Saved From Death
grave burns healed, by new TREATMENT. MAN’S. AMAZING- RECOVERY. A miraculous recovery, which is exciting keen interest in medical circles in Auckland, has been made by; Mr. L. G. Fyf e, •of Station road, Pcnroso, who was terribly burned iivo weeks ago through coming into contact with a conductor carrying 50,000 volts at the Government electric power sub-station at Penrose. Mr. Fyfe was not expected to live, but he was given a newlydiscovered treatment with th 6 result that the burns have practically healed.
"A few years ago there would have been no hope for him,” said an Auckland surgeon. "It was always understood among medical men that if onethird of the body was burned, even mildly, it was extremely likely that death would occur, but this man had fully half of his body covered with burns of moderate severity. Now ho has made a great recovery and, save for a certain amount of discolouration of the skin, will probably be none the worse for his injuries.” No Dressing Required. Mr. Fyfe, who is 29 years of nge, was removing birds’ nests from the hightension structure in the station yard on November 14 when the accident occurred. Members, of the staff heard a loud Teport and saw a bright flash, and
they found Mr. Fyfo. lying on the ground gravely, burned. Ho fell 20ft. when the lino was automatically cm off. The conductor was carrying 50,000 volts, but it is estimated that only 30,000 volts would pass to earth through his body. Yet cases have occurred of persons being killed by. 230 volts. When Mr. Fyfo was removed to the Auckland hospital the doctors gave him the new treatment, which has been used in Auckland only during the last two or three years. The burned llcsh was sprayed with a weak solution of tannic acid, with the result that the whole of the burned skin became tanned and hardened. No dressing was required. Features of Treatment. “The features of this simple treat-
ir.cnt,” said a doctor, “are tiat the pain is greatly dimiuislicd and. tho poisonous substances that often cause death are neutralised by the acid. Tho scarring that results from burns is also diminished. A largo children’s hospital in England reports that mortality from burns has been reduced 50 per cent, through this treatment and I know that excellent results are now being obtained in this country.’’ The doctor expressed the opinion that owing to the convenience and simplicity of the treatment, flasks containing tannic acid in the required solution should be kept where persons arc i"a danger of being burned. It might save great pain, the risk of permanent maiming, and even death, if this remedy were always available.
Permanent link to this item
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/MT19321222.2.11
Bibliographic details
Manawatu Times, Volume LV, Issue 7037, 22 December 1932, Page 4
Word Count
454Saved From Death Manawatu Times, Volume LV, Issue 7037, 22 December 1932, Page 4
Using This Item
Stuff Ltd is the copyright owner for the Manawatu Times. You can reproduce in-copyright material from this newspaper for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 3.0 New Zealand licence. This newspaper is not available for commercial use without the consent of Stuff Ltd. For advice on reproduction of out-of-copyright material from this newspaper, please refer to the Copyright guide.