable object les
son teaches many important things.
not the least of which Is the debt the
human family owes to the great teach.
ers who have worked out these truths
for US and given them to Us without
cost. 1t emphasizes also the almost
criminal folly of the fanatical opposi-
ticn to scientific animal experimental
tion (viv-section) without which these
results would have been impossible.
But to return to the poisonous rusty
nail and the poisonous finger nail
These, we now know, are not poison
out in themselves but through what
they carry to the wound. Neither the
nail nor the rust (iron oxide) is polls
onous to wounds.s
II the rusty nail be boiled and the
organic matter upon it so DESTROYED
o. devitalized, it might be imbedded
in the flesh for many months or even
years and cause no injury.
So, too, the finger nails properly
cleansed of the deadly bacteria they
Inevitably collect under and about
them, may he used about any wound
with safety.
The practica! application Of this
principle by the surgeon narrows it.
self down to cleaning as absolutely as
possible (sterilizing) all that must
come in contact with wound. The
instruments are boiled, the dressings
ore steamed and the hands Of the op
eiator and his assistants and the skin
of the patient about the wound are
scrubbed with clean soap and hot wa
ter, etc.
Every wound or abrasion involves n
risk of infection tblood poisoning).
While one may not be able to cleanse
his skin, and boil rusty nail before
he receives wound with it, he can
always cleanse the wound Immediately
afterward, and with clean fingers ap-
ply clean dressing to the wound, and
So prevent many serious infections.
Each subsequent dressing should be
made with the same care as the first.
Cleanse the wound thoroughly with
,lean soap and hot (boiled) water with
clean hands. Wash with grain alcohol
(wood alcohol is poisonous), ether,
or gasoline If either be
Wash again with boiled hot
water. Dry gently with a clean (ster-
Ile) towel and cover with a clean
dressing, preferably of steril gauze
or absorbent cotton, which may be
mad at any drug store.
Rusty nails and finger nails 'in
are dangerous only because
of that which they convey.