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Burns and Scalds.The pain consequent upon a burn or scald can be most quickly relieved by immersing the patient in a bath with a temperature of about 70 or 75 degrees F. If this be not obtainable, cloths satuated with warm water may be laid upon the part. After the burn has been thus treated for an hour, the limb should be enveloped in cotton which has been saturated in carbolic acid solution, two ounces of the acid being thoroughly mixed with two quarts of water. If this be not at hand, the burned surface should be thickly sprinkled with flour. If the burn be superficial it will be necessary only to cover the part with a piece of thin cloth smeared with vaseline, which may be allowed to remain for a day and then removed. If, however, the burn be a deep one, there will be mortification of the surface and pieces of skin and flesh will be separated by the formation of matter. It is very important that the dressing which is applied be not allowed to adhere to the surface, since it will stick to the skin, and its removal will occasion the patient much pain. In cases of deep burns, the most satisfactory dressing con sists in placing the limb, or the entire patient, as the case requires, in a permanent warm bath. The pain is thereby relieved, and the separation of the mortified flesh proceeds most rapidly and satisfactorily. This method is employed almost exclusively in the renowned hospital in Vienna, Austria. If this cannot be accomplished the limb should be enveloped in soft cloths spread with vaseline; this dressing should be changed every day. So soon as matter begins to form the parts should be thoroughly washed with warm water containing a little carbolic acid or listerine (two ounces of listerine to eight ounces of water) at every dressing. If there be much pain in the burned surface, it can be relieved by dissolving a tablespoonful of baking soda in a pint of water and applying this by means of soft cloths to the surface. These cloths must be wet every hour, in order to prevent them from drying and sticking to the surface beneath. When the pieces of mortified flesh become of a dark color there will usually be a fetid discharge. These pieces of flesh must be removed with the scissors ; before doing this the limb should be bathed for half an hour in warm water. If the burn be extensive the patient is collapsed ; the skin is pale and cold, the pulse rapid and feeble, the patient sometimes unconscious. Stimulants must be applied at once ; hot bottles or flat-irons wrapped in flannel should be applied to the feet and to the sides of the body ; ammonia should be held near the nostrils, and a tablespoonful of whisky or brandy may be given in milk. If there be much pain ten drops of laudanum may be added to the whisky. After the patient rallies from the shock, care should be taken to supply him with liquid diet only for several days. Indeed, no indigestible articles should be allowed for a week or two after the injury, since such cases are frequently complicated with ulceration of the small intestine, a complication which would be aggravated by the use of solid or indigestible food. But first, if you want to come back to this web site again, just add it to your bookmarks or favorites now! Then you'll find it easy! Also, please consider sharing our helpful website with your online friends.
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