MEDICAL HINTS FOR COUNTRY SETTLERS.

Southland Times, Issue 1648, 15 October 1872, Page 3

MEDICAL HINTS FOR COUNTRY SETTLERS.

BY T. R. BA.WSON", ESQ , M.D. (From the Taranaki Herald). In ordinary cuts with a knife or other sbarp instrument, wipe the surrounding parts with a wet rag, and then wrap the wound up in the blood, first bringing the edges as near together as possible. A bandage, put lightly on, maj be necessary to keep the cut edges together. In two or three days the wound will have united. In ancient times the surgeons were wise in their generation. They bound up a sword-wound in its blood, and then, knowing how officiously eager people are to be meddling, used to set the patient or bis friends to anoint and bandage the weapon by which the wound was made, every day for a week. By that time the wound was generally healed. I used to wonder how they got hold of their enemy's sword to plaster it. It must have been something like putting 3-ilt on a bird's tail to catch it. If the wound bleeds much, and the stream is dark and continuous, the bleeding will generally subside soon on the free application of cold water, and then a pad of lint or soft rag, soaked in the blood and applied to the wound with a bandage over it. The part should be kept raised. But if there is a considerable stream of bright red blood, and it comes out in leaps, then compress it firmly with the thumb ; or, if in a limb, tie a handkerchief tightly round it, with the knot over the bleeding vessel, or with a stick passed through j and if necessary, twist it still tighter till the surgeon arrives. In cuts on the face, or other exposed parts, the edges of the wound, after being carefully wiped, should be brought close together With strips of sticking-plaster, first warmed by the fire or on a tin of hot water, that there may be as little scar left as possible. A piece of common sticking-plaster should be kept in every house. In burns and scalds, I have always ■

found that the quickest relief from pain is given by the application of turpentine in the first instance ; and this is found in most houses. If the skin is not destroyed, it can be painted on frequently with a feather. If the skin is blistered, let the water out by puncturing it with a needle ; and it the skin is destroyed, soak soft rags iv turpentine and lay them ou. Afterwards, the turpentine should be mixed with equal parts of sweet oil, olive oil, or fish-oil, gradually reducing the proportion of turpentine, and increasing the oil. If turpentine or oil ia not at hand, kerosine may be used, or vvheaten flour, dusted from a muslin bag, thickly, on the wound. When the wounds begin to discharge, then apply plasters of soft old rag spread with " yellow basilicon" or " brown cerate." " Holloway'a Ointment " is a very good application for the purpose, owing to the Venice tur\pentine it contains. Burns are very i subject to " proud flesh." Now " proud j flesh" is not such a terrible thing as most [ people seem to think. It is only too much of a good thing. The new flesh grows too luxuriantly, and rises above the surrounding skin, which doea not then readily unite over it. It is only " proud flesh" when it rises above the neighboring skin, and should then, as occasion requires, be suppressed by rubbing a small piece of " blue stone" (" blue vitriol") gently over it, so as to restrain it within proper limits ; don't use loaf sugar for the purpose; but keep the "blue stone" out of the children's reach, as it is poisonous, and of an attractive color. If the burn or scald is of small extent, and conveniently situated, a soft bread poultice is a good application. The best way to make a poultice is to cut a round off a stale loaf of bread, about one-third of an inch in thickness. Pare off the crust, then lay it on a plate and pour just as much boiling water on it as the bread will soak up. Mash it well into a smooth uniform pulp, and lay it on a rag, and apply it when about new milk warm. If it has to be kept on more than two or three bours, it should have a little lard, or fresh butter (without salt), mixed up with it, to keep it from getting hard and dry. The object of a poultice is to Jceep the part toarm and moist, and in a soft bed. Except for special purposes, when medicated poultices are used, these are the only objects of a poultice, and therefore it is quite unnecessary to uae tne abominations which are so often introduced. No men are less fastidious than medical men. Their education teaches them to consider nothing " common or unclean" which is associated with the relief of suffering humanity. But there is no reason for preferring a cowdung poultice to a clean bread poultice, except that the former is generally better prepared, softer, and more uniform than the bread poultices that are usually presented to us. Bleeding at the nose, whether occurring spontaneously or from a blow, is scarcely ever dangerous in early life. It is sometimes dangerous in old ac;e, and even in middle life. Lay the child on his back, with the head slightly raised to prevent the blood going down the throat. Admit cool air, and apply cold water freely to the top of the head, forehead, and temples, and sponge the nose and cheeks with cold vinegar and water. Apply a cold body suddenly to the back of the shoulders — a large house door key for instance — and raise the arms above the bead. If you have reason to suppose a child has swallowed poisonous berries, as the tutu, or the laburnum seeds, give a teaspoonful of the mixture of equal parts of ipecacuanha and antimonial, issued every I five minutes, till it vomits freely.