Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-01-20
Health Talks by Or. Brady


The color and odor OF tincturc OF iodine
ar" S""'hinr. even Ia the doctors magma
ZION. although the value of this old fav"rite
as hrst-aid disinf'c,ant for wounds has
he"n called into question by unromantic sur
Ee"nS and bact"ri"loris;s who have sccntin-
cally tested 7hc measure. Dir. NJ. Il. Tinker OF
corner Medical school. conducted painstaking
experiments several years ago to determine
how much romance and how much fac, tho.
was in the widespread surgical fancy that
iodine is good skin disnfcc,ant Or rim
k"rs conclusions were not at all compliment
'"rN I" the scientific judgment OF his surgical
c"'ieaGu"S lie made out that iodine pa intcd
on the skin before an operation is n,tI. more
than local color. That other old favoritc of
tn" surgeon az an elder era. iodofor,n is noted
as good medium To grow certain germs in
and that fact. too. rather impairs ones faith
III iodine. though TO be sure. iodoform has an
"dor that ought to disgust any sclf-rcspcc,inr
microbc.
reckon I'm gradually approaching tina;
tiihc oil NE when ones mind sets. for in spite
OF All the foregoing discouragcments SIN
Ike L" believe that "a dash OF ,iucturc %,
iodine upon every little cut. scratch. tear or
abrasion offers a certain amount OF security
against Infection OF the wound and blood pois-
oninE.
ASid. from tincturc Of iodine to my mind
'h"rc Is no good excuse for keeping any other
"h'Scp'c substance than boric acid in the
house or In the medicine cupboard Any
4 -
Suhiima'c thichlorido OF mercury or rhcuol
tcarbolic acidJ KEEP, is constantly under
peril of disaster especially IL children live or
visit in the house. There is no legitimate
use for either of these poisons by the laity
The laws should prohibit the possession OF
such deadly poisons by layman Horrible
things happen To innocent children some
where almost every day because Irresponsible
persons have these posons in their homes
Another poison which laymcn should no, have
in their possession is strychnine--a child
killer which is swift and when il is dispensed
In sugar ted. chocolate coated or pink
plls or tablets. cruelty attractive TO the Gu
rious child For any real or legitimate pur-
pose strychnine has none in lay hands.
Following the Immediate swabbing or POUR
ing OF tincturc OF iodine on scratch wound or
abrasion. and drying, the best dressing Is a
coating Of fcXb" cuilodion,. provided tho
wound is dry enough for this TO adhere. II
the wound Oozcs or drains. the best first "A id
dressing is IA thick pad If EauZc, or soft muslin
II no surgeons rauzc * at hand. dropped d.
rectiy on In" wound from freshly opened en-
relopc. bunGl" or package" that has been
stcrilized by heat. Neither the gauzc nor the
wound should lac touched with fingers or any
object that has not been stcriliZcd FOR the
purpose. This Gauzc may he held in place
either with handaI" or with adhcsiv" plasi cr
strips or with cnil"di"n around it's edges. Any
wound, minor OF major, or any burn. will he
more comfortable. heal faster and h. loss
endangered by Infection If left exposed con-
stantiy 10 the air--hut this is often imprac-
ticabic without suhj"c;inG the wound the
danger Of contact with various objects which
may implant germs in 1t.