A Burn is caused by dry heat.
A Scald is caused by moist heat.
A superficial burn, upon a young child, that involves the third of the
body will almost certainly prove fatal, while a very deep burn, provided
it is localized, may not be so serious, unless important nerves and blood
vessels have been destroyed.
Burns may be divided into three degrees:
First degree are those burns that only affect the outer or superficial
layer of the skin, producing a redness with some small vesicles.
Second degree burns: These extend through the true skin and blisters
result.
Third degree burns: This goes down underneath and involves the deeper
tissues. Charring and destruction of tissue takes place.
MOTHERS' REMEDIES. 1. Burns, Linseed Oil for.--"Quick application of
linseed oil." The oil forms a coating and is very soothing.
2. Burns, Common Soda for.--"There is nothing better than common baking
soda for burns and scalds; apply a thick coating of dry soda. Bind a cloth
over it, and keep on until the pain ceases, after which any good healing
salve will do."
3. "Apply crushed onion poultice; cover to keep out the air. This will
soon extract the heat and pain." Onions seem to possess many medicinal
properties. They are very soothing, and in a case of scalds keep out the
air and relieve the pain.
4. Burns, Molasses Takes Pain from.--"Apply New Orleans molasses to the
burn and cover with flour. This forms a coating over the affected parts,
keeping the air from it, thereby relieving the burning. This is an
excellent remedy and one easily prepared."
5. Burns, Butter a Relief for.--"Spread butter on the affected parts and
bandage well. This is one of the remedies our grandmothers used to use and
is a good one."
6. Burns, Oil of Peppermint Draws Fire Out of.--"Apply oil of peppermint;
it will take the fire out almost immediately."
7. Burns, Sweet Oil and Cotton Batting Relieves.--"Saturate cotton batting
in sweet oil and cover the burns and keep covered until the fire is out. I
had my hand burned with steam until the skin peeled off, and this remedy
relieved the smarting."
8. Burns, Vinegar Prevents Blistering from.--"Vinegar applied every few
minutes will keep it from blistering." This is a remedy always at hand,
and will do just what it says.
[388 MOTHERS' REMEDIES]
MOTHERS' REMEDIES. 1. Scalds, Elder Berries Soothing for.--"The flowers of
the black elder berries and the bark all possess valuable medicinal
properties. An ointment made by stirring the fresh flowers into melted
lard or vaselin and occasionally stirring it, will be found an excellent
remedy for scalds or burns." It is not only soothing, but forms a coating
thereby keeping the air out.
2. Scalds, Alum for Slight.--"Put a teaspoonful of alum in a pint of
water, and bathe the parts frequently. Keep the parts well wet with this
solution which extracts the heat in a remarkable manner and soothes the
patient into a calm and refreshing sleep." This remedy is most always at
hand and will relieve if the case is not too severe.
3. Scalds, Scraped Potatoes will Relieve.--" A few raw potatoes scraped or
grated and beaten in a bowl, then add a dram of laudanum; apply to the
affected parts as you would a poultice."
4. Scalds, Crackers and Slippery Elm as Poultice for.--"Apply a poultice
of cracker and slippery elm, made of raspberry leaf tea. Guard against
taking cold." Use enough of the raspberry tea to make a soft mixture. This
is very soothing, and keeps the air from the scald which is one of the
essential things in order to get relief.