The Home Medical Library, Volume 1 (of 6) — John Shaqi
The Home Medical Library, Volume 1 (of 6)
Science
The Home Medical Library, Volume 1 (of 6)
Medicine; Medicine, Popular
=LOCKJAW.=--In the lesser injuries, where bleeding is not an important
feature, and in all wounds as well, after bleeding has been stopped,
the main object in treatment consists in cleansing wounds of the germs
which cause "matter" or pus, general blood poisoning, and lockjaw. The
germs of the latter live in the earth, and even the smallest wounds
which heal perfectly may later give rise to lockjaw if dirt has not
been entirely removed from the wound at the time of accident. Injuries
to the hands caused by pistols, firecrackers, and kindred explosives,
seem especially prone to produce lockjaw, and fatalities from this
disorder are deplorably numerous after Fourth-of-July celebrations in
the United States.
The wounds producing lockjaw usually occur in children who explode
blank cartridges in the palm of the hand. In this way the germs of the
disease are forced in with parts of the dirty skin and more or less of
the wad from the shell. Since lockjaw is so frequent after these
accidents, and so fatal, it is impossible to exert too much care in
treatment. The wound should at once be thoroughly opened with a knife
to the very bottom, under ether, by a surgeon, and not only every
particle of foreign matter removed, but all the surrounding tissue
should be cut out or cauterized. In addition, it is wise to use an
injection under the skin of tetanus-antitoxin, to prevent the disease.
Proper restriction of the sale of explosives alone will put a stop to
this barbarous mode of exhibiting patriotism.
=Treatment.=--It is not essential to use chemical agents or
antiseptics to rid wounds of germs and so secure uninterrupted
healing. The person who is to dress the wound should prepare to do so
at the earliest possible moment after giving first aid. He should
proceed promptly to boil some pieces of absorbent cotton, as large as
an egg, together with a nail brush in water. Some strips of clean
cotton cloth may be used in the absence of absorbent cotton. The
boiling should be conducted for five minutes, when the basin or other
utensil in which the brush and cotton are boiled should be taken off
the fire and set aside to cool. Then the attendant should scrub his
own hands for five minutes in hot water with soap and brush.
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