664 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



called popular remedies, or such as are usually recommended by mem- 

 bers of the profession, are numerous enough, but can not unfortunately 

 hitherto be considered as generally successful in giving certain and 

 speedy relief from pain, and, too often, intense suffering. One friend 

 will recommend that the parts be covered with flour from the dredger ; 

 another will advise fine cotton-wool, or wadding ; another, starch in 

 powder, or soap, or treacle, or the so-called Carron-oil, etc. ; but 

 hardly one of such applications can be said to give more than very 

 uncertain or temporary relief from pain, although, perhaps, by occupy- 

 ing the attention of the sufferer, they may in this way prove of some 

 mental benefit during his sufferings being indeed employed really 

 for want of anything better although, in fact, some of these appli- 

 cations, such as treacle, flour, starch, etc., prove so disagreeable in their 

 after-effects, being often difficult to remove and renew, as to add fre- 

 quently to the poor patient's depression and suffering, owing to their 

 adhering to the injured parts in dry cakes very irritating to the raw 

 surface. 



It is now many years ago (see the " London Medical Gazette " of 

 March, 1844) that the author of this paper, while engaged in some in- 

 vestigations as to the qualities and effects of the alkalies in inflamma- 

 tions of the skin, etc., was fortunate enough to discover that a saline 

 lotion, or saturated solution of the bicarbonated soda in either plain 

 water or camphorated water, if applied speedily, or as soon as possible, 

 to a burned or scalded part, was most effectual in immediately reliev- 

 ing the acute burning pain ; and when the burn was only superficial, 

 or not severe, removing all pain in the course of a very short time ; 

 having also the very great advantage of cleanliness, and, if applied at 

 once, of preventing the usual consequences a painful blistering of 

 the skin, separation of the epidermis, and perhaps more or less of sup- 

 puration. 



For this purpose, all that is necessary is to cut a piece of lint, or 

 old soft rag, or even thick blotting-paper, of a size sufficient to cover 

 the burned or scalded parts, and to keep it constantly well wetted 

 with the sodaic lotion so as to prevent its drying. By this means, it 

 usually happens that all pain ceases in from a quarter to half an hour, 

 or even in much less time. 



When the main part of a limb, such as the hand and fore-arm or 

 the foot and leg, has been burned, it is best, when practicable, to 

 plunge the part at once into a jug, or pail, or other convenient vessel 

 filled with the soda lotion, and keep it there until the pain subsides ; 

 or the limb may be swathed or encircled with a surgeon's cotton band- 

 age previously soaked in the saturated solution, and kept constantly 

 wetted with it, the relief being usually immediate, provided the solu- 

 tion be saturated and cold. 



What is now usually sold as bicarbonate of soda is what I have 

 commonly used and recommended ; although this is well known to 



