Year: 1869




It has been proposed within the last
wear or two, to substitute earth closets for
water closets, in the arrangements Of
houses, hospitals, &c. They have been
adopted to some extent in England, where
they meet with much favor. The system,
it appears was tried recently in the Penn
sylvania Hospital, at Philadelphia. The
result was not only highly satisfactory as to
the specific object, but he'd 10 the import
ant medical discovery that the most seri-
GUS and offensive sores and wounds are
rapidly cured by the application Of dry
earth, when other remedies have failed. n
correspondent of the New York Post,
Geo r. Waring, Jr., } gives an account Of
the success of the system as applied at
the hospital, and says it has been so com
pletc that it is proposed to substitute earth
closets for water closets wherever these
exist in that institution. OF the curative
qualities of dry earth he gives numerous
illustrations. The first case tried was rs
follows:


{" At the time of its introduction there
was lying in the ward a patient suffering
from q very severe compound fracture of
the lower leg. The wound was in an un-
healthy condition, and its cxudations,
amounting to pint in twenty-four hours,
were 50 offensive as to cause sickcninS
and even dangerous stencil, that the ex-
cclcnt ventilation of the ward and the
use of the usual disinlcctants were hardly
able even to mitigate. 1t occurred to DR..
lIcwson to test the power of dry earth to
absorb this olor. as it had that OF cxcrc-
mcnt The effect was magical. Not only
was the offensivncss entirely overcome. but
the effect on the character of the wound
itself was such as no previous treatment
had been able to compass. The suppura-
tion was. in few days. SO reduced, that
the daily dressing of Il single half pint of
earth was not even saturated; the edges
of the flesh wound lost their inAamcd
character; the intense pain Of the sore
was entirely reduced, and healthy granu-
lation has cnsucl."


The hint thus obtained was not disrc-
garded. and earth was afterwards used in
the dressing of wounds. Nine cases
which he witnessed very lately, arc
described by Mr.. Waring. We copy sew
cral of the eases mentioned:


Two patients suffering from serious
varicosc ulcers. after prolonged suffering.
and with little relief from the usual treat
mcnt. have ceased to he offensive to their
ward mates they tind their sores growing
daily smaller; all pain and inflammation
have left them and they feel the certainty
of an early cure.


a railroad brakeman whose hand was
n year and a half ago, crushed between
the coupling heads of two cars. aud who
has never been free from pain. and sci
dom from intense pain; whose hand from
the wrist to the knucklcs was fostering
mass of carious bones and intlamed flesh,
and whose system had been so reduced that
he could not have survived the amputation
Which alone could entirely relieve him, is
now happy in freedom from pain. His
flesh wound has taken on healthy char
actcr, and his strength is fast returning
lie even hopes to save his hand, but the
long continued decay Of the bone makes
this impossible.


Another brakeman suffering from a
precisely similar injury, in no respect less
serious, but received within few days
was immediately treated with dry earth
Its constant application has entirely pre-
vented inflammation, and healthy healing
of the flesh and knitting Of the bone will
soon return him to his duties with Two
useful hands.


"In the case Of woman who had been
dangerously burned she was quickly re-
lcvcd Of pain and is recovering fast
An entire breast was recently removed
for cancer, and the wound dressed with
dry earth. 1t is now healing rapidly.
There has been no inflammation and no sup
puration."


These arc remarkable statements and
will no doubt attract general attention. from
the medical profession.