A system of practical surgery / by William Fergusson.

  • William Fergusson
Date:
1852
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A system of practical surgery / by William Fergusson. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    153/878 (page 129)
    Lard, olive-oil, or simple cerate will each be useful, and one of the most noted remedies in modern times is the combination of lime-water and linseed oil (lmimentum calcis) in equal parts. This application has been long in use among the workmen engaged in the extensive Carron Ironworks in Scotland, and I know of none better. The chief obiec- fcons to it are the nauseous smell, and its aptness to soil the bed-clothes. Ike latter may be m some degree avoided by means of oiled silk, or Macintosh cloth; and a less offensive mixture may be made with olive-oil instead of the other. The liniment in question answers for burns in all stages and conditions; but when there are sloughs, a lin- seed-meal poultice is, perhaps, the best application which can be used. Occasionally some stimulating fluid may be combined with it so as to kasten the separation of the dead portions of skin. In simple vesications, after the use of cold, there may be little need tor any further attention excepting to take care of the tender part, and to leave the cuticle, which has been raised by the effused serum, still upon the surface until a new portion is formed. Occasionally a great mistake is committed by those who see these cases in an early sta^e. in removing the cuticle. The excitement is invariably increased by suck a proceeding, and suppuration will probably be the result In more severe forms of injury, where possibly the cuticle, perhaps’even a tnm him of skin, has actually been destroyed by the heat the case must be treated as a wound that is certain to suppurate and slough, and the same local mode of treatment is requisite in examples where the parts have been more deeply destroyed. After separation ot the s oughs the surface must be treated as a granulating sore, and the further progress, as regards the healing process, will be in pro- portion to the loss of skin,—for if this has been great, the cicatrix forms very slowly. In such instances the surgeon has to watch the healing process very narrowly, to counteract as much as possible any deformity that may threaten; yet often, with all his care, this cannot be avoided. More, however, will be said on this subject in other parts of the volume. American surgeons have greatly extolled the efficacy of raw cotton in cases of burns, and it is occasionally used in this country when it happens to be at hand. The injured part may be enveloped in it, and should be uncovered according to the indications. I cannot “agllJ? *hat * Possesses any “ specific” virtues, unless as a soft cover- . exclrudes the air and prevents unnecessary interference and further injury from over-officiousness of those in attendance. If there . . sloughing, the practice must be abandoned. Occasionally local injuries from heat are so extensive that it becomes necessary to remove tke part entirely by amputation, which may be primary, intermediate, r secondary, as the surgeon shall deem best. I have seen amputation at the shoulder-joint performed on three several occasions for severe Durns of the upper extremity. JFhe dfn* of these cases may bo considered as bearing a just pro- greater f*®1 f ,parfS destur°yed» b»‘ some patients are in g r hazard from shock than others. In severe cases there is