is
comparatively slight.

Treatment of slight burns, where the skin is reddened but not destroyed,
has for its main object the exclusion of air. One of the following may
be applied: dry baking soda, or baking soda made into a paste with
water, picric acid gauze moistened in water, boracic acid ointment,
vaseline, sweet oil, or castor oil; if none of these is obtainable,
lard, cream, the white of an egg or unsalted butter may be used. Old
muslin or linen bandaged lightly in place, should be used to cover the
burn.

The same treatment is used for sunburn, and also for small burns where
blisters form. A blister, if it forms, should not be punctured; but if
it is accidentally broken the skin of the blister should not be removed.
It should be remembered that a broken blister is an open wound, and
therefore liable to infection.

BRUSH BURN is a name given to injuries where the surface of the skin
has been removed. They include the scraped arms and legs which are
common accidents in childhood. In order to dress a brush burn, particles
of dirt should first be removed preferably by means of forceps that have
been boiled, and the surrounding skin should then be cleansed with soap
and water. The injured part should next be flushed with sterile salt
solution, made by boiling water five minutes and adding to it salt in
the proportion of one teaspoonful to a pint of water. If the dirt is
difficult to remove a soap compress should be applied. To prepare the
compress several thicknesses of gauze or muslin should be boiled in a
strong solution of castile or green soap for ten minutes. The compress
should remain in place several hours, and may be repeated if necessary.
After the wound has been thoroughly cleansed, it should be dressed with
old muslin that has been saturated in castor oil or spread with boracic
ointment.

EXERCISES

1. Name some common causes of headache and of sleeplessness, and outline
rational treatment for each of these disorders.

2. Describe symptoms and treatment of shock; of fainting; of convulsions
in children.

3. Describe the treatment of all disturbances of the digestive tract
mentioned in this book.

4. What should be done if a foreign body has entered the eye? if one has
entered the ear? What should be done for a person who has a stye? for a
person with pain in or near the ear?

5. How would you treat a sprain?

6. Describe treatment for burns and scalds.

7. Distinguish between heat strok