FoodNet

The housekeeper's companion

1883

Page 216

Presented as published in 1883. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
depth, a dressing of carbolic acid and oil will be found a ser- viceable application. Take of carbolic acid, i part; best olive oil, 28 parts; apply on lint or soft linen. In a majority of cases any simple application that will pro- tect the denuded surface, while it is being skinned over, is enough — e. g., spermaceti ointment, spread on linen, will be all that is required. One method of treatment for abrasions, is to apply a piece of dry lint, and let the blood soak into it. This may be allowed to dry on the sore, and thus form an artificial scab; or the lint may first be soaked into compound tincture of Benzoin, known as Friar's Balsam. Burns and Scalds. — The effect of these will vary with the extent of surface, or the depth of skin injured or destroyed. Recovery, moreover, must depend greatly upon the state of health at the time of the accident. Under ordinary states of health a superficial scald or burn, not destroying the skin be- low the surface, and not involving more than half the super- fices, may be recovered from. Less than half of this extent of bum may, however, be fatal, if it extend to the true skin and the muscles below. Burns as a rule destroy more than scalds. Scalds usually form blisters and go no deeper, but burns may char the deeper skin and the muscles beneath; they are, therefore, the more dangerous of the two. Should the burn have resulted from the clothes catching fire, they should carefully be removed, so as not to break the blisters, which may be forming or formed, lest violence be done to the raw skin beneath, and, for the same reason, pieces of the clothing that stick to the surface should not be removed at the time. If the burn or scald be extensive, some stimulant, wine and water, should be given at once to diminish the effect of "shock." Treatment. — The principle to be observed in the treat" ment of burns and scalds, is to cause a gradual diminution of heat in the part, not to allow it to cool too quickly. This is effected by protecting the burnt or scalded part from the air, by immediately dredging with flour, or covering with cotton- wool or oil. If the case is a slight one, these dressings may be left on for a day or two; but, if it be more severe, the damaged parts should be dressed with lint, spread with basilicon or resin ointment, or a mixture of equal parts of that ointment and spirits of turpentine. Another useful lotion for applica- tion to burns and scalds of slight extent, consists of "carron- oil," or, lime-water, i part; linseed-oil, 2 parts; well shaken together, and applied by means of strips of lint, or soft linen rag, soaked in it, and changed twice a day. The Blisters. — How to be Treated. — It is generally ^0 306 MEDICINAL.