Rensselaer Union, Volume 5, Number 19, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 January 1873 — Frozen Persons—How to Treat Them. [ARTICLE]

Frozen Persons—How to Treat Them.

The season has now arrived when many persons are liable-1« suffer from severe freezing. It is well, therefore, that all should know how to care properly for one who is near perishing from exposure to intense cold, or who has severely frozen some portion of his body; The first effect of an exposure of the whole body to severe cold, is an almost irresistible impulse to sleep, which, if yielded to, is soon succeeded by coma or insensibility, and death. During this comatose state the body is pale'and cold, the pulse and the respiration are almost imperceptible, and the pupils are dilated; but the limbs are flexible as long as life remains, unless the degree of cold be very great indeed. Persons who have been exhausted by hunger, watching or fatigue, and those who indulge in spirituous liquors, exhausted as they are by perpetual stimulation, are much more liable to suffer from cold than are others. Whenever a person has been exposed to a great degree of cold, and seems likely to succumb to its influence, the indications for treatment are, Ist. To induce moderate reaction, and restore the circulation and the sensibility. 2d. To avoid excessive reaction, which would surely lead to violent and dangerous inflammation.

To fulfill these indications, the body should first be rubbed with snow, and afterward, when the warmth and sensibility are somewhat restored, it should be wiped quite dry, and well rubbed with fur or flannel. The patient should now be put into a cold bed, in a room without a fire; a stimulating enema of common salt and water, with a few drops of oil of turpentine, may be administered, and, as soon as he can swallow, a little wine or spirit and water should be given. The after treatment must be regulated by the state of the patient, but mild cordials and stimulants, with nourishing food, will be sufficient in most cases. Caution : Do not bring the patient into a warm room, or apply artificial heat in any way, until complete reaction has taken place, and all danger of excessive inflammation has passed by. The term frost bite is applied to cases in which only some portions of the body, as the feet, hands, ears, etc., are frozen. In such cases the parts aflected should be rubbed with snow, for while the friction restores the circulation and sensibility, the snow prevents excessive reaction. After a short time cold water may be substituted for the snow, and the friction may be brisker. These applications should be made in a room without a fire, and a high or even a, moderate temperature must be avoided for some time, if the patient would escape the subsequent inconveniences of chilblains and running sores. If the freezing has been so severe that mortification and sloughing ensue, stimulating poultices, washes, ointments, etc., will be important. A poultice made of yeast, or of carrots, with a little pulverized charcoal, a wash of diluted carbolic acid, or of creosote, or an ointment in which creosote or carbolic acid is an ingredient, will be useful. Chilblains consist in a peculiar inflammation of the skin, induced by sudden alternations of temperature. Repeatedly warming the hands and feet by a fire when cold and damp, is the most common cause of these troublesome aflections. A great variety of things have been recommended for chilblains, among the best of which are, soap liniment six parts, tincture of cantharides one parti a liniment composed of lime water two parts, linseed oil one party a wash of muriatic acid one part, water seven parts; diluted crftoßQte, or carbolic acid; and cold foot baths. Gentleman.

—General Carrington’s Polytechnic In stitute, attached to the Female College at Wabash, lad., has received a donation of a complete set of all the mechanical, scientific and mining works published by the British Governmentalso a.completeset of Pafent-Offlce Reports of the same Government, the whole valued at $30,000, makingV the finest collection of that class of works in the country. —Stokes’ witnesses were confined in the House of Detention exactly a year.