AND STUDY ALL THE PRECAUTIONS.

Prepared cochineal 1235. Accidents.-Always send is generally used for colouring the for a surgeon immediately an accident pears; but if the above is strictly occurs, but treat as directed until he attended to, it will be found to answer best.

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STUDY THE PRECAUTIONS RESPECTING FIRE.

hausted; then send for a medical man. If not much injured, and very painful, use the same ointment, or apply carded cotton dipped in lime water and linseed oil. If you please, you may lay cloths dipped. in ether over the parts, or cold lotions. Treat scalds in the same manner, or cover with scraped raw potato; but the chalk ointment is the best. In the absence of all these, cover the injured part with treacle, and dust over it plenty of flour.

1238. BODY IN FLAMES.-Lay the person down on the floor of the room, and throw the tablecloth, rug, or other large cloth over him, and roll him on the floor.

ounce of water) into the eye, or keep the eye open in a wineglassful of the solution. Take a purgative, bathe with cold lotion, and exclude light to keep down inflammation.

1242. DISLOCATED THUMB.-This is frequently produced by a fall. Make a clove hitch, by passing two loops of cord over the thumb, placing a piece of rag under the cord to prevent it cutting the thumb; then pull in the same line as the thumb. Afterwards apply a cold lotion.

1243. CUTS AND WOUNDS.-Clean cut wounds, whether deep or superficial, and likely to heal by the first intention, should never be washed or 1239. DIRT IN THE EYE. Place cleaned, but at once evenly and your forefinger upon the cheek-bone, smoothly closed by bringing both edges having the patient before you; then close together, and securing them in draw up the finger, and you will pro- that position by adhesive plaster. Cut bably be able to remove the dirt; but thin strips of sticking-plaster, and bring if this will not enable you to get at it, the parts together; or if large and deep, repeat this operation while you have a cut two broad pieces, so as to look like netting-needle or bodkin placed over the teeth of a comb, and place one on the eyelid; this will turn it inside out, each side of the wound, which must be and enable you to remove the sand, or cleaned previously. These pieces must eyelash, &c., with the corner of a fine be arranged so that they shall intersilk handkerchief. As soon as the sub-lace one another; then, by laying stance is removed, bathe the eye with cold water, and exclude the light for a day. If the inflammation is severe, take a purgative, and use a refrigerant lotion.

1240. LIME IN THE EYE.—Syringe it well with warm vinegar and water (one ounce to eight ounces of water); take a purgative, and exclude light.

1241. IRON OR STEEL SPICULE IN THE EYE.-These occur while turning iron or steel in a lathe, and are best remedied by doubling back the upper or lower eyelid, according to the situation of the substance, and with the flat edge of a silver probe, taking up the metallic particle, using a lotion made by dissolving six grains of sugar of lead, and the same of white vitriol, in six ounces of water, and bathing the eye three times a day till the inflammation subsides. Another plan is-Drop a solution of sulphate of copper (from one to three grains of the salt to one

hold of the pieces on the right side with one hand, and those on the other side with the other hand, and pulling them from one another, the edges of the wound are brought together without any difficulty.

1244. ORDINARY CUTS are dressed by thin strips, applied by pressing down the plaster on one side of the wound, and keeping it there and pulling in the opposite direction; then suddenly depressing the hand when the edges of the wound are brought together.

1245. CONTUSIONS are best healed by laying a piece of folded lint, well wetted with the extract of lead, on the part, and, if there is much pain, placing a hot bran poultice over the dressing, repeating both, if necessary, every two hours. When the injuries are very severe, lay a cloth over the part, and suspend a basin over it filled with cold lotion. Put a piece of cotton into the basin, so that it shall allow

1

READ THE HINTS TO HUSBANDS AND WIVES.

the lotion to drop on the cloth, and thus keep it always wet.

187

raise the head, and place over it both arms, so that it will rest on the hands; dip the lint plug, slightly moistened, into some powdered gum arabic, and plug the nostrils again; or dip the plug into equal parts of powdered gum arabic and alum, and plug the nose. Or the plug may be dipped in Friar's balsam, or tincture of kino. Heat should be applied to the feet; and, in obstinate cases, the sudden shock of a cold key, or cold water poured down the spine, will often instantly stop the bleeding. If the bowels are confined, take a purgative.

