234 GENERAL SCIENCE 



ance of lifelong suffering and disability, even the preservation 

 of life itself, may depend in emergencies upon the prompt 

 and intelligent course of action of some individual upon whom 

 responsibility is thrust without warning. 



In the most urgent cases there is no time and often no 

 opportunity to consult other persons or to read from books. 

 One must know exactly what to do and how it is to be done, 

 and must act without loss of time. A fairly good substitute, 

 however, for this skill and knowledge, and a much better 

 course than to act inadvisedly just for the sake of doing 

 something, is to have some reliable book of directions always 

 at hand for times of emergency. With its contents one should 

 be sufficiently familiar to be able to turn immediately to the 

 needed detailed directions which one cannot be expected to 

 remember. The book should give this information so briefly 

 and so clearly that it can be read and understood at a glance. 

 An inexpensive booklet, containing information much 

 condensed, printed in good type and with ample spacings, 

 is more serviceable for general use than a lengthy medical 

 treatise. 



Instruction should be given at home and at school upon 

 what to do before the doctor arrives, and what course to 

 pursue in times of accident or panic. This teaching should 

 not wait upon some deplorable occurrence or some great dis- 

 aster. Such instruction may very properly include such 

 matters of common knowledge as these: 



1. To free the stomach of poison, or of undigested food, a simple house- 

 hold emetic easily administered is a teaspoonful of ground mustard well 

 stirred in a cup of lukewarm water. Then after a little by thrusting the 

 fore-finger far back in the throat vomiting may be brought about. Repeat 

 the treatment if deemed necessary. 



2. A good sterilizing liquid into which to place spoon, thermometer, or 

 other small articles in use by patients sick with an infectious disease, or the 

 instruments used by dentists and surgeons in their practice, or by teachers 

 in examining the throats of pupils, is a 4 per cent solution of carbolic acid 

 (one ounce to a quart of water). 



