BURNS 327 



most effective in controlling the swelling, discoloration 

 and pain, especially about the head and face. 



Burns. Burns, whether caused by fire, steam, hot 

 water, acids and alkalies, or by cold, as in frost-bite, 

 resemble wounds in that they remove the barrier to the 

 entrance of microbes, by destroying the skin. They 

 may also cause the irritation of extensive areas of nerve 

 terminals and a consequently profound shock to the 

 nervous system. There may further be an extensive 

 absorption of the detritus of the wounded skin, through 

 the lymphatics. 



Treatment: In mild burns, where the skin is simply 

 reddened, a moist paste of cooking soda is effective in 

 relieving the pain. As a substitute, either a paste of 

 starch or flour, vaseline, sweet oil, lard, or cream may 

 be used. In more severe burns where the skin is blis- 

 tered, the blisters should be emptied through small punc- 

 tures made with the point of a knife or needle which has 

 previously been sterilized. 1 The treatment should then 

 be the same as for a mild burn. In still more severe 

 burns where the skin is destroyed, the skin surrounding 

 the burn as well as the hands of the operator should be 

 disinfected. To allay the nerve irritation, soothing ap- 

 plications of sterilized oil should be used. 



Acids and alkalies. Burns by acids and alkalies 

 require special treatment, because the acid or alkali may 

 continue to destroy the skin if allowed to remain upon 

 it. To remove these chemicals, water should be allowed 

 to flow freely over the injured parts before any other 

 treatment is attempted. As a further precaution in case 

 of burning by an acid, it is well to apply a thin paste 

 of cooking soda, that any remains of the acid may be 



1 Held in boiling water or in alcohol, or heated red hot in a 

 flame and allowed to cool. 



