174 
SCOUTING FOR GIRLS 
close the eye gently, pull the eyelid free of the ball, 
and the tears may wash out the speck. If this is not 
successful, close the eye, hold the lid free, and blow 
the nose hard. You may then be able to see the speck 
and remove it with a bit of clean cotton or the corner 
of a clean handkerchief. If the object is lodged under 
the lid, and the foregoing efforts do not dislodge it, 
proceed to turn the lid up as follows: 
Ask the patient to look at the floor, keeping the 
eyeball as stationary as possible. Take a clean wood- 
en toothpick or slender pencil, wrapped with cotton, 
place on the upper lid about one-fourth of an inch 
from the edge, grasp the eyelashes with the other hand, 
give a slight push downward toward the cheek with the 
toothpick, a slight pull upward on the lashes and turn 
the lid over the toothpick. Remove the speck and slip 
the lid back in position. Wash the eye with boric acid 
solution. 
If you are still unable to dislodge the body, discon- 
tinue any further efforts, apply a cloth wet in cold boric 
acid solution and send for the doctor. Anything done 
to the eyes must be done with the greatest gentleness. 
If an acid has entered the eye, neutralize it with a 
weak solution of soda bicarbonate in water. If an alkali 
(lime) is the offending substance, neutralize by a weak 
vinegar solution. Follow in each case with a wash of 
boric acid solution. 
(b) Ear (Insect) ; (c) Button in Nose — Foreign 
bodies in the ear and nose are not very common. 
But sometimes a child slips a button or other small 
object into these cavities, or an insect may crawl in. 
Drop in a few drops of sweet oil and if the object 
comes out easily, well and good. If not, do not keep 
on trying to extract it, for fear of greater injury. Send 
for the doctor. 
