CHAPTER XVA Telegram from Mexico

“WHAT do you hear from your brother, Shesa?” asked Miss Bossem of Shesa Brave a few days later, as she was leaving the advanced class in first-aid.

The young girl looked troubled. “We haven’t heard a word for nearly five weeks,” she replied. “I have been thinking seriously of going to the front as a volunteer nurse, hoping I may be able to get news of Ima.”

“That seems like an excellent idea to me,” said the head nurse. “You, being a member of the American Red Cross Society, can manage very nicely, I think.”

So, within a week, Shesa Brave started for Mexico.

She was put on duty in an emergency hospital along the frontier. As the soldiers were brought in she scanned each face eagerly, but many a weary day passed before she had any tidings of Ima.

To every inquiry she sent out, the report came back, “Missing.”

A great fear came upon her that Ima had been killed. She couldn’t bear the thought that her big handsome brave brother had died without even a record of what had happened; but she worked industriously, nursing other people’s brothers and writing letters to the loved ones at home to relieve their anxiety.

While taking a walk one day in her hours off duty, Shesa wandered farther away from the hospital than usual. She was thinking of Ima. Before realizing it, she had lost her direction and found herself in a lovely little valley. The scenery along the border had been so uninteresting, with low cactus plants growing out of the sand, and scrub bushes stretching away in low irregular outline, that this spot came as a delightful surprise.

Spying a little cabin on the side of the mountain above the valley, she decided to inquire the way back, and, quickening her steps, reached it in a short time.

A slovenly woman appeared at the door. Five small children surrounded her, pulling at her skirts as they saw the stranger. The youngest set up a howl of disapproval as Shesa came nearer. In her arms the woman held a baby and in one hand a tin pan of maize or corn. A few chickens came scurrying around the corner of the house as the woman tapped a wooden paddle on the edge of the pan.

The woman stopped and eyed Shesa suspiciously as she came still nearer.

“Good afternoon,” said Shesa with a smile. “Do you speak English?”

“Howdy,” grunted the woman. “Yes. Hush up, will ye?” to the children, whose noises made conversation difficult.

“United States?” she asked as she looked Shesa’s uniform over.

“Yes, yes,” replied Shesa. “I’m a nurse.”

“Nuss?” said the woman. “Then ye’ll know what be ailing him. Come in.”

brother in sick bed recognizes his nurse“Sister!” He Exclaimed

“Sister!” He Exclaimed

Shesa hesitated a moment before entering the low cabin which was scarcely more than a hut; but, being a brave girl, she thought, “If I am needed, I mustn’t hesitate. I’ll try to find out what’s wanted.”

“Tell me about your trouble,” she said kindly to the woman. “Is your husband ill?”

“Nope,” the woman shook her head, “he be all right. It’s a U. S. man we found up yonder,” pointing up the mountain road. “Been shot in arm. My man brought him home, but his arm gets worse all time. You know what to do?”

“I think I can help,” said Shesa, wishing with all her heart she had brought her emergency kit with her. “Let me see your patient.”

The woman led the way into the only bedroom in the cabin. On a rude wooden bed lay a young man, dressed in a much soiled khaki uniform. At the sound of Shesa’s voice, he started up. “Sister!” he exclaimed. “Why, this seems too good to be true! Oh, perhaps I’m dreaming. My arm pains so I guess I’m just ‘seeing things’ from fever.”

For one moment Shesa lost her self-control. Tears filled her eyes and she longed to throw her arms about Ima’s neck and cry to her heart’s content. “But I must not,” she chided herself. “I must do everything I can to help him.”

“It’s not a dream, Ima, dear,” she said as naturally as if they were in their faraway home. “You are ill and certainly do need me. Let me see your arm.”

The sight of his poor wounded arm made her feel sick, for it evidently had been neglected from the first.

“How did it happen?” Shesa asked, as she tore her apron into bandages and directed the woman to boil some water on the open fire which she had seen outside.

She saw that Ima wanted to talk, sick and weary as he was.

“I was taking a stroll alone one evening,” he explained, “not thinking of the least danger, for our camp lights were scarcely out of sight. Suddenly I heard the report of a gun, and felt an awful pain in my right arm. One of the bandits had evidently spotted me from ambush. I’d have been all right, but the fellow or an accomplice sprangupon me, and after a struggle knocked me senseless and took my emergency kit and everything else useful away from me. The settler who owns this cabin found me and brought me up here on his shoulders. His wife did what she could for my wound, but it became infected almost immediately, and I was too weak from loss of blood to walk back to camp, even with the man’s help. Besides, in some way, I had a sprained ankle.”

“Well, dear, you are going to be helped in every way soon, so don’t talk any more,” said Shesa, taking off some of the dirty rags which the woman had tied clumsily upon Ima’s ankle. She bathed the ankle in hot water and bound it firmly in a figure-of-eight bandage, which gave him the first ease from pain since the accident.

She replaced the outside layers of the dirty bandages on his wounded arm. “The wounds may bleed if I take the dressings off,” she decided wisely, “and I have no remedies here.”

“I wonder why the man didn’t go for help?” she thought.

Just at that moment Ima whispered, “I would have sent word to camp, but for some reason the settler seems afraid—of the bandits, maybe.”

“Well,” said Shesa, “you rest here, and we’ll soon have help.”

“But, Shesa, it will be dangerous for you to go,” said Ima. Then suddenly, “Why, how did you happen to come here, anyhow?”

“Never mind, dear, I’ll explain all that later,” replied Shesa.

“But I want to hear now,” insisted Ima, his eyes bright with fever. So to satisfy him, Shesa briefly related the story of her little walk.

“Now,” she added “since the emergency hospital is so near, you need not worry until I come back?”

He promised to try not to worry, and fell into a dozy sleep within a few minutes.

SHESA hurried along by the path she thought she had taken to reach the cabin, but after walking ten minutes, found herself going in the wrong direction.

“How dreadful!” she exclaimed, “when I am in such a hurry!”

She looked about her. “It is nearing sunset,” she whispered, looking at the sky. “Oh, I wish I knew the way!”

Just at that moment a noise in the underbrush startled her. Although very brave, she was dreadfully afraid of snakes, even harmless ones, but she laughed when she saw a tiny prairie dog scamper out of the bushes, stand on his hind feet and look about him with blinking eyes.

“How foolish I am!” she thought, but shuddered again as she heard someone stepping up behind her.

“I beg pardon,” said a gentlemanly voice—and turning, you can imagine how relieved Shesa was to see a United States soldier standing with his hat in his hand.

“Oh,” she cried happily, “I’m so thankful to see you. Will you help me find my way to the emergency hospital?” Then she stopped and laughed. “I must apologize for speaking this way,” she said, “but you will understand my excitement when I explain all that has happened to me this afternoon.”

The soldier quickly led the way as she talked.

They soon arrived at the emergency hospital, and after Shesa’s explanation, the doctors took her in a field ambulance up to the cabin, the soldier showing the way.

Within two hours, Private Brave lay on a clean white cot, with clean dressings on his arm and comforting broth in his stomach.

asking directionsWill You Help Me Find My Way to the Emergency Hospital?”

Will You Help Me Find My Way to the Emergency Hospital?”

Shesa talking to doctor“Oh, Doctor! Can’t it it be Saved?”

“Oh, Doctor! Can’t it it be Saved?”

“I feel a hundred per cent better already,” he said to Shesa as she kissed him good-night. “In the morning I’ll be well.”

But in the morning the doctors shook their heads. “I’mafraid that arm will have to be amputated,” said the chief surgeon.

“Oh, Doctor!” exclaimed Shesa, “can’t it be saved?”

“If it is saved,” said the doctor gruffly, not liking to show how sorry he was for the pretty nurse, “it will be saved for a dead man. A neglected infected wound, even small, may mean gangrene. This is a large, badly neglected infected wound!”

Shesa bit her lips and held back the tears, saying, “Of course, if it’s to save his life, Doctor—” Then she went out to telegraph to her family.

The telegram read:

Ima found, wounded. Will bring home soon as possible.Shesa.

Ima found, wounded. Will bring home soon as possible.

Shesa.

“Oh, how I hope all comes out right,” she thought.

··········

THREE weeks later, a soldier with one arm and his very attentive sister were looked upon with much interest by the other passengers on a steamer going to New York.

Ima stood the journey well, but when they arrived at the station, Shesa decided to take himdirect to the Dolls’ Hospital to rest instead of home, where he would be under a good deal of excitement.

So it was in the Dolls’ Hospital that the Brave family came together again, rejoicing in the escape of their soldier. Even Mike, the dog, was allowed to come, and no one greeted him with more joy than did their family pet.

nurse bending over soldier in deckchairA Soldier and His Very Attentive Sister

A Soldier and His Very Attentive Sister

Private Brave didn’t mend as well as the doctors and nurses had hoped. Within a week after his arrival at the hospital, an abscess developed on his left forearm, which caused everyone to worry, and another operation was all that saved poor Private Brave from losing his only remaining arm.

