ACCIDENTS AND HOW TO DEAL WITH THEM.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVI, Issue 5651, 27 December 1879, Page 3

ACCIDENTS AND HOW TO DEAL WITH THEM.

•Scratch fro.u a Cat. —A scratch from a :afc is sometimes not only painful, but iifficult to he.il. When this is the case, the imb should be bathed with a hot fomentation

of camomile and poppyheads, and a hot broad-and water poultice applied, to he renewed with the bathing every four hours. A Blow o.v tiie Head Causing Unco.vsciousxnss.—Lay the patient on his back and dash cold water iu his face; losen his

dress, particularly about the throat; let him have plenty of fresh air blowing upon him, and, in fact, treat him as if lie hail fainted.

If on regaining consciousness he vomits, send for medical aid, as it is feared the brain is injured.

."Swallowing Coin's. —lf the coiu is swallowed there ia seldom any danger. The beat thing to do ia to take a sl'glit aperient, and in all probability it will pas* away all right. If it enters the windpipe medical aid should immediately be sought, and the only thing that could be done would bo to seize the individualby the legs and hold him upside down, and strike him violently on the back, when it may be coughed up. Sprains.—lf a spraiu is nothing more than a sprain—that ia, if no bones arc broken or put out—wrap the part iu several folds of flannel which ha 3 been wrung out of hot water, and cover it with a dry bandage, and rest it for some days or even weeks. Entire rest at lirst, and moderate rest afterwards, are absolutely necessary after a sprain. If it is in the ankle, the foot should be raise ! as high as may be comfortable ; if in the •vrist, it should be carried in a sling. A Bite frost a Mad Dog.—Rub the point of a stick of lunar caustic (nitrate of silver) into the wound for fully eight seconds, and do this aa aoon as possible, for no time is to be lost. Of course it will be expected that the parts touched with the caustic will turn black. If, unfortunately, it should chance that any one is bitten by a dog that is said to be mad, it ia worth while to chain the animal up, instead of shooting it instantly ; for if it should turn out that it ia not mad and » false alarm is frequently raised—the r.:lief to the minds of all concerned is indescribable.

Drowning.—Directions for the treatment of persons who are in a drowning condition are, in brief, to send for medical aid and blankets aa soon aa possible, but until tliev arrive to take at once instant measure.! for recovery, without waiting to remove the patient to a house, as delay may prove fatal. Lay the patient on his face, with one arm under liis forehead, that any liquid may flow from his mouth. Wipe away froth from his throat and nostrils. Turn him on bis side, and endeavour to excite inspiration by applying snuff, pepper, or smelling-salts; alternately rub his chcst and face, to promote warmth, and throw hot and cold water upou them. If these measures are not successful, turn him gently, but completely on one side, and a little beyond, then towards his face, and repeat these rnov«ments alternately, deliberately, and perseveringly fifteen times in a minute. Continue them for hours if necessary, and meantime rub the limbs upwards iirmly aud energetically, and tear off the wet clothes, substituting blankets and warm coverings. This is all that caa be immediately done.

Accidental Poiso.ni.s'g.—When poison lias been accidentaly taken, medical aid should be instantly sought. As minutes may be of value, however, prompt measures may be adopted in those which must intervene until it arrives, and the follow-in" are recommended: In poisoning from laudanum opium, henbane, paregoric, aoothing-svrup, syrup of poppies, bad lish, poisonous mushrooms, poisimous seeds or plants, or indeed almost any vegetable substance, the first thine to be done is to empty the stomach with au emetic. This is made by mixing a tablespoouful of mustard or salt with a cupful of warm water, and repeating the dose us til there is free vomiting. lii all narcotic [joisouiug 113 person should on no account be allowed to go to sleep, or he may never wake. For all strong acids, such as oil of vitro], muriatic, nitric and oxalic aeids, out an ouuee of calcined magnesia into a pint of water, aud take a wine glassful every two minutes. If this is not attainable, dissolve half au ounce of soap in a pint of water and give a wine-glassful every four minutes. Magnesia or chalk may be taken if luofer matches are swallowed. For arsenic, which is found in rat aud vermin poisou, aud ai'ue drops, empty the stomach by an emetic of ten grains ot sulphate of zinc, if it can be had ;if not mustard aud warm water. Give large ijiuntities of milk aud raw eggs, or failing these, flour and water, both bufore and after the vomiting. For mercury in all forms —corrosive, sublimate, vermilliou, red precipate, calomel—tho whites of twelve eggs should bo beateu up in two pints of water, aud a wiue-glasiful given every thrco miuutes. If the patient vomits, all tho better. If tho eggs eaunnt immediately bo obtained, uso flour and water or milk, For iissic ac " 'il> " f *en found > ->lmond