FOREIGN BODIES IN THE EYE
To begin with, do not get "panicky," but carefully, painstakingly, and patiently do the following:
1. Rub the well eye until the tears flow plentifully in both eyes.
2. Blow the nose on the injured eye side, closing the other side. This often encourages the tears to wash the foreign speck down through the tear duct, into the nose and out into the handkerchief (in case the child is old enough to follow such instruction). If the foreign body be sharp, as a piece of steel or flint is likely to be, it may be driven right into the eyeball. Seek a physician who will drop medicine into the eye to deaden the pain and then if it cannot be gently rubbed off the eyeball, a magnet will promptly remove it.
An eye bath of warm boracic acid is always comforting and never does harm, so that may be given while waiting for the doctor to come, if the object seems to be beyond the reach of family help.
If an alkaline, such as lime, be blown into the eye it is very painful, but much relief may be obtained by gently pouring into the eye, by means of a medicine dropper or eye cup, warm water to which has been added a little vinegar or lemon juice. Likewise, acid in the eye produces much pain. In this instance, an eye bath of a weak soda solution is indicated.