Democratic Sentinel, Volume 18, Number 2, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 January 1894 — HOUSEHOLD ACCIDENTS. [ARTICLE]

HOUSEHOLD ACCIDENTS.

A slight cut or abrasion on the hand, or a slight burn, may become a serious matter if it is totally neglected. Where the skin is torn or cut it is desirable in the first place that the wound should bleed freely. Cases of lockjaw are of rare occurrence where this is the case, and a very slight wound of the hand oi foot has been known to produce this dangerous malady where bleeding did not follow. One of the greatest dangers lies in a wound of a kitchen knife, which may have held impure matter, and even from tho scratch of a pin, and fatal cases of blood poisoning have frequently resulted from so simple a cause. Absolute cleanliness, therefore, is necessary in the treatment of such a wound. After the wound has bled a little it should be washed with perfectly clean water. That which has been boiled is best for the purpose, and there is no harm in using a little carbolic acid in the proportion of a drop or two to a quart of water. Do not attempt to stanch bleeding by the use of cobwebs, which are naturally dirty and full of impure germs, but use a little lint and a clean cotton or linen cloth. These should be always kept in the houses for use in case of such accidents. A trustworthy druggist will always supply some preparation of- carbolic acid, properly weakened, for household use. Even household ammonia, though it is painful at first, is recommended as a mild way of cauterizing a simple wound. A thick paste of equal parts of commo i baking soda and flour, wet to a paste with cold water, is the best remedy for a burn. It is better than lime water, because lime water is liable to become incrusted, while the paste of soda and flour is cooling to the surface and can easily be removed. The object of treating a burn is to cover the extremities of the nerves which have been injured and give them opportunity to heal. While such a paste is being prepared cover the wound for the moment with comihon flour and wrap it up in clean cotton. A simple healing plaster, which may be prepared in the household, calls for half a pound of rosin, an ounce each of mutton tallow, camphor gum and beeswax, half an ounce each of British oil, cedar oil, gum myrrh and linseed oil. Melt therosin, mutton tallow, camphor gum, beeswax and gum myrrh together, and add the oils. This plaster should be spread on cotton when needed and applied to the wound.—f New York Tribune. •