1246. HEMORRHAGE, when caused by an artery being divided or torn, may be known by the blood issuing out of the wound in leaps or jerks, and being of a bright scarlet colour. If a vein is injured, the blood is darker and flows continuously. To arrest the latter, apply pressure by means of a compress and bandage. To arrest arterial bleeding, get a piece of wood (part of a mop handle will do), and tie a piece of tape to one end of it; then tie a piece of tape loosely over the arm, and pass the other end of the wood under it; twist the stick round 1248. VIOLENT SHOCKS will someand round until the tape compresses the times stun a person, and he will remain arm sufficiently to arrest the bleeding, unconscious. Untie strings, collars, and then confine the other end by tying &c. ; loosen anything that is tight, and the string round the arm. A compress interferes with the breathing; raise the made by enfolding a penny piece in seve-head; see if there is bleeding from any ral folds of lint or linen should, how- part; apply smelling-salts to the nose, ever, be first placed under the tape and and hot bottles to the feet. over the artery. If the bleeding is very obstinate, and it occurs in the arm, place a cork underneath the string, on the inside of the fleshy part, where the artery may be felt beating by any one; if in the leg, place a cork in the direction of a line drawn from the inner part of the knee towards the outer part of the groin. It is an excellent thing to accustom yourself to find out the position of these arteries, or, indeed, any that are superficial, and to explain to every person in your house where they are, and how to stop bleeding. If a stick cannot be got, take a handkerchief, make a cord bandage of it, and tie a knot in the middle; the knot acts as a compress, and should be placed over the artery, while the two ends are to be tied around the thumb. Observe always to place the ligature between the wound and the heart. Putting your finger into a bleeding wound, and making pressure until a surgeon arrives, will generally stop violent bleeding.

1247. BLEEDING FROM THE NOSE, from whatever cause, may generally be stopped by putting a plug of lint into the nostrils, if this does not do, apply a cold lotion to the forehead;

1249. IN CONCUSSION, the surface of the body is cold and pale, and the pulse weak and small, the breathing slow and gentle, and the pupil of the eye generally contracted or small. You can get an answer by speaking loud, so as to arouse the patient. Give a little brandy and water, keep the place quiet, apply warmth, and do not raise the head too high. If you tickle the feet, the patient feels it.

1250. IN COMPRESSION OF THE BRAIN from any cause, such as apoplexy, or a piece of fractured bone pressing on it, there is loss of sensation. If you tickle the feet of the injured person he does not feel it. You cannot arouse him so as to get an answer. The pulse is slow and laboured; the breathing deep, laboured, and snorting; the pupil enlarged. Raise the head, loosen strings or tight things, and send for a surgeon. If one cannot be got at once, apply mustard poultices to the feet and thighs, leeches to the temples, and hot water to the feet.

1251. CHOKING.-When a person has a fish bone in the throat, insert the forefinger, press upon the root of the tongue, so as to induce vomiting; if this

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FIRE IS A GOOD SERVANT BUT A BAD MASTER.

does not do, let him swallow a large piece of potato or soft bread; and if these fail, give a mustard emetic.

1252. FAINTING, HYSTERICS, &c.— Loosen the garments, bathe the temples with water or eau-de-Cologne; open the window, admit plenty of fresh air, dash cold water on the face, apply hot bricks to the feet, and avoid bustle and excessive sympathy.

body with salt or spirits. ii. Never roll the body on casks. iii. Continue the remedies for twelve hours without ceasing.

1254. HANGING.-Loosen the cord, or whatever suspended the person; open the temporal artery or jugular vein, or bleed from the arm; employ electricity, if at hand, and proceed as for drowning, taking the additional precaution to apply eight or ten leeches to the temples.

1255. APPARENT DEATH FROM DRUNKENNESS. Raise the head, loosen the clothes, maintain warmth of surface, and give a mustard emetic as soon as the person can swallow.

1256. APOPLEXY AND FITS GENERALLY.-Raise the head; loosen all tight clothes, strings, &c.; apply cold lotions to the head, which should be shaved; apply leeches to the temples, bleed, and send for a surgeon.

1257. SUFFOCATION FROM NOXIOUS GASES, &c.—Remove_to_the fresh air; dash cold vinegar and water in the face, neck, and breast; keep up the warmth of the body; if necessary, apply mustard poultices to the soles of the feet and spine, and try artificial respirations as in drowning, with electricity.

1253. DROWNING.-Attend to the following essential rules :-i. Lose no time. ii. Handle the body gently. iii. Carry the body face downwards, with the head gently raised, and never hold it up by the feet. iv. Send for medical assistance immediately, and in the meantime act as follows::-v. Strip the body, rub it dry: then wrap it in hot blankets, and place it in a warm bed in a warm room. vi. Cleanse away the froth and mucus from the nose and mouth. vii. Apply warm bricks, bottles, bags of sand, &c., to the armpits, between the thighs, and to the soles of the feet. viii. Rub the surface of the body with the hands enclosed in warm dry worsted socks. ix. If possible, put the body into a warm bath. x. To restore breathing, put the pipe of a common bellows into one nostril, carefully closing the other, 1258. LIGHTNING AND SUN STROKE. and the mouth; at the same time draw--Treat the same as apoplexy. ing downwards, and pushing gently 1259. Poisons, General Obserbackwards, the upper part of the windpipe, to allow a more free admission of air; blow the bellows gently, in order to inflate the lungs, till the breast be raised a little; then set the mouth and nostrils free, and press gently on the chest repeat this until signs of life appear. The body should be covered the moment it is placed on the table, except the face, and all the rubbing carried on under the sheet or blanket. When they can be obtained, a number of tiles or bricks should be made tolerably hot in the fire, laid in a row on the table, covered with a blanket, and the body placed in such a manner on them, that their heat may enter the spine. When the patient revives, apply smelling-salts to the nose, give warm wine or brandy and water. Cautions.-i. Never rub the

vations.