The assistant nurse dressed and bandaged this abscess with—

Roller bandages are usually made of long straight pieces of gauze. This material “gives” to the form of the arm much better than muslin. Never put a bandage on wet, for it shrinks and is too tight when dry.You will be interested in seeing a picture on page 99 of how a roller bandage is applied to an arm or leg.This picture shows one of Mary Frances’ big dolls bandaged in roller bandages.The two-and-a-half-inch wide roller bandage four or six yards long is the size most used for grown-up people, although narrower ones are needed for fingers.On the doll’s body inch-wide bandages were used, and the ends were sewed in place. To prevent slipping, strips of adhesive plaster were placed over the folds of the edges.

You will be interested in seeing a picture on page 99 of how a roller bandage is applied to an arm or leg.

This picture shows one of Mary Frances’ big dolls bandaged in roller bandages.

The two-and-a-half-inch wide roller bandage four or six yards long is the size most used for grown-up people, although narrower ones are needed for fingers.

On the doll’s body inch-wide bandages were used, and the ends were sewed in place. To prevent slipping, strips of adhesive plaster were placed over the folds of the edges.

Under the assistant nurse’s kind care, Private Brave soon grew better and was able to take an interest in the other patients.

ROLLER BANDAGES

He begged to be allowed to visit the boys’ ward, where he wouldn’t be so lonely.

There was great excitement among the boys in the ward, none of whom were very ill, when a real soldier came to visit them.

They coaxed him to tell them about his adventures.

They liked best the story about how he lost his arm, and this one about the stolen baby:

woman holding babyWe Put the Baby into Her Arms

We Put the Baby into Her Arms

“We were riding along one day, when I thought I heard a baby’s cry. None of the other boys seemed to hear it, and as we were not riding in order, I headed my horse toward the sound. I had about concluded that I was mistaken, when the horse stopped short. The crying had ceased by this time.

“I looked down, and there among the sage-brush, at the horse’s feet, was a little baby about a year old. How it came in such a place, I have no idea. There was no house within forty miles, and we hadn’t met a soul.

“I got off my horse and picked the little thing up and rode with it to our captain. It appeared to be half starved and surely could not have survived much longer.

“We carried it with us into camp, fed it and took care of it as best we could.

“On making inquiries, we found the baby had been stolen from some poor white settlers. Who did it or why, no one ever found out.

“When the poor mother came into camp and we put the baby into her arms she was the happiest woman I ever saw.”

“Wasn’t that grand!” cried Bobby to Sammy, the little lame boy in the next bed. Sammy was the plaster-of-Paris doll Mary Frances had bought for a nickel at the children’s fair.

All the patients were sorry—and the doctors and nurses, too—when the time came for Private Brave to leave the hospital.

He had been so bright and cheerful that they would miss him greatly.

He felt sorry, too, in a way, for so many interesting things had happened; for instance—but perhaps you would rather hear the story of the mad dog as Private Brave told it to his family.

PRIVATE BRAVE was comfortably seated in the home living room with his family gathered around to hear what had happened while he was in the hospital.

“It was about four o’clock in the afternoon,” he began. “I had just finished telling the boys about saving the baby, and all my other experiences which you know, when suddenly we heard a woman crying as she rushed past the ward door.

“‘Oh, Doctor,’ she sobbed, ‘will he die—will my little boy die? He didn’t know the dog would bite, poor child! He says the dog isn’t mad, but everybody else says he is!’

“‘Come,’ said the doctor, ‘mad or not, we’ll fix this young man up so he’ll be quite safe. I’m glad you brought him to me immediately.’

“I was on my feet in an instant, and ran to the office door, for I was very anxious to hear what would be done for the little boy.

“‘This must be cauterized, Nurse,’ said the doctor. ‘Get nitrate of silver ready.’

“He dipped a wooden stick into the poison and turned it around in the wound, the little boy screaming with the pain.

“‘Oh, Doctor,’ asked his mother, ‘must he be hurt so much?’

“‘Safety must first be considered,’ replied the doctor. ‘We are probably destroying the dreadful germs of hydrophobia. And, next, this little boy must be given Pasteur treatment with the wonderful serum used to prevent hydrophobia, for hydrophobia means the most terrible suffering anybody could imagine. Of course, no one is quite certain that the dog was mad; for many a time a dog which has been nearly crazed with thirst, or been the victim of bad boys’ pranks, has been thought mad.’

“‘But this doggy wasn’t mad,’ the boy cried out, forgetting his pain. ‘A bad boy was twisting his tail and the poor doggy thought I did it because I was near!’

“‘Are you certain, little fellow?’ asked the doctor.

“‘Yes, sir, and after he bit me, a big man beat him with his cane, and the poor doggy ran yelping down the street. Oh, how you made my arm ache, Doctor!’

“‘Poor boy!’ said the doctor, ‘I really had to hurt you.’

“‘What should I have done, Doctor, if we had been miles from a physician?’ asked the mother.

“‘That’s a good question,’ replied Doctor Surecure. ‘I will tell you the simplest treatment for an untrained person to use—

Whether there isdanger of hydrophobiaor not, if bite is on limb, tie a cloth tightly around limb between wound and body, and encourage bleeding by squeezing. Wash with soap and hot water. Apply iodine. Loosen cloth in an hour.If there is theslightestdanger ofhydrophobia,get patient to a doctor!If impossible to get a doctor, apply nitrate of silver, or pure carbolic acid with a soft stick. But it seems that there are few places wherea doctor cannot be consulted within twenty-four hours,—who will see that the patient is given Pasteur treatment to prevent hydrophobia from developing.

If there is theslightestdanger ofhydrophobia,get patient to a doctor!If impossible to get a doctor, apply nitrate of silver, or pure carbolic acid with a soft stick. But it seems that there are few places wherea doctor cannot be consulted within twenty-four hours,—who will see that the patient is given Pasteur treatment to prevent hydrophobia from developing.

“Well, I am certainly glad to learn that, my son,” said Private Brave’s mother. “We had a terrible fright the day the little boy was bitten, for somebody said that our Mike did it.”

“What!” exclaimed Private Brave. “Did anybody dare accuse this most faithful and wonderfully brave dog-member of the Brave family?”

soldier and dog“It Wasn’t You, Michael, Old Boy!”

“It Wasn’t You, Michael, Old Boy!”

Mike had been lying at his young master’s feet; in fact, he hadn’t left him since he came home—not even to eat his dinner. On hearing his name, Mike stood up, wagging his tail so hard that you would have thought it would drop off unless it was nailed on.

He looked inquiringly upon the family, his mouth open and his intelligent brown eyes questioning what all this talk meant.

“It wasn’t you, Michael, old boy, good old fellow!” exclaimed Ibee, petting him.

“Bow! Bow!” barked Mike, and Ibee declared he smiled.

“Well,” said Private Brave, “that was—” He didn’t finish the sentence, for at that instant the next door neighbor came running into the room.

“Oh, come, Miss Shesa!” she exclaimed. “My baby’s dying—she’s swallowed poison.”

SHESA hastened away with the neighbor, for she knew that any delay might cost the baby’s life. She could hear the little girl’s agonizing screams.

“Ibee, run for the doctor,” she called.

“We must work until the doctor comes,” she said to the distracted mother. She was wise enough to realize that it would be best to keep the mother busy.

“What kind of poison—do you know?” asked Shesa anxiously, as they ran up the steps of the porch.

“Lye,” answered the mother briefly. “The maid was scrubbing the kitchen steps, and left the can of lye on the floor. Baby came along, saying ‘dink, dink,’ and before Sally Ann could get into the door, baby had swallowed a mouthful. It couldn’t have been very strong, for Sally Ann had filled up the can with water.”

Shesa took the baby on her lap and looked into its poor little burnt mouth.

“Bring a glass of water and some vinegar,” she ordered. When they came, she diluted the vinegar with water giving the baby a teaspoonful at a time.

“Bring the juice of a lemon,” she said. This she diluted, giving it to the baby in the same way.

It must have stopped some of the suffering, for the little one began to seem more comfortable.

Shesa holding baby woman bringing water“Bring a Glass of Water and Some Vinegar”

“Bring a Glass of Water and Some Vinegar”

“Now, the beaten white of an egg in water,” she said at length. Of this she gave the baby a tablespoonful; then a tablespoonful of olive oil, holding its little mouth shut to make it swallow.

By the time the doctor arrived, the baby had fallen asleep on Shesa’s lap.

“You have saved this baby’s life, Miss Brave,” said the doctor. “If it hadn’t been for prompt action, the child might have died.”

“People are so careless with poisons,” he went on. “Poisons should never be placed within the reach of little children. All bottles should be labeled plainly, and the stoppers should be tied about with a piece of gauze—not very attractive, I admit, but one of the best safeguards against making a mistake as to the ‘right bottle.’ Poisons should not be kept in the general medicine closet, but in a place by themselves—unless we except iodine, which has such a decided odor that it may be kept in a more accessible place, ready for its many uses.”

