HEALTH IN THE HOME.

King Country Chronicle, Volume XX, Issue 2064, 8 January 1925, Page 6

HEALTH IN THE HOME.

HOW TO MOVE INJURED PERSONS. An attempt to move accidentally in* jured persons will often increase the injury unless the persons, who endeavour to do this, understand a little about the matter. Where th© injury is severe enough to cause unconscious' ness, or if the leg is broken, a stretcher should be at once procured and the patient laid very gently upon this. Hand carriage is always so infinitely less painful to the injured than if he is put in a vehicle, that all efforts should be made to procure a suitable stretcher for carrying him, either to his home or the nearest hospital. A hurdle, door, or shutter if covered with a blanket or straw, will do if a proper stretcher is not available. Before the patient is laid on the stretcher, the broken leg should be gently moved into a straight position, a stick laid beside it, then both legs should bo tied together with three handkerchiefs. This will prevent the leg being jarred too much by the movement. Never on any account allow a broken limb a dangle about as this may cause serious injury to the skin. A broken arm should be bandaged to a piece of wood so that it will not be injured while the patient is being moved, as a broken bone soon works its way through the skin and greatly increases the mischief. BITES OF ANIMALS. Where many pets are kept children frequently get bitten, uuless they have been taught to be very gentle and kind to animals. There is always more or less danger from the wound being poisoned by ihc saliva of the animat A dog bite should always receive special care. If n doctor is not close at hand, wash the wound out with carbolic acid as soon as possible, but as this is rather a trying thing for a mother to do, it is better to get someone else to do it. The carbolic acid is applied with a small splinter of wood, smooth, so that it will not injure the wound. See that every part of the wound is probed, so that no part of it may escape the caustic. Immediately a person is bitten it is as well to fasten a ligature around the arm, or limb, a short distance above the bite, to prevent the blood being poisoned. With ordinary bites, wash well in warm water, containing a few drops of carbolic acid, and encourage bleeding from the wound and thus get rid of the poison. Sometimes when the poisoning is severe the doctor will lance the surrounding flesh and ensure the escape of the poison. Snake bites should bo at once treated with spirits of ammonia, and a very light ligature applied to the limb between the heart and the wound. But the best thing to do is to apply the ligature, and send for a doctor at once. Nothing can be gained by delaying, and time is of value. EPILEPSY. This disease, which is sometime? called falling sickness, consists of paroxysms of convulsions, recurring at uncertain periods, accompanied by insensibility and involuntary motions of the muscles of the body, and usually ends in a prolonged state of sleep. An epileptic fit generally comes on suddenly, the patient, uttering a loud and violent scream, falls to the ground in a strong, general convulsion of the whole body, and with immediate loss of consciousness. The patient foams at the mouth, and this foam may be tinged with blood from the biting of the tongue. The whole appearance of the victim is appalling. The eyes appear to protrude, and roll frightfully, the face is distorted, while the complexion is livid. The convulsions subsides after a varying period consciousness returns slowly, and the patient sinks into a state of stupor, or sleep, in which lie lies for some hours. lie may, however, in some cases recover immediately and have no memory of the attack.

Attacks may be repeated at close intervals, or may not recur for weeks, or even months. Sometimes there are signs by which it can be known that an attack may be about to occur. The patient moves about listlessly, there are sudden, involuntary movements of the limbs, shivering and chills, with a feeling of nausea, but in most cases the attacks come on without any warning. The only thing to do is to take care of the diet of an epileptic. It should be plain, light, and nourishing. No highly seasoned foods should ba allowed. All excitement must be avoided, such as fright, grief, and overindulgence in indigestible food, which might cause irritation of the stomach. When an attack comes on, the patient should be laid flat on the floor with the head raised. The clothing should be unfastened and a handkerchief tightly rolled should be placed between the teeth to prevent the tongue beinginjured and bitten during the fit. I have seen a patient’s tongue bitten right in half, owing to this latter precaution not having been taken while waiting- for the doctor’s arrival. Hot water bottles must be placed at the feet, and cold water compresses on the head. If icc is available it may be used, but great care must be taken to prevent the patient doing himself any injury during the violent stage of the convulsions. In hot weather a person liable to attacks' should keep his head very cool, and in winter wear warm flannel, or woollen clothing-, as this keeps the temperature of the body in a normal state, for any excess of cold may bring on an attack.,