Sores

Papers on Health
by John Kirk

(Page 17 of 21)

There is wonderfully little danger in ordinary life of any such "block" as this. But there is very great danger of the pore being deprived of its secretive power, and of its power to open its mouth when that is so much wanted. Warm olive oil sets millions of pores to full work sometimes in a few seconds.

Now let us look at the application of the soapy blanket in the light of these remarks. Here is a poor patient, sitting in an armchair by the fireside, laboring to get breath. It makes one feel burdened to see him. What is wrong? Are the pores blocked up? No; but they are more than half dead, and what they do secrete is not such an ethereal thing as it should be. Nearly all the work of getting rid of the waste of the body has been thrown for months upon the poor lungs. The kidneys, too, have got far more than their share, just because the pores are sickly.

The remedy is the soapy blanket. This most valuable means of stimulating the healthy action of the skin (as prescribed in many articles in this volume) is prepared and applied as follows: - Have a good blanket, and plenty of M'Clinton's soap (see Lather and Soap). Shear down a tablet or two into boiling water - as much water as the blanket will absorb. The blanket may be prepared as directed in article Fomentation, using these boiling suds instead of water. Have the patient's bed ready, and spread on it a double dry sheet. Soak in the suds a piece of thick flannel large enough to go round the body under the armpits. Wring this out and put it on the patient.

Wrap the blanket tightly round the patient from the neck downwards. Tie something round the waist to confine it close to the body. Put the patient into bed, and wrap the feet well up in the blanket. If it is not sufficient to cover them, an extra piece of soapy flannel must be used. Then wrap the sheets over the patient above the moist blanket, and cover all nicely up. In removing the blanket, which may remain on half-an-hour, it is well to proceed gradually, uncovering the body bit by bit, sponging each part with hot water and vinegar or weak acetic acid (see Acetic Acid), and rubbing hot oil on after drying. Dry this oil off, and cover each dried part of the body either with clothing or blankets before uncovering a fresh part.

There is a modification of this treatment which suits more weakly people, and suits also those who must do all, or almost all, for themselves. A long flannel or flannelette nightdress is used in this, instead of the blanket. This is covered on the whole of the inner side with well-made soap lather. When so covered it is put on at bedtime, and a dry nightdress put on over it. Both are then fastened as closely as possible to the skin, and the patient goes to sleep thus clothed. If the night is cold, the greatest care must be taken to be well covered, and brought to as good a heat as possible. In the morning a very great change will have come from this treatment. When the whole body is washed down with warm water, dried, and nicely rubbed with fresh oil, the skin is found very considerably changed, and in case of asthma the breathing relieved.

If cold is taken when this process is fairly gone through, it would be very astonishing indeed; but if it is badly done, a person might get chilled instead of comforted. Therefore every care must be taken to keep the patient thoroughly warm. The result of one effectual pack is usually sufficient to convince the poor sufferer that he is being treated in the right way. The effect of the second is greater, and so on to the fourth or fifth, beyond which he need not go as a rule. He will do well once a day to wash with hot vinegar and rub after with the oil. These should not be required more than a fortnight at most. If chilliness continues, it is well to put on cotton stockings on going to bed, and even to bathe the feet and oil them before doing so. This bathing may be continued every night for a fortnight.

Sores - These will be found dealt with under many headings throughout this book (see Abscess; Bone, Diseased; Blood; Boils; Breast; Cancer; Carbuncle; Cauliflower Growth; Eruptions; Erysipelas, etc.), therefore we here only treat generally of two kinds of common sores. The first is the surface sore, which eats inwards; the second, the deep-seated sore, which eats outwards. The first usually begins as a small pimple like a pin's head, and, if neglected, breaks, and gradually increases in size. Its origin is something which has caused the minute vessels of the skin at the spot to give way, so that they remain congested with bad blood, which soon becomes practically poisonous, and so the sore enlarges and eats into the surrounding tissue. If such a sore appears on the leg, it is often due to over-pressure through too much standing. Rest, with the leg kept horizontal or inclined slightly upwards to the foot, will often be enough to cure. When complete rest cannot be had, a thigh bandage (see Veins, Swollen) should be worn.

To treat the sore, it should be washed twice a day with buttermilk, and afterwards thoroughly soaked with weak acetic acid, and dressed with antiseptic lint, or, if that cannot be had, with buttermilk cloths. A buttermilk poultice (See Potato Poultice) may be used. But if no rest can be had, the sore will be extremely difficult, if not impossible, to heal.

The second kind of sore, arising from an abscess under the part, or diseased bone or membrane far down beneath the skin, is to be treated on the same principles, using weak acetic acid for the syringing, and buttermilk only for the surface. The method of treatment is such as will secure the contact of the weak acid with every part, even the deepest, of the wound. Procure a small pointed glass syringe, which must be kept thoroughly clean. The point of this may be inserted into the sore, and care taken that the weak acid penetrates into the very bottom, and thoroughly soaks all the diseased parts. This syringing should be repeated until the wound is thoroughly clean in every part. If pain is set up, the acid is too strong. Syringing with lukewarm water will at once relieve this, and then weaker acid may be used. This treatment may be given twice a day, and the wound properly dressed after it. Attention must be paid in all treatment of sores or wounds to the proper cleansing and boiling of all materials and instruments used. Wash the hands in hot water and M'Clinton's soap, using a nail-brush, before touching or dressing a sore.

Boil some soft clean rags for five minutes, and wash the sore with these, using water that has been boiled and allowed to cool to blood-heat, to which a few drops of acetic acid have been added, but not so much as to be painful on the sore.

If a syringe is used, boil it before using, and only use boiled or distilled water in all operations. This secures the destruction of the germs (or Bacteria), which are now known as the cause of the inflammation and suppuration of wounds and sores of all kinds.

Printed by Hurst Bros., Shaw Heath, Stockport. 1904.