Doctor holding baby“You Have Saved this Baby’s Life, Miss Brave”

“You Have Saved this Baby’s Life, Miss Brave”

After complimenting Shesa again on her treatment of the baby, and leaving some medicines for both the baby and the baby’s mother, the doctor went away.

Shesa was met by her mother as she started home.

“We are all so anxious, dear,” she said, “to learn how the baby is.”

“The baby’s all right,” smiled Shesa.

“How thankful Ima will be!” exclaimed her mother. “It brings tears to my eyes to see how interested that dear boy is in everybody, thinking so little about his own misfortunes. Think of a young man just at his age losing an arm!”

“Father told me that last night when he tried to express a little sympathy, Ima said, ‘Well, Father, it is a loss; but you know, I have one arm left!’” Shesa replied.

“Wasn’t that wonderful!” exclaimed Mrs. Brave.

“It certainly is wonderful how bravely he takes his troubles,” replied Shesa. “Father said he thought that it really required more bravery to feel that way than to go to the battlefield.”

By this time they had reached home, and Shesa had to tell everybody about the saving of the life of the poisoned baby.

THE Brave family were not the only people who admired Private Brave’s cheerful acceptance of his fate and his determination to make his left hand learn to do the work of two hands.

One day when he was running the lawn mower over the lawn in front of the house, Doctor Quickenquack stopped in his dollsmobile.

“Hello, how’s the ‘General’?” he called. “Can’t you jump in and take a ride? Hope you’re not too busy to have a little holiday.”

“Thank you, Doctor,” said Private Brave, “it’s certainly kind of you to ask me. Will you wait until I put this mower away and get my coat?”

He had to lock the door, for none of the family were home, but he hopped into the car in a minute’s time. The doctor started the engine and away they rode toward Painted River and Looking Glass Lake. It was a beautiful morning and Private Brave enjoyed the ride very much.

“If you will just let me out here, I’ll walk home from this corner,” said he as they came to River Avenue.

“Not much, sir; you’re kidnapped,” laughed the doctor as he drove on toward the hospital.

“First, your lunch; then a visit to the boys’ ward,” said the doctor. “That’s your program, sir.”

Private Brave was delighted with the idea, and how he enjoyed his lunch after the ride!

When he went with the doctor to the boys’ ward, you can’t imagine how surprised he was to see all his own family. Not only they were there, but also the boys’ class and the girls’ class in first-aid.

Besides these, wore Miss Bossem and Miss Helpem and Doctor Surecure and even the ambulance driver, Billy.

Doctor Quickenquack led Private Brave under an American flag which was draped in one corner of the room.

“Dear Private Brave,” said Doctor Surecure, clearing his throat, “it is my pleasure to present to you a gift from some of your many admiring friends.”

Private Brave blushed at the praise, and smiled as Miss Helpem carried forward a box which she placed on the little table beside him.

He opened the lid and lifted out a beautiful little hand-embroidered silk flag.

“Perhaps we’d better help you open the box the rest of the way,” suggested Doctor Surecure. “Let us step into the next room.”

When the doctors and Private Brave came back—what do you think? Private Brave was waving the beautiful little silk flag in the hand of a new wooden arm, so skilfully made that it had almost human action.

“Hurrah!” shouted the boys and girls in delight. “Hurrah! Hurrah for Private Brave! Hurrah for Our Hero!”

“Hurrah! Hurrah!” they shouted together at the top of their lungs.

Soldier holding flag with flag hanging behind himHe Opened the Lid and Lifted Out a Beautiful Little Hand-Embroidered Silk Flag

He Opened the Lid and Lifted Out a Beautiful Little Hand-Embroidered Silk Flag

“Hurrah for Private Brave! He’s—

Prepared for less,Prepared for more,Prepared for peace,Prepared for war!Prepared for well,Prepared for ill,Prepared to saveThe doctor’s bill!Prepared for calm,Prepared for strife,Prepared for anythingIn life!

Prepared for less,Prepared for more,Prepared for peace,Prepared for war!

Prepared for less,

Prepared for more,

Prepared for peace,

Prepared for war!

Prepared for well,Prepared for ill,Prepared to saveThe doctor’s bill!

Prepared for well,

Prepared for ill,

Prepared to save

The doctor’s bill!

Prepared for calm,Prepared for strife,Prepared for anythingIn life!

Prepared for calm,

Prepared for strife,

Prepared for anything

In life!

··········

“Oh, Billy,” cried Mary Frances, after it was all over, “I’m so thankful to you for your birthday present.”

“What do you mean?” yawned Billy.

“Why, for the day we’ve just spent together in the playroom,” said Mary Frances.

“Don’t know what you’re talking about,” pretended Billy.

“Why, Billy!” Mary Frances laughed. “If you will just put a triangular bandage on my hand with your handkerchief, you’ll remember.”

Billy put it on beautifully, just as you saw it shown on Mary Frances’ doll in the picture.

“Now, you remember, Mr. Ambulance Driver!” cried Mary Frances, shaking her finger.

“I don’t seem to remember a thing about how I learned,” solemnly declared Billy.

“Why, certainly you do. You learned in the Dolls’ Hospital,” cried Mary Frances.

“Oh, maybe—but don’t tell anybody about it, though I must say that a knowledge of bandaging will be most useful when the boy scouts commence their class in advanced first-aid work.”

Mary Frnaces looking at dollThere They Were!

There They Were!

“Will Miss Bossem be their teacher?” teased Mary Frances.

“Aw! Stop talking about that doll of yours dressed up as a nurse, Mary Frances! We boys are beyond the doll-baby age!” Billy walked away in pretended disgust.

“Well,” said Mary Frances to herself, “if Billy hadn’t known how to put on that bandage I would think I had been dreaming. I know what I’ll do! I’ll go see if there are any nurses’ uniforms in the playroom.”

There they were! Each girl doll had one on, just as she wore it at the Fourth of July celebration.

“It must have been real!” concluded Mary Frances. “It must have been! That proves it! Besides, here is Private Brave, and in his wooden hand he is holding the—

flag

In the story part of this little book, the author has endeavored to show that success in first-aid treatment of any open wound lies in protecting the wound from infection.

From long years of experience, physicians have found that:

1. Every open wound should be touched with an antiseptic to kill germs which may have entered; and that the best general antiseptic known isiodine.

2. No wound should be closed entirely from the air; therefore, do not use adhesive plaster or collodion to cover a cut or wound, but cover it with sterile gauze after using iodine. The gauze may be held in place at each side by adhesive plaster or by a bandage.

When sending for the doctor, be sure to let him know what is the matter: for instance, poison case, or drowning, or choking—so that he may bring the articles necessary to treat the case.

N. B.—In case of wounds from powder, or punctured wounds, as from rusty nail, see a doctor who will treat patient with anti-tetanic serum.

Read the chapters concerning bandages:Chapters XIIIandXVI.

Bandages are used: 1. To hold dressings in place. 2. To support the parts. 3. To hold splints in place.

Never use wet bandages—they shrink in drying.

Never put a tight bandage over a wet compress; use a loose triangular bandage. Theexclusion of airmight also cause blisters.

An emetic is a medicine which causes vomiting.

To sterilize a needle or knife blade, dip into alcohol or pass through an alcohol or gas flame; or hold in boiling waiter several minutes.

To make a saturated solution dissolve in water as much of the powder mentioned as possible.

Note.—Remember that heat in the form of hot drinks and hot applications is the best kind of stimulant.

