The laws of health : physiology, hygiene, stimulants, narcotics : for educational institutions and general readers / by Joseph C. Hutchison.

  • Joseph Chrisman Hutchison
Date:
[1884]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The laws of health : physiology, hygiene, stimulants, narcotics : for educational institutions and general readers / by Joseph C. Hutchison. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine, Harvard Medical School.

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    joint, it is not well to hasten the healing process, on account of the con- traction that always takes place as the scar is formed. Fire is a source of danger, and is very destructive to life at times. Spontaneous combustion of the human body when saturated with alcohol is a myth, though perhaps the alcoholized body does burn more readily than one free from inflammable fluid. When a lady is on fire, she should not, and ought not to be permitted to run ; that fans the flames amazingly. She must be laid down, and rolled up in the nearest woollen article,—rug, coat, or blanket. Such wrapping up in a non-inflammable article is a most effective method of extinguishing the flames. Immersion in water is, unfortunately, rarely practicable.—Fothergill. Illuminating Gas is dangerous in two ways. If it escapes into a tightly closed room in sufficient quantities, it causes the death of the in- mates by suffocation, unless some one from without discovers the perilous situation. If not too late, remove the patient into fresh air, undo the clothing, dash cold water on the face and neck, and employ artificial res- piration, as in drowning (see p. 180). Again : If it escapes freely into an apartment, it forms an explosive compound by mixing with the air. If then a light is unguardedly taken into the place, an explosion that may be destructive to life will result. Always thoroughly air any room that has the odor of escaping gas before a light is taken in. Kerosene is the cause of even more '' accidents than gas. Too much care cannot be taken in its use. Buy only that which has been tested, but remember that not all that are marked as safe are truly so. If a responsible oil-man certifies that the oil will not flash under 140°, it may be regarded as safe if properly used. Lamps should be filled only in the daytime. Never attempt to fill a lamp that is lighted, and never put kerosene in the stove for the purpose of kindling a fire. Very small lamps are dangerous, as also is a lamp that has burned a long time, and has but very little oil in it. Frost-bites.—Keep away from the fire and in a cool room. Rub the nose or other part that has been bitten with snow or ice-water until the blood is again warmed and circulating in the part. Chilblains should not be brought to the fire ; if the skin is unbroken, it should be hardened by brushing it over with alcohol having tannin in it. Cuts.—These, if severe, should be promptly attended by a ph}Tsician, but every one should know how to treat small wounds. Learn the differ- ence between the two kinds of bleeding, called arterial and venous. Arterial is bright red and comes in jets (or with throbs corresponding to the pulse); venous is dark colored and flows Continuously. In the former, press on that side of the wound nearer to the heart ; in the latter, on the further side. Or, pressure may be made over the wound itself with the
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