As the assayer at a mine is often called upon to relieve suffering in an emergency the following hints may prove helpful.
Burns.—For dry burns apply freely a saturated solution of bicarbonate of soda, till the pain is allayed.
The following may be used and is also applicable to scalds: Apply a mixture of bicarbonate of soda and lard. If a blister has formed puncture it but leave the skin as a covering if possible. If the burn is of large area apply the lard and soda to one side of a piece of sterilized gauze and cover the wound.
Wounds.—Always keep on hand several small unopened packages of sterilized gauze and use each package but once. Some physicians prefer that the wound be wrapped in this and left till they arrive, with no other treatment; circumstances must govern each case, however.
Cleanse your hands by thorough washing with soap and water and rinse in a solution of carbolic acid, 5 per cent, before attempting to treat a wound. If necessary to cleanse it use warm water and soap and finally rinse with weak carbolic acid solution as above.
Finally wrap in sterilized gauze unless other measures, such as bringing the lips together with sticking plaster, are necessary.
In cases of severe bleeding it may be necessary to compress the blood-vessel by means of a knotted handkerchief, the knot laid on the vessel and the ends tied together around the limb and then twisted tight by means of a small stick.
Broken Limbs.—Where a broken limb is suspected always examine the person very carefully before moving him. If a break is found lay a soft cloth on each side of the limb and outside of that a stick, even a cane, and bind all firmly but gently together, then transfer the patient to a stretcher which every mine should possess.
Cyanide Eruption.—This is caused by having the hands and arms in cyanide solution, and may be overcome by bathing the parts affected in a warm bath of water containing sodium chloride and bicarbonate. Another remedy is the application of compound tincture of benzoin, known as Friar’s balsam.
Cyanide Poisoning.—The best remedy is the hypodermic injection of a 3 per cent solution of hydrogen peroxide, repeating the injection several times at intervals of four minutes to different parts of the body. At the same time the stomach should be washed out with a 2 per cent solution of the same. Of course this necessitates the keeping on hand in well-stoppered bottles, a solution of hydrogen peroxide and implies the ability to use a hypodermic syringe.
In case nothing better is at hand, two drops of ammonia may be placed on a lump of sugar and the whole eaten at once. Apply cold water to head and spine, use stimulants and resort to artificial respiration.
In cases of poisoning by the gas get the patient to the fresh air at once and apply ammonia cautiously to the nose. Give a little brandy internally or hypodermically and rub the limbs.
Asphyxiation.—If the person has not been chilled lay him on his back, loosen the clothing at the neck and dash cold water forcibly over the head and neck at intervals for half a minute. Dry the face and use artificial breathing by bringing the arms above the head, then down at the sides, and finally bring the elbows together over the chest; repeat this till the patient breathes naturally.
If the person has been chilled put him in a warm bed, use artificial respiration and apply friction to the hands and feet.
In connection with this subject it may be said that Oxone when used in a proper apparatus will not only furnish the oxygen needed for breathing when in a foul atmosphere, but will, by virtue of the caustic soda formed, absorb the carbonic acid formed in the process of breathing and so permit the air to be breathed over and over again. This will obviate the necessity of keeping compressed oxygen on hand for use in rescue work.
Salivation (Mercury Poisoning).—When salivated by the inhalation of mercury fumes, the free use of lime water both as a mouth wash and as a drink will prove beneficial; also the liberal drinking of milk. In acute cases administer a saturated solution of potassium iodide in ten-drop doses three or four times a day.