Reference to poisonous remedies has been carefully avoided as much as possible.Where dosage is not mentioned in the following, refer to List of Remedies for theHome Medicine Closet, page 136.Biliousness.Give citrate of magnesia, or Epsom or Rochelle salt, or[J]castor oil. Cracked ice slowly melted in the mouth generally relieves sick stomach.Hot, clear coffee given after any of the above medicines counteracts greatly the nauseating effect.Bites of Dogs, Cats, Snakes.If on a limb, tie a cloth tightly around limb, between wound and body. Loosen slightly in an hour. Encourage bleeding by squeezing, to get poison out, or suck and spit out blood from the wound, being careful to see there are no cuts or wounds in the mouth or lips, through which the poison may enter.Apply iodine.Ifhydrophobia(rabies) is suspected,send for doctor at once, who will see that correct treatment is given. This treatment is concerned with the injection of a serum into the blood. SeeChapter XVII.Bites of Insects, Spiders, etc.Treat as forstings.These are seldom dangerous to life.“Black Eye.”For “black eye,” use either cold or hot water compresses immediately. Massage gently for discoloration.Bleeding of Gums.Rinse mouth with alum water—1 teaspoon powdered alum in a glass of ice water; or 1 tsp. tincture of myrrh in 1 tbsp. water.Blood Blisters.Do not open. Apply hot water.Broken Bones or Fractures.There are two kinds of fractures:1. Simple, where the bone only is broken.2. Compound, where the skin is broken through at point of fracture.Treatment:Send for doctor at once. Much harm is done by unskilled handling. Do not move patient unless absolutely necessary.If a compound fracture, apply iodine. Bandage a sterile gauze compress loosely over wound, tie a cloth tightly around limb, between wound and body. See “Hemorrhage”in this list.Usingextreme gentleness, place limb in comfortable position on a pillow or pad, and tie fast with strips of muslin or bandages.If impossible to get doctor for a long time, and patient must be moved, use extreme carefulness, and tie limb to padded splints with bandages.Rulers, umbrellas, sticks, rolled newspapers, may be used for splints. If an arm, after applying splints, place in sling made with triangular bandage, or pin coat sleeve to front of shirt.Treat for “Shock.”Bruises or Contusions.“Black and blue” spots from blow or fall or pinching, causing blood vessels to rupture under skin.Apply at first:Ice, or ice water; orAlcohol and water, half and half; orWitch hazel, or arnica; orVinegar diluted with water.Afterward use hot applications. Gentle rubbing or massaging helps dispel the discoloration. If surface is scraped, as from fall in sand, see “Wounds.”Burns and Scalds.There are three different degrees of burns:1. Mere reddening of the skin (slight burns).2. Formation of blisters (deeper burns).3. Charring and destruction of the skin and tissues.1. For slight burns (first degree), apply any of the following:Bicarbonate of soda (baking soda) mixed in water to the thickness of milk, olive oil, cream, vaseline, lard, butter, white of egg, or flour and water paste, or starch and water.Spread gauze compress[K]with the material used, and bandage loosely in place.2. In deeper burns (second degree), be careful in removing clothing—cut it off, if necessary, to prevent tearing the skin.Bandage on loosely compresses wet in one of the following:(a) Normal Salt Solution (1 level tsp. salt in 1 pint boiled water);or(b) Carron Oil (½ lime water, ½ linseed oil);or(c) Saturated Solution Bicarbonate of Soda. (Dissolve as much baking soda as possible in a cup of boiled water;)or(d) Picric Acid Gauze Compress.Follow any of these treatments with Boric Acid Ointment. (SeeList of Medicines, No. 22).Blisters.Later, puncture blisters near base with a sharp instrument which has been sterilized by dipping in alcohol. Mop up the watery discharge with a little aseptic absorbent cotton, throwing it away. Never open blisters far enough to loosen skin. Dress with gauze compresses, dusted with boric acid. Use several small compresses if burned surface is large.3. In very severe burns (third degree) little can be done.Send for the doctor.Do not remove clothing. Make patient as comfortable as possible.For burns about the eye, anoint with olive oil and wash out with boric acid solution in eye dropper or eye cup. (SeeList of Medicines, No. 3.) Use compresses wrung out of ice water. See doctor.Car Sickness.Fresh air. Lying-down position.Do not look out of window at moving objects. Keep eyes closed.Chilblains.Chilblains are the result of too rapid warming of cold parts, generally feet or fingers. Sometimes for years after being frost-bitten, exposure to severe cold will produce itching and burning, and perhaps swelling and ulcers.Treatment:Rub with turpentine or alcohol. The rubbing in itself is excellent. See doctor.Chills.Use heat. Apply hot-water bags under arms, on thighs and at feet. Give hot foot bath, in which is 1 tbsp. mustard. Rub limbs toward body, to restore circulation. Give hot coffee or tea, or hot lemonade. Wrap in blankets and put to bed. Chills indicate oncoming illness—see doctor! SeeChapter XI.Choking.Slap on back. Pass finger down throat. This usually causes vomiting. If a child, hold him up by the feet, head downward, and slap on the back. Send for doctor, if severe.Coal Gas, Suffocation from.Send for doctor.Get patient into fresh air—loosen clothing. Keep patient warm with hot-water bags. Rub limbs toward body. Dash cold water in face. Doctor will probably use artificial respiration.Colds.At thefirst signof “taking a cold”—use some simple remedy, such as inhaling camphor from time to time for several hours. Dampenthe center of a handkerchief in water, and drop on it some spirit of camphor.Eat a sliced onion.[L]Take two drops of spirit of camphor on a tsp. sugar.Or, drop five drops camphor in ½ tumbler of water. Take a tsp. every half hour.Ginger tea is a much valued old-fashioned remedy. Pour boiling water over a tbsp. bruised ginger root. Let stand two hours. The dose is 1 tbsp. every hour or two.If the “cold” continues, take a laxative, such as castor oil or rhubarb, and follow the dose with a hot foot bath at night and hot lemonade after getting into bed, to induce perspiration. Keep well covered.If a cough comes with the cold, lemon juice and sugar syrup make a pleasant cough remedy; or molasses-and-vinegar syrup is liked by children. Mix in the proportion of 1 tbsp. vinegar to 2 tbsp. molasses.Flaxseed teawill sometimes relieve a “tickling” cough. Pour 2 cups of boiling water over 1 tbsp. whole flaxseeds. Stir; let simmer gently one-half hour. Add juice of half a lemon, and sugar if desired. Take a tbsp. as often as wished.If the chest is sore, rub it with camphorated oil, or ammonia liniment, which is made by shaking together in a bottle 4 tbsp. olive (sweet) oil and 1 tbsp. household ammonia. This hardens upon standing a few days—so it is best made as needed.All these are simple home remedies, but if a cold is severe, see a doctor. A neglected cold is dangerous.Colic.Colic pains in abdomen are generally caused by indigestible food, overeating, constipation, etc.Treatment:Give peppermint in hot water; hot-water enema. Keep abdomen warmly wrapped in flannel; use hot-water bottles, or turpentine stupe.If a child—massage abdomen with warm olive oil.Convulsions of Children.Caused by indigestion, constipation or oncoming illness. Child becomes stiff, pulse is weak and rapid. Breathing is feeble, face is pale atfirst, afterward livid.Treatment:Send for doctor. Place child in warm bath, with ice bag (or ice-water cloths) on head.Corns.For soft corn, apply vaseline.For hard corn, apply iodine and remove pressure by using corn plaster.For a very sore corn, use a bread poultice at night. (See“Plasters and Poultices” at end of this list,page 134.)Croup.Croup is generally more alarming than dangerous.Give 1 teaspoon syrup of ipecac to make child vomit.Apply cloths wrung out of hot water on neck and chest.A boiling tea kettle, in which there are 2 tbsp. compound tincture of benzoin, will afford relief. Direct the steam toward the child so that some of it may be inhaled.Keep the child in the same warm room forty-eight hours, maintaining the atmosphere at an even temperature.The day after the attack, give the child castor oil or simple syrup of rhubarb.If croup does not clear up in twenty-four hours, see thedoctorfor membranous croup or diphtheria.fingee with cut and little bandages acrossHow to Strap a Cut FingerCuts (Slight).Touch with—Tincture of iodine, or if iodine is not at hand,Alcohol, orVinegar and water—equal parts.If edges are spread far apart, strap together with narrowstripsof adhesive plasteracrosswound. Wrap with sterile gauze.If cut is larger, after applying iodine, fasten on a gauze compress—cut ½ inch larger than wound—with a bandage, or withstripsof adhesive plaster.Caution.—Never cover a wound or cut airtight. (See alsoChapter VII.)Diarrhea.Usually caused by indigestion, impure water, etc. Home remedies are raw flour and water paste; a raw egg in a cup of hot tea; spiced syrup of rhubarb.Give a dose of castor oil to clear the digestive tract of the irritating material. If there is much pain, keep abdomen warm with flannel and hot-water bag. If a small child, restrict diet to barley water and white of egg in water.Give adults milk and other liquid foods. If persistent, see doctor.Earache.Caused sometimes by bad teeth, but generally by cold or hardened ear wax.Hold ear over cloth wrung out of hot water, on which are several drops of alcohol. Syringe ear with warm bicarbonate of soda water—1 tsp. to a cup; or peroxide of hydrogen water—1 tbsp. to a cup of water.One drop laudanum, or one drop arnica to three drops very warm olive oil, dropped into ear with a medicine dropper, often relieves pain; or cotton may be saturated with the warm olive oil and placed in the ear and covered with dry cotton. To prevent hardening of wax: keep ear anointed with ordinary red vaseline (unbleached vaseline). For watery discharge of ear, dust with dry boric acid.Fainting.Caused by too small a quantity of blood to the brain.To prevent: Fresh air; drink of cold water; ½ tsp. aromatic spirit of ammonia in water; bending head over between knees.If the person has fainted:Keep crowd back; place in lying-down position.Dash face with cold water.Let patient inhale smelling salts or household ammonia.Rub limbs toward body.Remember: An unconscious person cannot swallow. Medicine may enter windpipe and cause strangulation. After patient becomes conscious, give stimulants; such as aromatic spirit of ammonia or hot coffee.Fever Blisters (Cold Sores).Apply boric acid ointment,[M]or touch frequently with spirit of nitre or spirit of camphor.Fits.There are two kinds:1.Hysterical—sobbing, crying and laughing without cause, jerky movement of the limbs.Treatment:Let patient quietly alone.2.Epileptic—convulsive movements and unconsciousness.Treatment:Keep patient from biting tongue by putting a piece of wood or folded cloth between teeth. Lay on side; loosen clothing; turn face to side so that secretions may not strangle.After the fit, let patient sleep.Donotgive stimulants.Foreign Body in Ear.If an insect, drown out with warm olive oil, or pour a little pure alcohol into ear.Do not probe ear.Foreign Body in Eye.Wink. Do not rub.Lift upper lid down over lower, blowing opposite nostril.If these means fail, turn lid back over a toothpick, removing foreign body gently with the pointed corner of a handkerchief. For bits of plaster, use dilute vinegar in eye cup. For acids, use very dilute bicarbonate of soda solution. (SeeChapter XI.)Frost Bites.Parts frozen turn whitish or waxy looking.Do not bring patient into a warm room.Use cold applications. Keep in cold room. (SeeChapter VII.)Rub with snow or ice-water cloths,very graduallyapplying heat.