Author Description

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1893 Excerpt:...change the extemporised dressings for applications which may be in themselves more suitable, but the patient should if possible be left alone so far as dressing is concerned, until the state of collapse has passed off. In twenty-four hours, however, the later ani. Ml ll l l Il v i more deliherate it will generally be necessary to redress the burn, and now dressing, (or in the first instance, if skilled assistance and proper materials have been procured) it must be done with the greatest care. If the burn be extensive, it is almost always best to perform the first two or three dressings under an anaesthetic, not only because the burnt surface is exqui-sitely tender, but on account of the nervous shock of the exposure. The fresh dressings should always be got ready before the Soap suds, or treacle, may also be mentioned as useful domestic applications. burn is uncovered. The ones generally used for burns in their early stages are--(1) "Carron " oil, i.e., a mixture of oil and lime water in equal parts. (Linseed oil was originally employed, but olive oil is cleaner.) (2) Carbolised oil. (3) A saturated solution of common washing soda. Any of these may be applied by means of soaked strips of lint; and layers of cotton wool should always be placed over the strips. The soda solution generally gives the greatest relief to the pain, but the Carron oil is also a very bland and soothing dressing. The objection to both is that the prevalent discharges very soon become foul, and for this reason we prefer, in most cases, the carbolised oil. As a rule the 1 in 40 strength is sufficient, but, for very painful surfaces, the anaesthetic effect of 1 in 20 solution is sometimes very striking. Whatever may be in contact with the burn should not be pulled, but washed...