Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1914-11-04

Accidents as a rule are caused by
the carelessness Of some individual
who fails to appreciate the lives of
the public.
Falls-Perhaps the commonest of
home accidents is falling over some
thing which has been left where it
has no business to be. Injuries due
to this cause are usually slight, but
they are not always so. AS severe an
injury as fracture of the hip may re-
suit. A broken hip means weeks of
suffering and perhaps permanent
lameness. Pals, brooms and coal
scuttles all have a place of their
own, but that is not on the stairs,
where everyone is likely to stumble
over them. Furniture in the way
may be as dangerous. Very slippery
floors with loose rugs are nothing
else but man traps. Water spilled
on the floor causes many bad falls
Badly placed gas and lamp brackets
are responsible for bruises and cuts
of the head. The danger from all
these things is increased by poor
light All stairs and Railways should
be well lighted. Boards thrown care
lessly aside with the nails sticking
upward may cause dangerous
wounds. Tacks and broken glass
should be always carefully swept up.
Guards outside the windows of
tenements are now considered nee
essary. They should be found in all
high buildings which are used as
dwellings. Such guards save the
lives of many children. For babies
d gate should be provided at the
head of the stairways. so as to pre-
vent their rolling down the stairs.
So many injuries, especially injuries
TO the eyes of the children, often re-
sulting in blindness, have been caus-
ed by certain common playthings,
that a warning should be issued
against them. They are: Scissors,
knives, pencils, pens, pins, hatpins,
hairpins, bean-shoOters, putty-blOw-
ers, button-hooks, umbrellas, etc.
Fire-Among the most common
home injuries are those due to fire
or boiling water. Children should not
be allowed to play with matches, to
carry lighted lamps, or to take pots
or pans containing boiling water
from the stove. Flannelet is danger
Gus for night dresses unless it has
been fireproofed, as its soft fuzz
catches fire very easily. Cleaning
gloves with gasoline in the presence
Of a light has caused many fires and
explosions. Clothing hanging be-
fore a fire may catch fire as soon as
It gets dry. Putting lighted lamps
under shelves has resulted in the
loss of many homes. In case a fire
starts in a room close all the doors
and windows to prevent a draft.
Give the alarm promptly. A few
pals of water thrown on at first may
do more good than thousands of gal
Ions later.
Accidental poisoning-TO prevent
It never put poison in a bottle which
is not properly marked. Always nick
the cork of a poison bottle. Keep
poisons or powerful drugs under
lock and key. Never give anyone
medicine without first reading the
label on the bottle or box.
When to call the doctor-ln
Panama the canal was made possible
only by the American doctors pre-
venting disease, and not by their cur
ing II. Exact rules prescribing just
when to call a doctor in illness OF
injury cannot be made to cover all
cases, but some help may perhaps be
given, Very rarely is any saving
made by not taking the safer course
and consulting a physician In case OF