“Gum Boils” or “Canker Sores.”So-called “gum boils” or “canker sores” are little ulcer-like sores which at times appear in children’s mouths, caused by disarrangement of the stomach. Local applications, such as borax or powdered alum, shrink the sores and give a little relief; but the child should be given a dose of calcined magnesia at night or citrate of magnesia in the morning. (Never give a small dose of citrate of magnesia; a child of twelve years should take a tumblerful.)Heat Exhaustion. (Collapse Due to Excessive Heat.) Dangerous!In heat exhaustion, the symptoms and treatment are similar toshock:pale face; weak, feeble heart beats; great weakness, but not unconsciousness; shallow breathing; cold, clammy perspiration on face.Treatment:Send for doctor. Remove to cool place.Donotuse cold applications. Give stimulants—hot coffee, tea, aromatic spirit of ammonia, etc. Cover with blankets and use hot-water bottles.Hemorrhage (Severe Bleeding).Send for doctor. While waiting, try to staunch flow of blood.If wound is in a limb:If blood isred, and comes inspurts(arterial)—Elevate wounded part, tie cloth tightly around limb betweenwoundandbody, or use a tourniquet,[N]loosening it in one hour. If not loosened, there is danger of gangrene.If blood isdark, and comes in slow flow (venous)—Tie a cloth around betweenendof limb and wound. Or use a tourniquet, loosening it in one hour.Using a TourniquetIn either case, bandage a clean gauze compress against wound. If unable to use these methods because of too rapid bleeding, press fingers into wound, but have another person tie as described. Do not use finger pressure if possible to avoid, for the wound should be kept clean.Any of the following tend to stop bleeding:Ice or ice water.Very hotwater.Vinegar, 1 tbsp. to 4 tbsp. water.Salt, 1 tsp. to 4 tbsp. water.Wet a compress (several thicknesses of gauze) in any of these and bandage on wound.For hemorrhage of lungs, place ice-bag on chest.do NOT give whiskey or brandy!For slight wounds, see “Cuts.”Hiccough.Generally caused by indigestion.Nine to fifteen swallows of water without taking a breath, or one or two soda-mint tablets, will generally give relief. If persistent, cause vomiting by tickling throat with fingers, or by swallowing a cup of warm water in which ½ tsp. mustard is dissolved. (SeeChapter XI.)Hives (Nettle Rash).For itching, rub into them common table salt, or bathe with equal parts vinegar and water.Hives indicate stomach trouble. Give citrate of magnesia.If hives persist, give ½ tsp. table salt in water or ¼ tsp. cream of tartar in ¼ glass of water three times a day for three days.If hives still persist, consult doctor. (SeeChapter X.)Indigestion.Hot water. Soda mints. Aromatic spirit of ammonia. Bicarbonate of soda (baking soda). Hot applications to the stomach.Itching.For itching which affects the whole body, give a bath; apply sulphur ointment.Sulphur ointment is made by rubbing 2 tbsp. flowers of sulphur into a dessertspoonful of lard.Lice in Hair (Pediculosis).Wash hair with kerosene, leaving it on over night; or use tincture oflarkspur[O] in the same way.Perhaps the best remedy isfishberries.[O]Five cents worth of the berries may be boiled in 1 pint water for ten minutes.Wash hair next day after using any of these remedies.Nails (Ingrowing).Scrape surface—a piece of glass is good for this purpose. Cut in V-shape. Pack absorbent cotton under affected side. Paint with iodine.Nausea (Sick Stomach).Give small bits of cracked ice. Soda mint. Lime water.To crack ice: wrap a piece in a cloth, and hammer.Nosebleed.Head in upright position. Raise arm on bleeding side. Loosen collar. Apply ice in a cloth to bridge of nose and back of neck. A roll of paper under upper lip. Snuff cold tea up nose, or salt water, 1 tsp. to cup water, or the same of powdered alum.If bleeding continues, tie a small wad of cotton with thread; dip it into peroxide of hydrogen, and plug nostril by pushing the cotton gently with a pencil. The thread is used to withdraw cotton.If these means fail, send for doctor.Perspiration.For deodorizing—use a paste of borax and water.Poison Ivy Rash.The poison ivy plant hasthreeleaves in clusters.Do not scratch.[P]Mop on rash a saturated solution of Epsom salt (as much as can be dissolved in a cup of water); or, wash with saturated solution boric acid. Allow it to dry in the air.Lime water may be used in place of boric acid.Wash the affected surface every day, dry and repeat treatment.Sweet fern tea is very good. Steep the sweet fern in boiling water an hour, and apply to rash.Poisoning—Treatment and Antidotes.Send for doctor, but work immediately.If you do not know what caused the poisoning, make patient vomit as soon as possible by giving 1 tsp. mustard in a cup of warm water, or 1 tsp. salt in a cup of warm water, or 2 tsp. ipecac. Repeat if necessary.After vomiting, give white of egg stirred in water; milk; or boiled starch. Give hot coffee as stimulant.There are three divisions of poisons:(a) Those that affect the nervous system; as opium, aconite, alcohol.(b) Those that irritate; as arsenic, tainted food.(c) Those that corrode (burn); as carbolic acid, oxalic acid, bichloride of mercury (which is corrosive sublimate), lye, caustic alkalies.In any case of poisoning, remember that the first-aid treatment is to—1. Remove the poisonous material, or2. Neutralize its further action.3. Remedy the ill effects already produced.1. To remove the poison, give emetic (to produce vomiting); as mustard and water or ipecac or salt and water.An emetic isnot usually used, however, in corrosivepoisoning (see (c) above) except in the case of bichloride of mercury, for which see special direction below.2. To neutralize the further effect of poison, give something to destroy its action; for instance, if lye is swallowed, give dilute acid, as vinegar and water.3. To remedy the ill effects, give stimulants; as strong coffee.Some AntidotesFor Carbolic Acid.—In case of poisoning fromcarbolic acid, give alcohol andwater; or, if alcohol is not at hand, 1 tbsp. Epsom salt in a glass of water, or beaten whites of eggs in milk. Use hot-water bottle.Treatment of Poisoning from Any Other Acids than Carbolic(Corrosives).—Give alkalies—baking soda, 1 tsp. in a cup water. Lime water, magnesia, whitewash diluted with water; even a tbsp. of strong soapsuds. Follow with beaten white of egg and milk, olive oil, coffee.Treatment of Poisoning from Alkalies(Lye,Household Ammonia,etc.). (Corrosives.)—Do not cause vomiting. 1 tbsp. vinegar in a cupof water; lemon juice and water, half and half; orange juice; follow with whites of egg in milk, olive oil; flour and water; hot coffee.For Bichloride of Mercury(Corrosive Sublimate).—Give beaten whites of eggs in water; emetic—warm mustard water (1 tsp. to cup); hot coffee. Keep patient warm.For Iodine.—Give boiled starch, or starch and water, or flour and water. Give hot coffee. Keep patient warm.For Arsenic(Irritant.See (b).).—Give an emetic; tincture of iron, white of eggs, coffee.For Laudanum(Affects Nerves.See (a).).—Keep patient awake by walking. Give strong black coffee.Powder Wounds.Dangerous because powder carries germs of “lockjaw.”Wash the skin. Paint with iodine.Apply vaseline. This loosens any bits of powder, which may be washed off the next day.Absolutely every wound of this character must be treated by a doctor, who will inject anti-tetanic serum.(SeeChapter XII.)Prickly Heat.Rash, especially on young children, caused by heat. Wash with warm water and soap. Apply alcohol (one part to three of water). Dust with talcum powder. (SeeChapter X.)Ptomaine Poisoning.Symptoms: Severe nausea, purging diarrhea. See doctor.Treatment:Vomiting is necessary. Give cup warm water in which 1 tsp. mustard is dissolved, or give 2 tsp. ipecac. Give castor oil.Apply external heat—hot-water bags.Give 1 tsp. paregoric, if you have it.Sea-Sickness.Cracked ice. The best preventive is to see the doctor a week before going on ocean trip.Shock.The word “shock” refers to the condition of nervous depression which follows any accident, or sometimes the sight of one’s own wound. The breathing is feeble; the face pale. Send for doctor. Place patient in lying-down position. Use hot-water bottles. Give hot coffee; aromatic spirit of ammonia. Gently massage or rub limbs toward body.Keep body covered andwarm. (Sec Chapter III.)Sore Throat.At night wrap a cloth wet in alcohol around outside of throat. Gargle with salt and water (1 tsp. to a glass), or borax and water in same proportion, or hot tea, or with the following—Gargle:2 tbsp. vinegar,1 tbsp. salt,Water to fill a tumbler.If persistent, see doctor.Splinters.Open wound with sterile needle. Pull splinter out from the direction it entered. Apply iodine or turpentine.If under nail, cut nail in V-shape at point where splinter entered, before extracting splinter. Use tweezers. Paint the place with iodine.A pair of extracting tweezers cost little, and should be in every household.To make needle or tweezers sterile, dip in alcohol or pass through a flame.Sprain.If at all severe, send for doctor.Elevate limb. Apply cloth wrung from ice water, or an ice bag, for several hours, then apply heat. Bandage to keep limb at rest.Stiff Neck.Rub with sassafras oil or with capsicum vaseline.Stings.Extract sting if it remains imbedded in flesh. Apply household ammonia, diluted with a little water, or solution of bicarbonate of soda (1 tsp. soda to 1 cup water).Mud, wet salt, slice of onion, arnica, witch hazel, camphor are soothing. If there is much swelling, apply cracked ice. Apply spirit of camphor or alcohol to mosquito bites.Strain of Muscles.Apply ice-water cloths or an ice bag. If the cold fails to give relief in an hour, apply heat. Bathe with arnica, alcohol and water, and rest the parts.Sunburn.To prevent: Anoint exposed parts with cold cream, vaseline, or use toilet powder before going out.Treatment:Never wash sunburn. Never open blisters.Apply—1 part lime water, 3 parts olive oil, shaken together in a bottle.Sunstroke (Collapse Due to Exposure to Rays of Sun).Distinguish between sunstroke and heat exhaustion.In sunstroke the symptoms are: red face; rapid heart beats; headache; vomiting; fever; noisy breathing and sighing; stupor; no perspiration; unconsciousness.Treatment:Send for doctor. Remove to cool place. Loosen clothing. Apply ice in a cloth, or cloths wrung out of ice water to entire body.GiveNO STIMULANTS—NO WHISKEY OR BRANDY.Toothache.See dentist.Hot applications. Iodine painted on gums. Oil of cloves on cotton in tooth. (Be careful in using this.) (SeeChapter XI.)Warts.Apply a “corn cure” containing “cannabis indica.” Nitric acid may be applied, but it is so dangerous a poison that it is unsafe for children to handle.Wounds.See “Hemorrhage” for deep, bleeding wounds.If surface is scraped, as from a fall in sand, wash wound with hot water (which has been boiled) and pure soap, such as Castile, and paint with iodine. Fasten a sterile gauze compress in place over scraped surface with a bandage or adhesive plaster.See also “Cuts,” “Powder Wounds.”

