TREATING WOUNDS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 27 September 1938, Page 3

TREATING WOUNDS

USE OF ANTISEPTICS. SOME COMMON MIXTURES. Antiseptics are useful in the treatment of a wound and can be applied in two ways:—l. As a weak solution to wash out the interior of the wound. 2. As dressings impregnated with the antiseptic to absorb any discharge and prevent the further growth of germs. They also prevent contamination from outside sources. Stock owners frequently use antiseptics at too great a strength and do more harm than good. Some tissues are very susceptible to injury, and solutions should not, therefore, be used at more than the recommended strength. Antiseptics are particularly valuable for cleansing the hands before touching a wound, and in concentrated fprm some can be used to sterilise instruments when boiling water is not available. After shaving off the hair surrounding a wound, the skin requires treatment with an antiseptic solution before any surgical operation. In emergencies, a wound should first be cleaned, then treated with an antiseptic, and protected from contamination.

Some common antiseptics are: — Tincture of lodine—invaluable for immediate application to cuts and scratches. Methylated Spirit—used in undiluted form causes smarting, but has no ill-effect on the tissues. Permanganate of Potash (commonly, though not correctly, known as Condy’s fluid) can be added to boiled rain water to make a deep pink antiseptic fluid, which is mild in its action. Boric Acid —a saturated solution is made by adding two teaspoonfuls to each pint of boiled rain water, and allowing the undissolved material to settle. A useful eye lotion can be prepared by mixing equal parts of the saturated solution and water. Peroxide of Hydrogen —an antiseptic and a deodorant. It is usually used at a 3 per cent strength, and may be purchased as such. The stronger 30 per cent solution must first be broken down to a milder form by adding nine parts of water to one of the solution.