TREATMENT OF BURNS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume L, Issue 3956, 15 June 1929, Page 4

TREATMENT OF BURNS.

Prominence was recently given by the Times to a contribution from its medical correspondent referring to an inquiry in Britain to ascertain the views of the staffs of hospitals about the treatment of bums by tannic acid. “The consensus of opinion seems to be that the 'tannic acid treatment has not only Revolutionised practice but has very greatly reduced, the deathrate,” he wrote. “Before the treatment was introduced it was recognised that ithe day following a burn was fraught with great danger on account of ‘shock;’ most of the deaths took place on this day or the day following. Recent work on shock, notably that, of Dale, of the National Institute of Medical Research has afforded a conception of tiie condition differing entirely from that formerly held. The shock which follows burning is duo to the absoiption through the skin of decomposition products, his-tamine-like substances, which are produced by the injury itself. To prevent this absorption as, therefore, to prevent shock. The treatment by tannic acid, which was introduced in America in the first instance, achieves this Object. Tannic acid forms a chemical compound with the decomposition products, and so ‘binds’ them. They cannot |be absorbed. The consequence is that no shock occurs and that the patient remains well. Further, the tannic acid produces a Jinn coating over the burn which selves as its protection and ‘dressing.’ There is no painful disturbance of the injured area and there is little or no pain. When the burn has healed the coating drops off. There would appear to be no doubt 'that this ’treatment has robbed cases of severe burning of half their danger. The treatment is painless, safe and simple.”