Reference to poisonous remedies has been carefully avoided as much as possible.

Where dosage is not mentioned in the following, refer to List of Remedies for theHome Medicine Closet, page 136.

Biliousness.

Give citrate of magnesia, or Epsom or Rochelle salt, or[J]castor oil. Cracked ice slowly melted in the mouth generally relieves sick stomach.

Hot, clear coffee given after any of the above medicines counteracts greatly the nauseating effect.

Bites of Dogs, Cats, Snakes.

If on a limb, tie a cloth tightly around limb, between wound and body. Loosen slightly in an hour. Encourage bleeding by squeezing, to get poison out, or suck and spit out blood from the wound, being careful to see there are no cuts or wounds in the mouth or lips, through which the poison may enter.Apply iodine.

Ifhydrophobia(rabies) is suspected,send for doctor at once, who will see that correct treatment is given. This treatment is concerned with the injection of a serum into the blood. SeeChapter XVII.

Bites of Insects, Spiders, etc.

Treat as forstings.

These are seldom dangerous to life.

“Black Eye.”

For “black eye,” use either cold or hot water compresses immediately. Massage gently for discoloration.

Bleeding of Gums.

Rinse mouth with alum water—1 teaspoon powdered alum in a glass of ice water; or 1 tsp. tincture of myrrh in 1 tbsp. water.

Blood Blisters.

Do not open. Apply hot water.

Broken Bones or Fractures.

There are two kinds of fractures:

1. Simple, where the bone only is broken.2. Compound, where the skin is broken through at point of fracture.

1. Simple, where the bone only is broken.

2. Compound, where the skin is broken through at point of fracture.

Treatment:

Send for doctor at once. Much harm is done by unskilled handling. Do not move patient unless absolutely necessary.

If a compound fracture, apply iodine. Bandage a sterile gauze compress loosely over wound, tie a cloth tightly around limb, between wound and body. See “Hemorrhage”in this list.

Usingextreme gentleness, place limb in comfortable position on a pillow or pad, and tie fast with strips of muslin or bandages.

If impossible to get doctor for a long time, and patient must be moved, use extreme carefulness, and tie limb to padded splints with bandages.

Rulers, umbrellas, sticks, rolled newspapers, may be used for splints. If an arm, after applying splints, place in sling made with triangular bandage, or pin coat sleeve to front of shirt.

Treat for “Shock.”

Bruises or Contusions.

“Black and blue” spots from blow or fall or pinching, causing blood vessels to rupture under skin.

Apply at first:

Afterward use hot applications. Gentle rubbing or massaging helps dispel the discoloration. If surface is scraped, as from fall in sand, see “Wounds.”

Burns and Scalds.

There are three different degrees of burns:

1. Mere reddening of the skin (slight burns).2. Formation of blisters (deeper burns).3. Charring and destruction of the skin and tissues.

1. Mere reddening of the skin (slight burns).

2. Formation of blisters (deeper burns).

3. Charring and destruction of the skin and tissues.

1. For slight burns (first degree), apply any of the following:

Bicarbonate of soda (baking soda) mixed in water to the thickness of milk, olive oil, cream, vaseline, lard, butter, white of egg, or flour and water paste, or starch and water.

Spread gauze compress[K]with the material used, and bandage loosely in place.

2. In deeper burns (second degree), be careful in removing clothing—cut it off, if necessary, to prevent tearing the skin.

Bandage on loosely compresses wet in one of the following:

(a) Normal Salt Solution (1 level tsp. salt in 1 pint boiled water);

(b) Carron Oil (½ lime water, ½ linseed oil);

(d) Picric Acid Gauze Compress.

Follow any of these treatments with Boric Acid Ointment. (SeeList of Medicines, No. 22).

Blisters.Later, puncture blisters near base with a sharp instrument which has been sterilized by dipping in alcohol. Mop up the watery discharge with a little aseptic absorbent cotton, throwing it away. Never open blisters far enough to loosen skin. Dress with gauze compresses, dusted with boric acid. Use several small compresses if burned surface is large.

3. In very severe burns (third degree) little can be done.Send for the doctor.Do not remove clothing. Make patient as comfortable as possible.

For burns about the eye, anoint with olive oil and wash out with boric acid solution in eye dropper or eye cup. (SeeList of Medicines, No. 3.) Use compresses wrung out of ice water. See doctor.

Car Sickness.

Fresh air. Lying-down position.

Do not look out of window at moving objects. Keep eyes closed.

Chilblains.

Chilblains are the result of too rapid warming of cold parts, generally feet or fingers. Sometimes for years after being frost-bitten, exposure to severe cold will produce itching and burning, and perhaps swelling and ulcers.

Treatment:

Rub with turpentine or alcohol. The rubbing in itself is excellent. See doctor.

Chills.

Use heat. Apply hot-water bags under arms, on thighs and at feet. Give hot foot bath, in which is 1 tbsp. mustard. Rub limbs toward body, to restore circulation. Give hot coffee or tea, or hot lemonade. Wrap in blankets and put to bed. Chills indicate oncoming illness—see doctor! SeeChapter XI.

Choking.

Slap on back. Pass finger down throat. This usually causes vomiting. If a child, hold him up by the feet, head downward, and slap on the back. Send for doctor, if severe.

Coal Gas, Suffocation from.

Send for doctor.

Get patient into fresh air—loosen clothing. Keep patient warm with hot-water bags. Rub limbs toward body. Dash cold water in face. Doctor will probably use artificial respiration.

Colds.

At thefirst signof “taking a cold”—use some simple remedy, such as inhaling camphor from time to time for several hours. Dampenthe center of a handkerchief in water, and drop on it some spirit of camphor.Eat a sliced onion.[L]

Take two drops of spirit of camphor on a tsp. sugar.

Or, drop five drops camphor in ½ tumbler of water. Take a tsp. every half hour.

Ginger tea is a much valued old-fashioned remedy. Pour boiling water over a tbsp. bruised ginger root. Let stand two hours. The dose is 1 tbsp. every hour or two.