The abbreviations used are as follows:-
E., effects or symptoms. T., treatment.
A., antidotes or counter poisons.
D. A., dangerous antidotes.

1260. A POISON IS A SUBSTANCE which is capable of altering or destroying some or all of the functions necessary to life. When a person is in good health, and is suddenly attacked, after having taken some food or drink, with violent pain, cramp in the stomach, feeling of sickness or nausea, vomiting, convulsive twitchings, and a sense of suffocation; or if he be seized, under the same circumstances, with giddiness, delirium, or unusual sleepiness, then poisoning may be supposed.

1261. POISONS HAVE BEEN DIVIDED

THERE IS NO BALM FOR EVERY WOUND.

1262. i. ALWAYS SEND IMMEDIATELY FOR A MEDICAL MAN. ii. Save all fluids vomited, and articles of food, cups, glasses, &c., used by the patient before being taken ill, and lock them up. iii. Examine the cups to guide you in your treatment; that is, smell them,

189

into four classes: -i. Those causing and the object is to get rid of the local symptoms. ii. Those producing poison as speedily as possible. spasmodic symptoms. iii. Narcotic or 1265. Copper. (Blue vitriol, or sleepy symptoms; and iv. Paralytic bluestone; verdigris; verditer; verdisymptoms. Poisons may be mineral, gris crystals.)-E. An acid, rough, disanimal, or vegetable. agreeable taste in the mouth; a dry, parched tongue, with sense of strangling in the throat; coppery eructations; frequent spitting; nausea; frequent desire and effort to vomit, or copious vomiting; severe darting pains in the stomach; griping; frequent purging; belly swollen and painful; skin hot, and violent burning thirst; breathing difficult; intense headache and giddiness, followed by cold sweats, cramps in the legs, convulsions, and death.-A. White of eggs mixed with water (twelve to one pint), to be given in wineglassfuls every two minutes; iron filings mixed with water, or very strong coffee, accompanied by small and repeated doses of castor oil.-D. A. Vinegar, bark, alkalies, gall nuts.-T. If there is much pain in the belly or stomach, apply leeches. Give large draughts of milk and water, to encourage vomiting.

and look at them.

1263. AS A RULE, GIVE EMETICS after poisons that cause sleepiness and raving;-chalk, milk, eggs, butter, and warm water, or oil, after poisons that cause vomiting and pain in the stomach and bowels, with purging; and when there is no inflammation about the throat, tickle it with a feather to excite vomiting.

burning in the throat; pain in the back part of the mouth, stomach, and bowels; anxiety of countenance; nausea; and vomiting of bloody and bilious fluids; profuse purging, and difficulty of making water; pulse small, hard, and quick; skin clammy, icy coldness of the hands and feet; and death in 24 or 36 hours.

1264. Arsenic. (White arsenic; orpiment, or yellow arsenic; realgar, red arsenic; Scheele's green, or arsenite of copper; King's yellow; ague drops; and arsenical paste.)-E. Little or no 1266. Mercury. (Corrosive sublitaste. Within an hour, heat and pain mate; calomel; red precipitate; vermilion; in the stomach, followed by vomiting of turbeth mineral; prussiate of mercury.) green, yellow, and bloody matter, burn--E. Acid metallic taste; tightness and ing, and violent thirst; purging, and twisting about the navel; pulse small, quick, and irregular, breathing laboured, voice hoarse, speaking painful; skin cold and clammy. Sometimes there are cramps and convulsions, followed by death.-T. Give plenty of warm water, new milk in large quantities, lime water, white of egg, mixed with gruel or honey, gruel, linseed tea; apply leeches to the bowels, foment, and give starch or gruel enemas. Scrape the iron rust off anything you can get at, mix it with plenty of water, and give in large draughts frequently, and give an emetic of mustard or ipecacuanha. The chief dependence, however, must be placed on the use of the stomach-pump. Caution.-Never give large draughts of fluid until those given before have been vomited, because the stomach will not contract properly if filled with fluid,

A. White of eggs mixed with water, given as above; milk; flour and water, mixed pretty thick; linseed tea; and barley water.-T. Give large draughts of warm water, if you cannot get anything else; strong emetic of ipecacuanha, the stomach-pump, a dose of castor oil and laudanum. Foment the bowels with poppy-head fomentations, and apply leeches if the belly is very tender.

1267. Antimony. (Tartar emetic; butter of; Kermes' mineral.)-E. A rough metallic taste in the mouth, nausea,