The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-10-24
BALM, gALVE, IMMINENT,
EMBROCATTON

Before we begin messing with
Balve, ointment, balm, liniment,
poultice, fermentation, lotion or other
external remedy II may be well to
review two Fundamental facts;
/. Nothing Is absorbed through
tinbroken skin.
2. A wound or burn, II not infected
and not tempered with, heals as
rapidly as possible, and no medica-
ment can make 1t heal faster.
call these fundamental facts"
OF course you know better than ]
do about such things. Maybe I'll
know more when ! grow older
Auntie Btnneil used to tell me 30
when I was o sophomore medical
student. Meanwhile I insist on the
two fundamental facts.
salve, balm or ointment serves to
relieve pain; to protect sore, burn OF
wound from contamination or infec.
ton by contact with non-sterile
things, dust, flies; or from irritation
as by clothing or dressings which
might adhere; or from shock due to
cold or TO heat and rapid evapora-
ton In the case OF large burns or
raw wounds; and darn II can think
OF any other purpose Salve serves.
Ideal environment or conditions
for the most perfect healing with
the least scar and the least subse-
quent deformlty or mutilation Or
impairment OF function are: =
/. Physiological rest, that Is, vir-
tual immobiliiy. r'Nsolutely no use
Of the affected part.
2. No dressink VI cover-expo
10 the air and sun-provided the cir
Is reasonably free from dust and not
excessively cold or hot, and no In
gecB or other carriers Of infection
have access,
Now that have let myself In for
II I'm embarrassed 10 find my small
fund OF knowledge OF the subject
exhausted. Maybe ] should not have
expressed II 30 frankly. After all,
people have little faith IN the doctor
who tells the unvarnished truth.
Relief OF sting, burn, sfnarting or
pain In burn, wound or sore Is one
reason why ! recommend keeping q
tube OF OF Doc 9alve In the Medi.
cine Cupboard and the First Aid
Kit. II Is one reason why ] recon.
mend the use OF fannie paste as an
emergency remedy for burns. Physi-
clans have In their arinamentarium
more potent local aneSthetics which
may DO useful IN the treatment OF
some wounds, burns or ulcers, but !
consider OF Doc SaIve and fannie
paste ample 10 answer all ordinary
emergencies In the home.
In any case where inflammation,
swelling, pain and possibly acute In
lection or septicemia ("blood-p poison
ing') Is developing In wound, burn
or ulcer, the most comforting and
perhaps the most beneficial dress
Ing Is on aseptic or antiseptic poui.
tice, @ large hot moist dressing,
many folds OF gauze or o large pad
OF absorbent cotton kept wet with
hot sea water or II sea water Is not
available then q hypertonic salt goiu-
tion-a heaping tablespoonful OF
common salt and o heaping tea
spoonful OF sodium citrate In each
pint OF boiled water. This gives the
relaxing, softening, soothing effects
OF o pouitice, az well as the asmotic
effect OF the strong salt solution
II favorB drainage, or In popular
pafiance, IL draws.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Perforated Ear Drum
viii q fractured ear drum heal by
itself In time? A clinic doctor said
there Is nothing 10 DO done about II
but lot II heal itgeif. (Mfs. J. l.. M
Answer-Depcnds on tho nature
or cause OF the fracture, rupture or
peFforation, II no Inflammation or
discharge, lot alone rs good treat
fnent. Such broken car drums heal
In O fashion, sometimes leaving O
permanent perforation, which does
not necessarily affect hearing 10 any
great degree.
Mystery Solved
Next time you are taken 10 task
for your sound observation that Ice
made In mechanical FefFigeratoFs Is
as pure and as tasteless as f,anufacs
tufed Ice, why not explain that II
the home made article tastes diff.
feFenW II Is merely because vapors
or, odors arising from foods, eBpe-
ciaily things put In the refrigerator
before they are entirely cooled, iIil-
part taste 10 the Ice. odorous foods
should DO kept IN closed containers,
49, -