If the “cold” continues, take a laxative, such as castor oil or rhubarb, and follow the dose with a hot foot bath at night and hot lemonade after getting into bed, to induce perspiration. Keep well covered.

If a cough comes with the cold, lemon juice and sugar syrup make a pleasant cough remedy; or molasses-and-vinegar syrup is liked by children. Mix in the proportion of 1 tbsp. vinegar to 2 tbsp. molasses.

Flaxseed teawill sometimes relieve a “tickling” cough. Pour 2 cups of boiling water over 1 tbsp. whole flaxseeds. Stir; let simmer gently one-half hour. Add juice of half a lemon, and sugar if desired. Take a tbsp. as often as wished.

If the chest is sore, rub it with camphorated oil, or ammonia liniment, which is made by shaking together in a bottle 4 tbsp. olive (sweet) oil and 1 tbsp. household ammonia. This hardens upon standing a few days—so it is best made as needed.

All these are simple home remedies, but if a cold is severe, see a doctor. A neglected cold is dangerous.

Colic.

Colic pains in abdomen are generally caused by indigestible food, overeating, constipation, etc.

Treatment:

Give peppermint in hot water; hot-water enema. Keep abdomen warmly wrapped in flannel; use hot-water bottles, or turpentine stupe.

If a child—massage abdomen with warm olive oil.

Convulsions of Children.

Caused by indigestion, constipation or oncoming illness. Child becomes stiff, pulse is weak and rapid. Breathing is feeble, face is pale atfirst, afterward livid.

Treatment:

Send for doctor. Place child in warm bath, with ice bag (or ice-water cloths) on head.

Corns.

For soft corn, apply vaseline.

For hard corn, apply iodine and remove pressure by using corn plaster.

For a very sore corn, use a bread poultice at night. (See“Plasters and Poultices” at end of this list,page 134.)

Croup.

Croup is generally more alarming than dangerous.

Give 1 teaspoon syrup of ipecac to make child vomit.

Apply cloths wrung out of hot water on neck and chest.

A boiling tea kettle, in which there are 2 tbsp. compound tincture of benzoin, will afford relief. Direct the steam toward the child so that some of it may be inhaled.

Keep the child in the same warm room forty-eight hours, maintaining the atmosphere at an even temperature.

The day after the attack, give the child castor oil or simple syrup of rhubarb.

If croup does not clear up in twenty-four hours, see thedoctorfor membranous croup or diphtheria.

fingee with cut and little bandages acrossHow to Strap a Cut Finger

How to Strap a Cut Finger

Cuts (Slight).

Touch with—

Tincture of iodine, or if iodine is not at hand,Alcohol, orVinegar and water—equal parts.

Tincture of iodine, or if iodine is not at hand,

Alcohol, or

Vinegar and water—equal parts.

If edges are spread far apart, strap together with narrowstripsof adhesive plasteracrosswound. Wrap with sterile gauze.

If cut is larger, after applying iodine, fasten on a gauze compress—cut ½ inch larger than wound—with a bandage, or withstripsof adhesive plaster.

Caution.—Never cover a wound or cut airtight. (See alsoChapter VII.)

Diarrhea.

Usually caused by indigestion, impure water, etc. Home remedies are raw flour and water paste; a raw egg in a cup of hot tea; spiced syrup of rhubarb.

Give a dose of castor oil to clear the digestive tract of the irritating material. If there is much pain, keep abdomen warm with flannel and hot-water bag. If a small child, restrict diet to barley water and white of egg in water.

Give adults milk and other liquid foods. If persistent, see doctor.

Earache.

Caused sometimes by bad teeth, but generally by cold or hardened ear wax.

Hold ear over cloth wrung out of hot water, on which are several drops of alcohol. Syringe ear with warm bicarbonate of soda water—1 tsp. to a cup; or peroxide of hydrogen water—1 tbsp. to a cup of water.

One drop laudanum, or one drop arnica to three drops very warm olive oil, dropped into ear with a medicine dropper, often relieves pain; or cotton may be saturated with the warm olive oil and placed in the ear and covered with dry cotton. To prevent hardening of wax: keep ear anointed with ordinary red vaseline (unbleached vaseline). For watery discharge of ear, dust with dry boric acid.

Fainting.

Caused by too small a quantity of blood to the brain.

To prevent: Fresh air; drink of cold water; ½ tsp. aromatic spirit of ammonia in water; bending head over between knees.

If the person has fainted:

Keep crowd back; place in lying-down position.Dash face with cold water.Let patient inhale smelling salts or household ammonia.Rub limbs toward body.

Keep crowd back; place in lying-down position.

Dash face with cold water.

Let patient inhale smelling salts or household ammonia.

Rub limbs toward body.

Remember: An unconscious person cannot swallow. Medicine may enter windpipe and cause strangulation. After patient becomes conscious, give stimulants; such as aromatic spirit of ammonia or hot coffee.

Fever Blisters (Cold Sores).

Apply boric acid ointment,[M]or touch frequently with spirit of nitre or spirit of camphor.

Fits.

There are two kinds:

1.Hysterical—sobbing, crying and laughing without cause, jerky movement of the limbs.

Treatment:

Let patient quietly alone.

2.Epileptic—convulsive movements and unconsciousness.

Treatment:

Keep patient from biting tongue by putting a piece of wood or folded cloth between teeth. Lay on side; loosen clothing; turn face to side so that secretions may not strangle.

After the fit, let patient sleep.

Donotgive stimulants.

Foreign Body in Ear.

If an insect, drown out with warm olive oil, or pour a little pure alcohol into ear.

Do not probe ear.

Foreign Body in Eye.

Wink. Do not rub.

Lift upper lid down over lower, blowing opposite nostril.

If these means fail, turn lid back over a toothpick, removing foreign body gently with the pointed corner of a handkerchief. For bits of plaster, use dilute vinegar in eye cup. For acids, use very dilute bicarbonate of soda solution. (SeeChapter XI.)

Frost Bites.

Parts frozen turn whitish or waxy looking.

Do not bring patient into a warm room.

Use cold applications. Keep in cold room. (SeeChapter VII.)

Rub with snow or ice-water cloths,very graduallyapplying heat.

“Gum Boils” or “Canker Sores.”

So-called “gum boils” or “canker sores” are little ulcer-like sores which at times appear in children’s mouths, caused by disarrangement of the stomach. Local applications, such as borax or powdered alum, shrink the sores and give a little relief; but the child should be given a dose of calcined magnesia at night or citrate of magnesia in the morning. (Never give a small dose of citrate of magnesia; a child of twelve years should take a tumblerful.)

Heat Exhaustion. (Collapse Due to Excessive Heat.) Dangerous!

In heat exhaustion, the symptoms and treatment are similar toshock:pale face; weak, feeble heart beats; great weakness, but not unconsciousness; shallow breathing; cold, clammy perspiration on face.

Treatment:Send for doctor. Remove to cool place.

Donotuse cold applications. Give stimulants—hot coffee, tea, aromatic spirit of ammonia, etc. Cover with blankets and use hot-water bottles.

Hemorrhage (Severe Bleeding).

Send for doctor. While waiting, try to staunch flow of blood.

If wound is in a limb:

If blood isred, and comes inspurts(arterial)—

Elevate wounded part, tie cloth tightly around limb betweenwoundandbody, or use a tourniquet,[N]loosening it in one hour. If not loosened, there is danger of gangrene.If blood isdark, and comes in slow flow (venous)—Tie a cloth around betweenendof limb and wound. Or use a tourniquet, loosening it in one hour.

Elevate wounded part, tie cloth tightly around limb betweenwoundandbody, or use a tourniquet,[N]loosening it in one hour. If not loosened, there is danger of gangrene.

If blood isdark, and comes in slow flow (venous)—

Tie a cloth around betweenendof limb and wound. Or use a tourniquet, loosening it in one hour.

Using a Tourniquet

In either case, bandage a clean gauze compress against wound. If unable to use these methods because of too rapid bleeding, press fingers into wound, but have another person tie as described. Do not use finger pressure if possible to avoid, for the wound should be kept clean.

Any of the following tend to stop bleeding:

Wet a compress (several thicknesses of gauze) in any of these and bandage on wound.

For hemorrhage of lungs, place ice-bag on chest.

do NOT give whiskey or brandy!

For slight wounds, see “Cuts.”

Hiccough.

Generally caused by indigestion.

Nine to fifteen swallows of water without taking a breath, or one or two soda-mint tablets, will generally give relief. If persistent, cause vomiting by tickling throat with fingers, or by swallowing a cup of warm water in which ½ tsp. mustard is dissolved. (SeeChapter XI.)

Hives (Nettle Rash).

For itching, rub into them common table salt, or bathe with equal parts vinegar and water.

Hives indicate stomach trouble. Give citrate of magnesia.

If hives persist, give ½ tsp. table salt in water or ¼ tsp. cream of tartar in ¼ glass of water three times a day for three days.

If hives still persist, consult doctor. (SeeChapter X.)

Indigestion.

