TALKS ON HEALTH

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17524, 29 April 1925, Page 11

TALKS ON HEALTH

BY A FAMILY DOCTOR.

BURNS AND SCALDS. If a child has been burnt or scalded, you must take every possible care not only to have the burn dressed, but to against shock to the system. '1 he skin, if it could be surveyed under high . magnification, would be seen to contain a complete and universal network of hue nerves. These nerves are very sensitive ; they all connect directly with the nervous system of the spinal cord and up to the brain. The burning of a number of these nerves in the skin sends painful sensations along all the affected nerves, and the accumulated effect has a serious result in causing collapse. THE PREVENTION OF SHOCK. In all severe burns, the immediate object of the doctor is to prevent shock. It is very sad to lose a little patient from collapse, but it is often impossible to save the children, us I they are particularly liable to suffer from shock. The pain, the terror and the excitement are too much for them : they are not built to withstand such crises. An older patient may keep his bead although in great pain, but the little ones do not understand, and are almost paralysed with fright. I need hardly say that the first thing for the mother to do is to keep coo! ; to go- into hysterics and lie on the ground kicking and screaming affords no assistance to the scalded baby. THE BEST ANTIDOTE. Having removed the outer clothes and the boots, the best plan of all is to put the child, clothes and all, into a nice warm bath. This is done for two reasons. The first reason is that- warmth is the best antidote to shock. That is why a person rescued from drowning is surrounded bv Lotwater bottles to help to restore him. The child should be made comfortable in the bath and held by the mother, who speaks calmly a7id soothingly to her child in spite of her own anxiety, which she must hide. The water must be kept hot by adding fresh water when it begins to get cool. The second reason for putting the child in the hot water is to soak the clothes off. The clothes stick to the scalded skin, and it is very painful to pull them off ; until they are well soaked. In the water the garments float off with a minimum of pain to the little sufferer. TO BED. Meanwhile a nice warm bed has been prepared, some handkerchiefs spread over with boracic ointment are applied to the burnt skin, arid" the child is put into bed. Oreat nursing skill may be shown in arranging the child in the most comfortable position. The burnt area must be uppermost; the child could not bear to lie on the raw, tender parts, and if the burnt parts are uppermost, the weight of the clothes must be kffept off by a cradle. Some hot milk should be given, and everything done to keep the child quiet. C A REF UL WATCH IN G. Von will not I>e free from the risk of complications for a day .or two, and the child must be most carefully watched and fed. The scalds must be dressed every day, although the child will strongly object. If they are not dressed, they begin to smell nasty, and the child goes from bad to worse. It may be necessary for the doctor to give a. few drops of brandy-, but you should not do it on your own responsibility.

ACCIDENTS ANI> COMPENSATION. Do not bo too ready to laugh at a man because be recovers very quickly from the effects of an accident when lie receives compensation. Honest or dishonest, genuine or a malingerer, it is a great relief to have the hard cash in your pocket. It is a sad thing that what the doctor thinks is good for his patient and what the lawyers thinks is best may be very different things There comes a time in the course of recovery when the physical injuries take a second place, and the mental anxiety the first place. The doctor wants to relieve the man’s worry by accepting a settlement. The lawyer, with perfectly honest, intent, thinks the best thing is to take the case into Court, and, as the Court does not sit for two months, it will bo necessary to wait all that time. THE WORRY OF IT. Meanwhile the anxious patient is kept in suspense: he is interviewed and examined by the doctors for the other side ; he is questioned by his own solicitor. The sufferer’s wife goes into hysterics when the ease is mentioned. and never for a, moment, night or day, is the poor claimant allowed to forget the case. Instead of having something wholesome to occupy his mind he dreams night and day of bags of gold and drinking beer out of silver mugs for the rest of his days. At the end of two months the wretched claimant is a mental wreck; he is harassed, worried, sleepless, anxious; he is off his food, as he does no work ; his muscles are flabby merely from disuse, and Tie has had so many people with pitying looks at him ever since the accident happened that he has the idea lie is a martyr. Take mv advice, and try and settle early if you possibly can. I know you hate me fur saying so, but work is so beneficial. TEA AND SMILES. T. am President of the Society for Promoting Good Feeling ibe tween Doctor and Patient. Why, of ‘course, we ought to be friends, bless you. I strongly object to squabbles- between doctors aud clubs or friendly societies. I tell you they are. all to be settled over a cup of tea. If the doctor wants to have a little time to himself, you are just the people to fall in with his ideas. By all means, my dear doctor, ; have Thursday evenings off, and we won’t worry you unless we are dying. And Sundays? Well, we will not send for you on Sundays unless we can help it. Go out and enjoy yourself, and you will come back to us all the brighter for your trip. I am all for cups of tea and smiles all round. DOCTOR’S OR DERS. Here are some odd pieces of advice for you:— You must not put tobacco in your If you have perspiring feet, you must not wear the same pair of socks or stockings two days following; have two pairs in use', and let each pair air for a day. A rest on the bed. tor an hour or two in the middle of the day is the best cure for an aching back, this applies to women especially. , Please remember that the doctor would be grateful if you would send requests for visits to his house as early as possible.* it breaks the poor man's spirits when lie goes a long round, passes your door twice, and then comes homo to find a request that he should call at your house.