52 BURNING OR OXIDATION 



surface; upon this we place small sticks of wood, piling them 

 across each other so as to allow entrance for the oxygen ; and 

 finally upon this we place, our hard wood or coal. 



The coal and the large sticks cannot be kindled with a 

 match, but the paper and shavings can, and these in burning 

 will heat the large sticks until they take fire and in turn 

 kindle the coal. 



43. Spontaneous Combustion. We often hear of fires 

 " starting themselves," and sometimes the statement is true. 

 If a pile of oily rags is allowed to stand for a time, the oily 

 matter will begin tolcombine slowly with oxygen and as a 

 result will give off her&. The heat thus given off is at first 

 insufficient to kindle a fire ; but as the heat is retained and 

 accumulated, the temperature rises, and finally the kindling 

 point is reached and the whole mass bursts into flames. For 

 safety's sake, all oily cloths should be burned or kept in 

 metal vessels. 



44. The Treatment of Burns. In spite of great caution, 

 burns from fires, steam, or hot water do sometimes occur, and 

 it is well to know how to relieve the suffering caused by them 

 and how to treat the injury in order to insure rapid healing. 



Burns are dangerous because they destroy skin and thus open 

 up an entrance into the body for disease germs, and in addi- 

 tion because they lay bare nerve tissue which thereby be- 

 comes irritated and causes a shock to the entire system. 



In mild burns, where the skin is not broken but is merely 

 reddened, an application of moist baking soda brings imme- 

 diate relief. If this substance is not available, flour paste, 

 lard, sweet oil, or vaseline may be used. 



In more severe burns, where blisters are formed, the blisters 

 should be punctured with a sharp, sterilized needle and allowed 

 to discharge their watery contents before the above remedies 

 are applied. 