Hot water. Soda mints. Aromatic spirit of ammonia. Bicarbonate of soda (baking soda). Hot applications to the stomach.

Itching.

For itching which affects the whole body, give a bath; apply sulphur ointment.

Sulphur ointment is made by rubbing 2 tbsp. flowers of sulphur into a dessertspoonful of lard.

Lice in Hair (Pediculosis).

Wash hair with kerosene, leaving it on over night; or use tincture oflarkspur[O] in the same way.

Perhaps the best remedy isfishberries.[O]

Five cents worth of the berries may be boiled in 1 pint water for ten minutes.

Wash hair next day after using any of these remedies.

Nails (Ingrowing).

Scrape surface—a piece of glass is good for this purpose. Cut in V-shape. Pack absorbent cotton under affected side. Paint with iodine.

Nausea (Sick Stomach).

Give small bits of cracked ice. Soda mint. Lime water.

To crack ice: wrap a piece in a cloth, and hammer.

Nosebleed.

Head in upright position. Raise arm on bleeding side. Loosen collar. Apply ice in a cloth to bridge of nose and back of neck. A roll of paper under upper lip. Snuff cold tea up nose, or salt water, 1 tsp. to cup water, or the same of powdered alum.

If bleeding continues, tie a small wad of cotton with thread; dip it into peroxide of hydrogen, and plug nostril by pushing the cotton gently with a pencil. The thread is used to withdraw cotton.

If these means fail, send for doctor.

Perspiration.

For deodorizing—use a paste of borax and water.

Poison Ivy Rash.

The poison ivy plant hasthreeleaves in clusters.

Do not scratch.[P]Mop on rash a saturated solution of Epsom salt (as much as can be dissolved in a cup of water); or, wash with saturated solution boric acid. Allow it to dry in the air.

Lime water may be used in place of boric acid.

Wash the affected surface every day, dry and repeat treatment.

Sweet fern tea is very good. Steep the sweet fern in boiling water an hour, and apply to rash.

Poisoning—Treatment and Antidotes.

Send for doctor, but work immediately.

If you do not know what caused the poisoning, make patient vomit as soon as possible by giving 1 tsp. mustard in a cup of warm water, or 1 tsp. salt in a cup of warm water, or 2 tsp. ipecac. Repeat if necessary.

After vomiting, give white of egg stirred in water; milk; or boiled starch. Give hot coffee as stimulant.

There are three divisions of poisons:

(a) Those that affect the nervous system; as opium, aconite, alcohol.(b) Those that irritate; as arsenic, tainted food.(c) Those that corrode (burn); as carbolic acid, oxalic acid, bichloride of mercury (which is corrosive sublimate), lye, caustic alkalies.

(a) Those that affect the nervous system; as opium, aconite, alcohol.

(b) Those that irritate; as arsenic, tainted food.

(c) Those that corrode (burn); as carbolic acid, oxalic acid, bichloride of mercury (which is corrosive sublimate), lye, caustic alkalies.

In any case of poisoning, remember that the first-aid treatment is to—

1. Remove the poisonous material, or2. Neutralize its further action.3. Remedy the ill effects already produced.

1. Remove the poisonous material, or

2. Neutralize its further action.

3. Remedy the ill effects already produced.

1. To remove the poison, give emetic (to produce vomiting); as mustard and water or ipecac or salt and water.

An emetic isnot usually used, however, in corrosivepoisoning (see (c) above) except in the case of bichloride of mercury, for which see special direction below.

2. To neutralize the further effect of poison, give something to destroy its action; for instance, if lye is swallowed, give dilute acid, as vinegar and water.

3. To remedy the ill effects, give stimulants; as strong coffee.

For Carbolic Acid.—In case of poisoning fromcarbolic acid, give alcohol andwater; or, if alcohol is not at hand, 1 tbsp. Epsom salt in a glass of water, or beaten whites of eggs in milk. Use hot-water bottle.

Treatment of Poisoning from Any Other Acids than Carbolic(Corrosives).—Give alkalies—baking soda, 1 tsp. in a cup water. Lime water, magnesia, whitewash diluted with water; even a tbsp. of strong soapsuds. Follow with beaten white of egg and milk, olive oil, coffee.

Treatment of Poisoning from Alkalies(Lye,Household Ammonia,etc.). (Corrosives.)—Do not cause vomiting. 1 tbsp. vinegar in a cupof water; lemon juice and water, half and half; orange juice; follow with whites of egg in milk, olive oil; flour and water; hot coffee.

For Bichloride of Mercury(Corrosive Sublimate).—Give beaten whites of eggs in water; emetic—warm mustard water (1 tsp. to cup); hot coffee. Keep patient warm.

For Iodine.—Give boiled starch, or starch and water, or flour and water. Give hot coffee. Keep patient warm.

For Arsenic(Irritant.See (b).).—Give an emetic; tincture of iron, white of eggs, coffee.

For Laudanum(Affects Nerves.See (a).).—Keep patient awake by walking. Give strong black coffee.

Powder Wounds.

Dangerous because powder carries germs of “lockjaw.”

Wash the skin. Paint with iodine.

Apply vaseline. This loosens any bits of powder, which may be washed off the next day.

Absolutely every wound of this character must be treated by a doctor, who will inject anti-tetanic serum.(SeeChapter XII.)

Prickly Heat.

Rash, especially on young children, caused by heat. Wash with warm water and soap. Apply alcohol (one part to three of water). Dust with talcum powder. (SeeChapter X.)

Ptomaine Poisoning.

Symptoms: Severe nausea, purging diarrhea. See doctor.

Treatment:Vomiting is necessary. Give cup warm water in which 1 tsp. mustard is dissolved, or give 2 tsp. ipecac. Give castor oil.

Apply external heat—hot-water bags.

Give 1 tsp. paregoric, if you have it.

Sea-Sickness.

Cracked ice. The best preventive is to see the doctor a week before going on ocean trip.

Shock.

The word “shock” refers to the condition of nervous depression which follows any accident, or sometimes the sight of one’s own wound. The breathing is feeble; the face pale. Send for doctor. Place patient in lying-down position. Use hot-water bottles. Give hot coffee; aromatic spirit of ammonia. Gently massage or rub limbs toward body.

Keep body covered andwarm. (Sec Chapter III.)

Sore Throat.

At night wrap a cloth wet in alcohol around outside of throat. Gargle with salt and water (1 tsp. to a glass), or borax and water in same proportion, or hot tea, or with the following—

Gargle:

If persistent, see doctor.

Splinters.

Open wound with sterile needle. Pull splinter out from the direction it entered. Apply iodine or turpentine.

If under nail, cut nail in V-shape at point where splinter entered, before extracting splinter. Use tweezers. Paint the place with iodine.

A pair of extracting tweezers cost little, and should be in every household.

To make needle or tweezers sterile, dip in alcohol or pass through a flame.

Sprain.

If at all severe, send for doctor.

Elevate limb. Apply cloth wrung from ice water, or an ice bag, for several hours, then apply heat. Bandage to keep limb at rest.

Stiff Neck.

Rub with sassafras oil or with capsicum vaseline.

Stings.

Extract sting if it remains imbedded in flesh. Apply household ammonia, diluted with a little water, or solution of bicarbonate of soda (1 tsp. soda to 1 cup water).

Mud, wet salt, slice of onion, arnica, witch hazel, camphor are soothing. If there is much swelling, apply cracked ice. Apply spirit of camphor or alcohol to mosquito bites.

Strain of Muscles.

Apply ice-water cloths or an ice bag. If the cold fails to give relief in an hour, apply heat. Bathe with arnica, alcohol and water, and rest the parts.

Sunburn.

To prevent: Anoint exposed parts with cold cream, vaseline, or use toilet powder before going out.

Treatment:Never wash sunburn. Never open blisters.

Apply—

1 part lime water, 3 parts olive oil, shaken together in a bottle.

Sunstroke (Collapse Due to Exposure to Rays of Sun).

Distinguish between sunstroke and heat exhaustion.

In sunstroke the symptoms are: red face; rapid heart beats; headache; vomiting; fever; noisy breathing and sighing; stupor; no perspiration; unconsciousness.

Treatment:Send for doctor. Remove to cool place. Loosen clothing. Apply ice in a cloth, or cloths wrung out of ice water to entire body.

GiveNO STIMULANTS—NO WHISKEY OR BRANDY.

Toothache.

See dentist.

Hot applications. Iodine painted on gums. Oil of cloves on cotton in tooth. (Be careful in using this.) (SeeChapter XI.)

Warts.

Apply a “corn cure” containing “cannabis indica.” Nitric acid may be applied, but it is so dangerous a poison that it is unsafe for children to handle.

Wounds.

See “Hemorrhage” for deep, bleeding wounds.

If surface is scraped, as from a fall in sand, wash wound with hot water (which has been boiled) and pure soap, such as Castile, and paint with iodine. Fasten a sterile gauze compress in place over scraped surface with a bandage or adhesive plaster.

See also “Cuts,” “Powder Wounds.”

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