SHORT CUTS WITH SPLINTERS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22778, 14 January 1936, Page 16

SHORT CUTS WITH SPLINTERS

Did you know that if you bandaged a small piece of raw bacon fat over the place where a troublesome splinter or thorn has become embedded it will often “do the trick ” without any further trouble? , Leave the bandage in place for at least half an hour, then remove the wrapping, and you will often find the splinter embedded in the fat, having worked itself out painlessly. Should a thorn become too deeply embedded, in the flesh to be pulled out, wrap the part in hot, wet boraeic lint and cover with oil silk or a piece of cotton wool and bandage. Leave for some hours, and on removing the dressing the thorn will be found on the surface, where it can be easily removed. It is usually difficult to locate a splinter under the finger nail, but by placing the fleshy part of the finger against the bulb of a pocket flashlight in a dark room .the splinter can usually be seen through the nail almost as if it were under the X-ray. A splinter should be removed as soon aa possible, of course. Use a pair of tweezers if there is enough exposed to get a good grip. If it is buried deep, it can often be taken out with the help of an antiseptic needle. Personally, when packing for holidays, I always take a pair of splinter forceps. They are very tiny, yet they are worth their weight in gold, since it is so easy to pick up a splinter at holiday time. The rough edge of a five-barred gate or an improvised , cricket bat are two ways in which children get splinters in themselves. They are painful it not removed, and if neglected sometimes cause septic poisoning and whitlows. But I don’t use my splinter forceps until I can get a good grip on the splinter, for should they slip they are likely to break off an important part of the splinter. To avoid this, I try to press it forward with my thumbnail first of all. Hot fomentations made from boracic lint wrung out of boiling hot water are the best dressings to use when the splinters are out to prevent any poisoning. When whitlows arise a doctor should be called in promptly to open the abscess. Until his arrival linseed poultices should be applied. To relieve the throbbing, the hand should be slung up on to the opposite shoulder. Afterwards care should be taken of the -general health of the patient.—An exchange.