CHAPTER XXXIX 

 CUTS, BRUISES, AND BURNS 



/'^UTS and wounds should first be washed carefully 

 ^^ with warm water and soap, preferably castile 

 soap, and then some antiseptic, such as carbolic acid 

 (one part to forty parts of water), or sulpho-napthol 

 (one teaspoonful of sulpho-napthol in a quart of 

 water), or creolin (one tablespoonful to a pail of 

 water) should be applied. A little salt in water makes 

 a good antiseptic. 



The cleansing and disinfecting of the wound, even 

 though the wound be a slight one, should be done 

 thoroughly and as soon as possible, for there is always 

 danger of infection and blood poisoning, especially in 

 the city. After the wound has once been washed and 

 disinfected it should be treated every day, and in severe 

 cases three or four times a day, with alcohol poured Into 

 the wound and on the flesh around It. But If there is 

 inflammation or pain, the alcohol treatment should not 

 be used until the inflammation has been reduced. If the 

 painful wound Is In the foot or leg the foot or leg 

 affected should be kept for several hours in a soaking 

 tub, with hot water to which sulpho-napthol, sufficient 

 to make the water of the color of skim milk, has been 

 added. 



The worst thing possible is to apply a liniment or 

 other stimulating remedy to a wound or cut. That, of 

 course, increases the inflammation. 



[219] 



