The insect repellents used as body applications consist usually of some essential oil incorporated in a lasting base of thick oil or salve which establishes a durable glaze over the skin, preventing too rapid evaporation of the oil by the body heat. These “dopes” do not injure the skin a bit and the slight discomfort they may cause is compensated for by the immunity established. In mildly infested districts oil of citronella applied to the skin will suffice, but where they come at you in swarms a glaze on the skin is needed to hold the essential oil for more continued use. The following formulæ are successful:
Nessmuks Dope
| No. 1. | |
| Pine Tar | 3 oz. |
| Castor Oil | 2 oz. |
| Oil Pennyroyal | 1 oz. |
| No. 2. | |
| Pine Tar | 1 oz. |
| Oil Pennyroyal | 1 oz. |
| Vaseline | 3 oz. |
| Phenol | 3 oz. |
| No. 3. | |
| Oil Citronella | 1 oz. |
| Spirits camphor | 1 oz. |
| Oil Cedar | ½ oz. |
Wound Treatment
The first thing is to stop the bleeding by simple pressure with the cleaned finger over the bleeding part or applications of hot water cloths. Once a clean clot is formed don’t destroy it. Never use the homely cobwebs to stop bleeding as they reek with germs of blood poison. The second important step is to exclude pus germs. They are fewer in the woods than in the city, but we must be exceedingly careful. Wash the injured part well in hot, soapy water then rinse with water that has been boiled and cooled. Apply the First Aid wound dressing. If the wound is inflamed and discharging pus clean as well as possible and keep the dressing wet with cooled boiled water, reapplying every three hours or sufficiently to keep the dressings wet. On a non-inflamed wound simply apply the First Aid dressing which is sterile and devoid of germs.
In a sprain the ligaments become bruised or torn, there is loss of function and pain with inflammation. Pour hot water on the injured joint for an hour at a time, repeating every two or three hours for a day. (If no receptacle is at hand to heat water in fill a hollow rock, log, or waterproof cloth pocket with water, heat a stone in camp fire and put in water for heating.) Bandage the joint and keep applying hot water. Keep the limb elevated. When the swelling goes down rub the skin with oil or grease, gently massaging the injured parts. Don’t over exercise so as to reinjure the torn ligaments. Walking off a sprain won’t cure it, in fact only prolongs recovery.
In a dislocation besides the ligaments being torn the bone is out of place at a joint causing the affected limb to be shorter or longer than its mate. Study how the bone slipped from its socket, for you must reverse the movements occurring at the time of accident in order to reduce the dislocation.
A fracture is a severe malady because a condition of shock is usually present. The affected part is painful, the contour of limb is changed, a grating (crepitation) is felt and heard when the broken ends are rubbed together. The ends are often, by muscular action, drawn out of position so that they overlap. Overcome this muscle tension by steady pulling of the two broken parts in opposite directions until the ends meet in proper relation to one another (this is imperative). Hold them in place by laying splints of bark or sticks entirely around the break (interposing padding of soft material next the skin) and bandage all in place. If the parts are swelled apply cold water. Healing requires weeks for a good result.
A rather heroic measure was resorted to by Chas. F. Loomis on his long hike from Ohio to California. Having fractured his right arm so badly that the bone protruded (a “compound” fracture) and being alone in a desert he gave his canteen strap two flat turns about the wrist, buckled it around a cedar tree, mounted a nearby rock, set his heels on the edge and threw himself backward. He fainted but the bone was set. Then he rigged up splints and walked 52 miles before tasting food, then finished the 700 mile tramp to Los Angeles with his broken arm in a bandanna.
Those few hardy pedestrians who may venture to indulge in winter walks are subject to having the extremities freeze although if they understand the essentials of keeping warm in winter they may avert such troubles. The effects of heat and cold are about the same; they both cause a loss of blood to the tissues which when thus deprived of heat and nourishment are on the way to mortification. The object of treatment is to restore circulation, gradually. Use cold baths in a cold room then gradually warming same up to the temperature of the body. Wrap the frozen limb up well with wet cloths for the first few days.