When a person is badly burned, the
shock to the nervous S3^stem is followed by
prostration or collapse. There is great weak-
ness, pallor of face, flickering pulse, short
breathing, and coldness of the body. For
this condition, opium, in the form of lauda-
num (fifteen drops at once, repeated if neces-
sary in an hour, until three or four doses
have been taken) is a good stimulus. Small
quantities of ivhiskey or brandy also, one or
two teaspoonfuls at a time, may be given, at
half-hour intervals, for a while ; to be with-
held at once when signs of reaction come.
Such signs are, strengthening of the pulse,
warming of the skin, and return of color to
the face.
Applications for Burns. — For the burn
or scald itself, there is no better application
than lime zvatcr and oil (flaxseed, olive, or
lard oil) mixed together in equal parts. Lint,
if it can be had, if not, muslin or linen rags,
should be well wet with this, and laid all
over the burn. If the burnt surfiice be ex-
tensive, over the lime-water and oil dressing
put a layer of cotton zcadding, for warmth.
Should it be a small burn, put instead of this
a piece of oiled silk, oiled paper, or rubber
cloth.
A burned hand or foot will obtain the
best relief by being held in cold ivater for
some time. A remedy for limited burns
which has lately become popular is, a satu-
rated solution of soda (sodium-bicarbonate).
Other applications sometimes used are, sim-
ple oil (lamp-oil, castor-oil, etc), and
539
76
THE FAMIL Y DOCTOR
powdered starch. But nothing is equal in
effect to the " carron oil," as the mixture of
lime-water and oil has long been called.
When the sufferer's clothing covers the
burn, it should be carefully removed by
untying, unbuttoning, and cutting every-
thing needful, so as to get all off ivithout
p7illi7ig or much moving the injured body.
Raised water-blisters should be merely
Clicked to let out the water ; leaving the
cuticle to protect the true skin underneath.
Then apply the dressing above spoken of.
If the patient reacts and does well, the lime-
water and oil rags must be renewed when
they begin to get dry ; taking them off with
extreme gentleness, so as to disturb the
parts as little as possible. After two or
three days, a dressing of simple cerate,
thickly spread on lint or soft rags, may be
substituted for the oily dressing. Deep and
extensive burns are sometimes very slow to
heal, and leave ugly contracting scars which
may require special surgical attention.
Choking; Strangling. — These are not
the same in causation ; but the danger is in
both the same — stoppage of breathing by an
obstruction in the windpipe. In choking,
properly so called, the obstacle is within the
throat; in strangling, it is from a cord,
etc . , outside of and around it ; as in ha7ig-
i7ig.
Page 214
Presented as published in 1901. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
AI-modernized reading of the original text
When a person is badly burned, the shock to the nervous system is followed by prostration or collapse. There is great weakness, pallor of face, flickering pulse, short breathing, and coldness of the body. For this condition, opium, in the form of laudanum (fifteen drops at once, repeated if necessary in an hour, until three or four doses have been taken) is a good stimulus. Small quantities of whiskey or brandy also, one or two teaspoonfuls at a time, may be given, at half-hour intervals, for a while ; to be withheld at once when signs of reaction come. Such signs are, strengthening of the pulse, warming of the skin, and return of color to the face.
Applications for Burns. — For the burn or scald itself, there is no better application than lime water and oil (flaxseed, olive, or lard oil) mixed together in equal parts. Lint, if it can be had, if not, muslin or linen rags, should be well wet with this, and laid all over the burn. If the burnt surface be extensive, over the lime-water and oil dressing put a layer of cotton wadding, for warmth. Should it be a small burn, put instead of this a piece of oiled silk, oiled paper, or rubber cloth.
A burned hand or foot will obtain the best relief by being held in cold water for some time. A remedy for limited burns which has lately become popular is, a saturated solution of soda (sodium-bicarbonate). Other applications sometimes used are, simple oil (lamp-oil, castor-oil, etc), and
powdered starch. But nothing is equal in effect to the " carron oil," as the mixture of lime-water and oil has long been called.
When the sufferer's clothing covers the burn, it should be carefully removed by untying, unbuttoning, and cutting everything needful, so as to get all off without pulling or much moving the injured body. Raised water-blisters should be merely clicked to let out the water ; leaving the cuticle to protect the true skin underneath. Then apply the dressing above spoken of. If the patient reacts and does well, the limewater and oil rags must be renewed when they begin to get dry ; taking them off with extreme gentleness, so as to disturb the parts as little as possible. After two or three days, a dressing of simple cerate, thickly spread on lint or soft rags, may be substituted for the oily dressing. Deep and extensive burns are sometimes very slow to heal, and leave ugly contracting scars which may require special surgical attention.
Choking; Strangling. — These are not the same in causation ; but the danger is in both the same — stoppage of breathing by an obstruction in the windpipe. In choking, properly so called, the obstacle is within the throat; in strangling, it is from a cord, etc., outside of and around it; as in hanging.