The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1933-04-05
All! All! NAUGHTY-MUSTNT
TOUCH!


from the front of the leg below the
knee. As q first aid disinfectant mer-
curochrome was applied. The patient
dressed the wound herself every day. ]
While showing it to her friend she I
dropped bit Of cotton the floor,
picked it up, and placed 1t over the
raw surface and applied the bandage.
Her friend demonstrated that this
was unsafe. The patient thought not.
as the mercurochrome Is SO powerful
that It destroys any germs there
might be on the cotton. Is that so9
In this case it would seem at least
questionable, for q few days later the
patient was seriously Ill with injection
Of the leg.
Mercurochrome Is all right as first
aid disinfectant. Probably 1t Is as
efficient as tincture Of iodin for the
purpose. It has one advantage over
iodin as q first aid remedy for. use
In the home, namely, that 1t doesn't
bite or smart 80 much on q large
wound or raw surface. The bite or
smart OF todin Is only momentary,
however. Any one who has used pam
tincture Of iodin and glycerin hall
and half as an application to canker
sore In the mouth (for which II
an excellent remedy knows It oiteS
for a moment and then seems 70
leave the canker less sensitive. On
the other hand mercurochrome mas
one or two disadvantages which N
NV opinion render 1t less sattsiactory
than iodin. It makes q CONSPICUOUS
red stain on everything. ana u COSTS
too much.
The breach of surgical technic COM
mitted by the woman who picked the
bit of cotton off the floor and placed
| it In contact with the raw surface
was q glaring one, but most laymen
commit Just as grave errors wnen
dealing with minor wounds, even
THOUGH they are meticulous about US
ing antiseptics.
The layman has q childlike faitn IN
autiseptic or germicidal agents WINCH
is not shared by the physician, sur
econ or even the well trained nurse.
Perhaps the most fatal error OF the
layman who attempts to treat his own
or another,s wounds Is the touching
Of the raw surface with finger or with
any object that Is not sterile. TINS
common breach Of surgical tecnnc
doubtless accounts for many more
cases OF septicemia. blood poisoning.
septic infection than are caused py
such obvious errors as the correspon-
dent describes. -.
A fundamental principle which the
wiseacre layman seldom comprenenos
| Is that with proper care we can keep
germs out Of q wound, but II they
once get into the wound we haven't q
rermicide that will kill the germs
without damaging the tissue cells ana
Iretarding or preventing the naturai
healing process. -.
r. Is upon that principle that the
practice Of first aid wound dtsin1ec-
tion Is based. One application o.
iodin COR mercurochrome) immed.
nav may destroy any germs that
we're implanted by the implement
that made the wound. But after that
immediate disinfection. It y better to
avoid further germicidal o. autSepssc
medicaments and simply strive 70 peo-
| tect the wound from further injection
while, healing Is In process. Here y
vhere real skin and knowledge CONS
! Ia. Aseptic care Of any wound. minor
or major, assures the quickest nearing
ana the least scar, but asepttc teen
mic Is . closed book to the wiseacre
layman with his pet anttseptcs.