138 THE HOME, FAKM AND Ul'SINESS CYCLOP^EDli. 



are whole. They must consequently not be broken, but allowed to remain, 

 and the fluid to accumulate till the new skin forms underneath. When 

 this formation takes place, the part becomes distended and painful, there 

 is a red line round the edge of the blister, and the contained tiuid looks 

 milky. It may then be let out by puncturing with a needle, so that it all 

 escapes. 



SCALDS. 



Scalds from hot water, as a rule, are not so severe, as excepting in ex- 

 treme cases, the scurf skin is only raised like an ordinary blister, and the 

 dressing being wet, can be removed without difficulty. Any of the reme- 

 dies prescribed for burns are equally efficacious for scalds, but if the scalded 

 surface be instantly covered with cotton-wool, it is, if the accident be of a 

 slight character, sufficient. Another admirable remedy, more particularly 

 on account of its usually being " in the house," is lard. That specially 

 prepared by chemists is, of course, the best ; but this only means the ordi- 

 iiary kind divested of the salt by washing. It should be thickly spread on 

 pieces of old, soft linen, and when placed on the scald or burn, be kept in 

 its place by bandages of lint, or better still, by strips of calico, torn from 

 an old garment, always bearing in mind that the great thing is to protect 

 the damaged part from the air, and remembering on no account to apply 

 cold water or similar cold bandages. 



BEUISES. 



Bruises from knocks and tumbles are by far the most frequent of the 

 numerous accidents of the nursery, and where the injury is slight and the 

 skin not lacerated, a warm application of arnica (which should always be 

 kept where there are children) and water, in the proportion of one part 

 of arnica to ten of water, is advisable ; but in the absence of this, the old- 

 fashioned remedy of covering the bruise with fresh butter should be re- 

 sorted to. 



Jammed fingers, through the unexpected shutting of a drawer or door, 

 though not usually looked upon as at all serious casualties, may some- 

 times be attended by the most serious consequences, for if all the parts of 

 the end of the fingers be injured, the whole (bone and flesh) may mortify. 

 In ordinary cases of this kind, the best and quickest way of obtaining 

 relief, is to plunge the finger or fingers into warm water as hot as the child 

 can bear it. By this means the nail is softened, and yields so as to accom- 

 modate itself to the blood poured out beneath it, and the pain is speedily 

 lessened ; the finger should then be covered with a bread and water poul- 



