If a FINGER OR THUMB IS CUT in two, without any crushing of the parts, the severed portion should be immediately applied to its place; if the cut is clean, the hewn off part may be made to unite, possibly if it has been off for two hours. The wound should be washed with carbolic solution if that is immediately procurable, and the severed parts should be accurately fixed by sutures (stitches) in their normal position, and a splint applied.
Life is sometimes destroyed suddenly by persons drinking a large quantity of cold water when greatly fatigued. To avoid all danger in these cases, a small quantity should be sipped at a time; and washing the face, hands and temples before drinking is a good precaution. But if by drinking cold water the system is severely chilled so that prostration takes place, endeavor to secure warmth by giving a teaspoonful paregoric, and rubbing the hands and body briskly; and if the patient can be brought sufficiently to his senses he should be made to drink enough warm water to induce vomiting; this excites circulation and perspiration, and determines towards the surface. Warm applications should be made to the feet and to the region of the stomach, and the body should be warmed as soon as possible.
CHAPTER III.
SLIGHT HURTS AND AILMENTS.
There are a hundred little accidents liable to occur in a household which a very little surgical skill would suffice to set right.
Besides medicines, there are several handy articles which should be always kept ready in a clean drawer, should an emergency arise that demands their use. Have a little case containing a lancet, scissors, pins, needles and thread; have also one or two bandages, some lint and oiled silk, a bit of lunar caustic (nitrate silver), and some strips of adhesive plaster, a stimulant lotion, an eye lotion, a liniment, and one or two kinds of ointment.
Use the lancet to open small abscesses or gum boils; the pins are handy for fastening bandages, &c., and should be of different sizes; the thread should be strong and white; the needles of fair size, with good large eyes; charpie may take the place of lint; it is made by scraping old linen; it is often useful; for instance, to heal old sores, dip LINT or CHARPIE in clean, cold water, to which a few drops of carbolic acid has been added; then apply it to the sore, which it must more than cover; then apply oiled silk and a retaining bandage. The lint may be used for water dressings to wounds, and these may take the place of poultices in treating swellings which we wish to reduce or soothe.
Keep the best ADHESIVE PLASTER procurable; and it ought to be cut up into different breadths. When it is necessary to use this plaster, see that the wound is perfectly clean, and apply long narrow slips. Warm the plaster by holding it against a can of boiling water for a few seconds, then apply it across the wound. In case of scalp wounds the hair must be cut off before the plaster is applied.
In a case of fractured ribs, strapping should be applied to the injured side.
Lunar caustic is used to cauterize dog, or cat, or skunk bites that are supposed to be POISONOUS.
An excellent LOTION for HEADACHE and other pain is made of a quart of water, a teacupful of common salt, one ounce of hartshorn, and a half ounce of spirits of camphor; mix and keep in a bottle tightly corked; saturate a cloth and apply to seat of pain.