33 2 



ACCIDENTS AND INJURIES. 



WOORARA. 



Symptoms. — When taken into the 

 ^rtomach it is inert; when absorbed through 

 a wound, it causes sudden stupor and in- 

 sensibility, frothing at the mouth and 

 speedy death. 



Treatment. — Suck the wound imme- 

 diately, or cut it out and tie a cord 

 around the limb between the wound and 

 the heart. Apply iodine, or iodide of po- 

 tassium, and give it internally, and try 

 artificial respiration. 



SCALDS. — See Burns and Scalds. 



SPRAINS. — The portions most fre- 

 quently implicated are the wrist and an- 

 kle ; no matter which portion it may be 

 however, rest and quietness is a very im- 

 portant part of the treatment, and, when 

 possible, in an elevated position. If the 

 wrist is sprained, it should be carried in a 

 sling; if the ankle, it should be supported 

 on a couch or stool. Cold lotions (See 

 Bruises) should be freely applied, and 

 irrigation by pouring water from a pitcher 

 or tea-kettle resorted to several times a 

 day to prevent inflammation. Later, 

 frictiops with opedeldoc, or with some 

 stimulating liniment, and supporting the 

 parts by pressure made with a flannel 

 roller, or laced stocking when the ankle 

 is involved, will be useful to restore tone; 

 or strips of adhesive plaster properly ap- 

 plied will be useful for the same purpose. 

 Recovery from severe sprains is always 

 tedious. It is an old saying "that a bad 

 sprain is worse than a broken bone." 



STINGS of BEES and WASPS.— See 

 Bi tes an d Stings. 



SUFFOCATION, from Noxious Gases, 

 Foul Air, Fire, Damp, Etc. — Remove to 

 fresh air and dash cold water over the 



head, neck and chest; carefully apply 

 hartshorn, or smelling salts to the nos- 

 trils, and when the breathing is feeble or 

 has ceased, resort immediately to artifi- 

 cial respiration (See Asphyxia and 

 Drowning). Keep up the warmth ot 

 the body, and as soon as the patient can 

 swallow, give stimulants in small quanti- 

 ties. 



SUNSTROKE, Heat Apoplexy.— This 

 is caused by long exposure in great heat, 

 especially when accompanied with great 

 fatigue and exhaustion. Though gen- 

 erally happening from exposure to the 

 sun's rays, yet precisely similar effects 

 may be and are produced from any un- 

 due exposure to great and exhaustive 

 heat, such as workmen are exposed to in 

 foundries, gas factories, bakeries, and 

 other similar employments. Its first 

 symptom is pain in the head and dizzi- 

 ness, quickly followed by loss of con- 

 sciousness, and resulting in complete 

 prostration ; sometimes, however, the at- 

 tack is sudden, as in apoplexy. The 

 head is generally burning hot, the face 

 dark and swollen, the breathing labored 

 and snoring, and the feet and hands 

 cold. Remove the patient at once to a 

 cool and shady place, and lay him down 

 with his head a little raised; apply ice 

 or iced water to the head and face; loosen 

 all cloths around the neck or waist ; bathe 

 the chest with cold water, apply mus- 

 tard plasters, or cloths wetted with tur- 

 pentine, to the calves and soles of the 

 feet, and as soon as the patient can swal- 

 low, give weak brandy or whisky and 

 water. 



THROAT, Foreign Bodies in. — See 

 Choking. 



