524 GENERAL SCIENCE 



many eyes are seriously injured and some lost as the result of 

 injury in the attempted removal of such particles by unskilled 

 hands. 



Stings. Remove the sting first either by squeezing or with a 

 knife. Apply wet mud to prevent swelling. 



Poison Ivy. The ivy which is poisonous is that which has three 

 leaves; not the five-leaved. This is found clinging to fences and the 

 stumps of trees in the woods during the spring and summer. 



Bathing in buttermilk reduces the fever. 



Sweet oil applied heals and soothes. 



A mild solution of sugar of lead kills the poison and prevents 

 spreading. 



Knocked " Senseless." When a person is knocked senseless, 

 it is only a form of fainting, and should be treated in much the same 

 way as an ordinary faint. Lay the person on his back, put some- 

 thing under the shoulders to lower the head that the blood may 

 flow back to the brain, sprinkle cold water on the face. 



Unless recovery is prompt and thorough, the person should be 

 seen by a physician, even after recovery, as injuries to skull or brain 

 may not reveal themselves until some hours later. 



Hiccoughs. A single inspiration of the breath caused by a sud- 

 den contraction of the diaphragm causes hiccoughs. They may 

 usually be cured by drinking a glass of water. If this is not effective 

 a surprise or shock will often stop them. 



Holding the tongue will often stop a severe case. 



Choking. First try slapping the back vigorously. If that is 

 not effectual lay the child on the floor face downward and continue 

 slapping the back, being sure that the head is a little lower than the 

 rest of the body. If still obstinate take the child by the heels and 

 hold head downward and let some one pound him on the back until 

 the cause of the choking is removed. 



Sprains. When one says that a wrist or an ankle is sprained he 

 means that the ligaments which bind the bones together have been 

 wrenched or torn. Sprains are very often much more serious than 

 broken bones, and much care must be taken that they do not result 

 in stiffness. The sprained joint should at once be put into very 

 hot water and this water should be kept very warm for some time. 



