Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1912-02-09
of Interest to Our Women
THE MOTHERS CORNER.

THE MoTHER'S CORNER.
Accidents In all forms come as q
shock to everyone. Almost every man,
woman and child has read or has
been told what to do In case Of fire,
or drowning or the hundred and one
other accidents that are likely to oc-
cur any day in the year. But when
1t comes to putting into practice the
theories that have been studied the
average person Is totally at sea.
Mothers especially are apt to lose
their presence OF mind in case OF
danger to their dear ones and forget
all the essential reliefs that should
be administered without delay.
II every mother confronted with an
accident that may prove fatal to her
child could retain her senses more
children would live to reach an age
of self-reliance. OF course, knowing
Just what to do 10 that all-important
thing, and next comes the ability to
keep ones head.
In case Of burning. II 1t be serious.
the first thing to do is to send some
one for q physician while the child Is
being place in q tub Of warm water.
The temperature should be at blood
heat (9S degrees Fahrenheit), and
there the child should be kept until
the arrival Of the doctor.
The greatest care should be taken
in dressing tho burns when they have
| started to heal and the discharge has
stopped.
One teaspoonful Of sterile or clean
boric acid ointment, mixed with an
ounce of vaseline, should be spread
! on antiseptic gauze or old soft linen,
and the whole bandage should be
fastened tight with few twists OF
the cloth. This dressing should be
changed daily.
When the burn Is slight the most
soothing treatment is to keep on the
tender places bandages moistened in
solution of teaspoonful of bicar-
Donate of soda to . pint Of water, or
In boric acid solution. The mother
should SO to 1t that the bandages are
always wet.
A very common accident among lit.
tie children is the swallowing Of pins,
buttons, coins, etc. In cases like this
do not give the child q cathartic, as
It may result in serious injury. II
left alone the article will gradually
work its way out Of the body, doing
no harm. Do not change the baby's
diet in any way, unless 1t be an older
child. In that case lot the little one
eat as much cereal and mashed pota-
toes as possible for few days.
When the baby seems to be chok-
ing while eating, or II he has "swal-
lowed the wrong way" seize him by
the feet and let him hang head down
ward while two or three smart slaps
are given the back with the palm Of
the hand. This will relieve the
trouble. r7r4->'-.=- e.~-~r~r. e','ss---'. =
In case of bleeding nose let the
child sniff ice cold water up his nos.
trils. Ice packages at the back of
the neck and at the top of the nose
sometimes help to stop the bleeding.
If 1t continues in spite Of this, put
little wads Of cotton up the nostrils,
or press the lower part Of the nose be-
tween the fingers for few moments.
Do not allow the child to touch It's
nose for some hours after the bleed
ing has ceased.
The mother should never try to re-
move any object which has fallen
into the child's ear. The thing to do
in such a case Is to call doctor i'm
mediately. Serious trouble has re-
suited from ill-advised attempts on
the part of mothers to doctor their
children's ears without professional
aid.
Any cut or scratch from a rusty
nail, broken glass, splinters or jagged
bits of tin should receive immediate
medical attention. The only thing the
mother can do Ia to wash the spot
carefully with peroxide of hydrogen
and put wet bandages over it. Do not
neglect to call physician, no matter
how slight the wound may be, as
lockjaw has often resulted from neg
ligence. When a cut bleeds too freely
press cotton firmly over the spot un-
til 1t ceases.
For the minor accidents, such as
insect stings, bruises. sunburn, etc.,
where some little momentary pain Is
felt, the relief Is simple and will allay
the sting Of the moment. For the bite
Of any insect wash 1t with alcohol or
drop a little ammonia on 1t, or put
on u bandage Of witch hazel.
II the little ones finger has been
caught in a door or otherwise badly
damned, put on an iced or very hot
compress and tie the fingers tightly.
II the child is badly burned, alcohol,
diluted half and half with water will
bring relief. or congresses Of witch
hazel are an excellent remedy.