A GREAT RECOVERY

Taranaki Daily News, 21 December 1932, Page 5

A GREAT RECOVERY

BADLY BURNED MAN. SUCCESS-OF NEW TREATMENT. Auckland, Dec. 19. A ? miraculous, recovery, which is exciting ‘ keien ■ medical- interest ‘ in Auckland,. has. been made by Mr. L. G. Fyfe, of Penrose, - who - was .terribly, burned five .weeks ago ■ through coming into contact, with a conductor carrying 50,000 .volts r at the Government electric power sub-station at Penrose. Mr. Fyfe was; not; expected to . live, but he was given ; a newly discovered treatment, with the result that the burns are now practically healed. . A ■ few years ago there would have been no ; hope for hint, said an. Auckland surgeon to-day. It was always understood among medical. men . that if one-third of-the body was burned, even

mildly, it was extremely likely that death would occur. But .this man had fully half his body covered with burns of moderate severity. Now he 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.. Mr. Fyfe, who is 29 years of age, was removing birds’ nests from a hightension structure in the station yard on November 14 when the acident occurred. Members of the. staff heard a loud report, and. saw a bright : flash, and found him lying on the • ground, fearfully burned. He fell 20ft. When the line was automatically cut 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. Fyfe was removed to Auckland Hospital doctors gave him a new treatment which has been used in Auckland only during the last two of three years. The burned flesh 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 this simple treatment, said a doctor, are that pain is.greatly diminished, and poisonous substances that often cause death are neutralised by the, acid. The scarring that results from burns; is also diminished. “A large 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,”- he said. He expressed the opinion that • owing to . the convenience and . simplicity of the treatment, flasks containing tannic acid in the required solution, should be kept everywhere that persons are exposed to burns. The solution was obtainable in Auckland, made up in flasks, .together with ( a simple spray. It might save great pain, risk of permanent maiming, and even death if this' remedy were kept available. I