The Boy’s Wounds and Bruises by MRS. I. H. E.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jun 24, 1915

The Boy’s Wounds and Bruises

By MRS. I. H. E.

THESE are “barefoot days” for the country boy, and likewise days for “first aid” to his wounds, stings, bites, and bruises. A good first-aid outfit should be in a safe place in every mother’s closet, ready for immediate use. Moments gained at the beginning of an injury may save hours of suffering later. Such an outfit may contain:—

A roll of absorbent cotton; a spool of adhesive plaster; a package of sterile gauze; half a dozen rolls of bandages from one to four inches wide; a bottle each of liquid soap, of peroxide of hydrogen, of iodine, and of 7½-grain bichloride of mercury tablets; a pair of sharp, small scissors; a pair of tweezers; a brush; and a small basin. A light, well-made box, with handle and lock, is the ideal container for this outfit, insuring its cleanliness and readiness for use when needed. (Special warning should be given in regard to the bichloride of mercury tablets. The bottle should be plainly labeled, and in some way so marked that the contents will always be recognized as poison. Many serious accidents have resulted from neglecting these precautions.)

The first essential in treating a wound is the absolute cleanliness of the hands that are to do the work. To insure this they should be thoroughly scrubbed in very hot, soapy water, rinsed in boiled water if it is to be had, and then immersed in a 1-1,000 bichloride of mercury solution. This is made by dissolving one 7½-grain tablet of bichloride of mercury in one pint of warm, boiled water.

Next, the skin in the region of the wound should be cleansed, first with warm water and soap, and then with the antiseptic solution.

Punctured Wounds

When Tom catches his arm on a long, sharp thorn, pushing the thorn well into the tender flesh, or when Henry jumps from the loft to the pile of hay on the barn floor, and encounters the sharp tine of a pitchfork on the way, or little Joe steps on a nail,—their wounds are classified under the heading given above.

These wounds may become very dangerous if infected; and it should not be forgotten that common garden soil is often a fertile source of infection for the deadly tetanus, or lockjaw.

The punctured wounds should be carefully cleaned, as already outlined; bleeding should be encouraged; the foreign body should be removed, and the puncture swabbed out with iodine, applied with a bit of absorbent cotton wrapped on the end of a small, sharpened stick. The wound should then be packed with a narrow strip of sterile gauze.

In all severe wounds it is advisable to call a physician, but this first-aid treatment may be given before he comes.

Patriotic Wounds

Toy pistols, firecrackers, “torpedoes,” and other noise makers are still with us, and the resulting injuries are unfortunately common. In the event of such an accident, a physician should be sent for at once; for these wounds are usually dirty, and often followed by lockjaw.

The wound should be thoroughly cleaned, using hot water and soap, and the 1-1,000 bichloride of mercury solution. If a physician cannot be secured, the wound must be carefully examined for the presence of foreign bodies, and these removed. This sometimes necessitates cutting the skin. A pair of small tweezers, which have been made sterile by boiling in the disinfecting solution, should be used to grip and remove the foreign matter. The wound should then be carefully washed out with peroxide of hydrogen or with iodine, and an aseptic dressing applied.

Fishhook Wounds

These are painful wounds, but not serious. The chief difficulty is in removing the hook. “The best way to accomplish this is to press the hook out through the tissue until the barbed end is in view, when it may be cut or broken off, and the hook withdrawn.” Peroxide of hydrogen or iodine should then be used to wash the wound, and an aseptic dressing applied.

Bee Stings

The sting of bees, wasps, hornets, etc., rarely has a serious result, but it is often extremely painful. The sting is sometimes broken, and part of it left in the flesh. It should be removed, and some alkaline solution applied to the swelling. A solution of washing soda or ammonia water often gives relief. Baking soda, wet earth, or a fresh slice of onion may be used. When a child has been stung inside the mouth, as sometimes happens, a solution of salt and water, as hot as can be borne, may be held in the mouth, but should not be swallowed.

Bruises.

These are of frequent occurrence. The skin of the bruised surface should be thoroughly but gently washed with hot soapy water and then with an antiseptic solution, such as the 1-1,000 bichloride of mercury solution. Discoloration may be greatly reduced or prevented by alternate hot and cold applications. Hot fomentations also serve to relieve the pain. With both hot and cold, moderate pressure is recommended to the injured part, to prevent the further escape of blood and help to absorb that already present. Diluted vinegar, diluted alcohol, arnica, and other lotions are often used, but authorities agree that the application of hot and cold water is the best remedy.

MRS. I. H. E.