Carbonate of Lead 1 dram
Powdered Starch 1 dram
Ointment of Rose Water 1 ounce
Olive Oil 2 drams
Mix and apply to the inflamed skin.
GANGRENE.--This is the death of a part of the body in mass. There are two
forms, moist and dry.
Dry Gangrene.--This is a combination produced by a loss of water from the
tissues. The skin becomes dark and wrinkled and is often hard, like
leather. Senile or old age gangrene, and really due to the arterial
sclerosis, usually occurs in the lower extremities, involving the toes. A
slight injury may first start up the trouble. The pain in this variety is
not usually great.
[92 MOTHERS' REMEDIES]
MOTHERS' REMEDIES.--1. Gangrene, Remedy from New York that cured a
Gangrenous Case.--"A man aged 74 years had a sore below the knee for
fifteen years; at last gangrene appeared in his foot and three physicians
pronounced his case hopeless on account of his age. I was called as a
neighbor and found the foot swollen to twice its natural size, and the man
in pain from head to foot. I ordered cabbage leaves steamed until wilted,
then put them over the limb from knee to foot and covered with a cloth. In
about fifteen minutes they were black, so we removed them and put on fresh
ones, repeating the change until the leaves did not turn black. Then the
sore was thoroughly cleansed with a weak solution of saleratus and while
wet was thickly covered with common black pepper and wrapped up. The
saleratus water and pepper was changed night and morning until the sore
was entirely healed. After the third day this man had no pain, and in four
weeks was entirely healed. A year later he said he had never had any
trouble with it or with rheumatism which he had had for years before."
PHYSICIANS' TREATMENT for Gangrene.--The skin should be treated. Poultices
sometimes may be good, or bottles of hot water around the parts. A general
tonic should be given.
Moist Gangrene. Causes.--Wounds, fractures, injuries, pressure from lying
in bed and frost bite.
PHYSICIANS' TREATMENT for Moist Gangrene.--Remove the cause if possible.
This kind is more dangerous, and a physician should be called as the best
treatment that can be given is none too good.
BLISTER.--This is a watery elevation of the outer skin. It is caused by
rubbing, for instance of a shoe, friction from anything, or from burns. It
frequently appears on the hands after working for some time at manual
labor, when the hands are not accustomed to work. It is the common blister
which hardly needs much describing.
MOTHERS' REMEDIES for Blister.--1. Linseed Oil for.--"Linseed oil used
freely." This is a very good remedy because it is soothing. Any good
soothing lotion or salve that will draw out the soreness and pain is
helpful.
2. Blister. A Method of Raising a Blister.--"If a blister is needed take
an ordinary thick tumbler, rub alcohol inside and around the rim, then
invert over a piece of cotton, saturated with alcohol and ignited; after a
few minutes the glass may be removed and clapped on the surface of the
body. As the glass contains rarified air the flesh will be drawn up into
it and a blister formed."
IVY POISONING.--The parts usually affected are the hands, face, the
genitals, the arms, the thighs and neck.
Symptoms.--These usually appear soon. Red patches, with scanty or profuse
watery pimples, with a watery discharge after bursting. There is swelling,
intense burning and itching. The parts sometimes swell very much and look
watery. The person can hardly keep from scratching.
MOTHERS' REMEDIES.--1. Ivy Poisoning, Buttermilk and Copperas for.--"Wash
in copperas and buttermilk three or four times a day. Have seen this used
and it helped." The copperas and buttermilk is very good when applied to
the parts immediately after the poison is discovered. The copperas acts
very much like sugar of lead and in some cases is very much more
effective.
[SKIN DISEASES 93]