Treatment of Burns and Scalds.

Waikato Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 2000, 2 May 1885, Page 2 (Supplement)

Treatment of Burns and Scalds.

Db. C. F. Naismitu writes to tbe Lancet th*t he has secured most excellent results from the following method : — At first he used the soda solution, followed by carron oil, but soon abandoned them as unsatisfactory. The former owes its reputation to the cold water, and not to any soothing property in the soda. His invariable practioe, however extensive the scald, has been to place the injured member in ice cold water, keeping it there until all pain had disappeared — say in from two to four hours, or even longer. The water heats rapidly, and must be kept oold either by ice or constantly renewing. As long as the soalded part is kept under water (provided it is oold enough) no pain is complained of, and symptoms of shock are muoh lessened. When the limb will bear removal from the water without pain, he lays on thickly lead acetate and reßin ointment (one drachm to one ounce) and envelops in cotton wadding. He had used this ointment also in erysipelas with the best results, all symptoms of inflammation rapidly disappearing. Should severe suppuration occur, instead of the lead acetate a few drops of creosote may be added to the resin ointment, as reoommended by Druitt. By this treatment pain and shock are reduoed to a minimum, opiates are seldom required, and danger to life is, he believes, greatly averted.