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Some Kitchen Kinks: Give

Iodine or Iodoform.-Give freely starch or flour mixed in water, chalk, HEALTH HINTS-WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCY 1121 magnesia, and stimulants, if necessary.

Blue Vitriol, Blue Stone (Sulphate of Copper).-Copper poisoning, due to substances which have been cooked in copper vessels. Give large drinks of warm water, emetic; raw eggs, milk, stimulants.

Nux Vomica (Strychnine). -Strong tea, animal charcoal, inhalations of chloroform or ether, artificial respiration.

Aconite. This drug is commonly found in liniments and ointments.

Give emetics; use stimulants, ammonia, and brandy; apply warmth to extremities; mustard plaster over heart and calves of legs. If unconscious, use artificial respiration.

Arsenic. This is a frequent cause of poisoning. It is found in insect powders, rat poison, and Paris green, and is also used in coloring wall paper and artificial flowers. Give emetics promptly; large amounts of magnesia, lime scraped from the walls or ceilings, castor oil, sweet oil, or equal parts of sweet oil and limewater, or limewater alone, raw eggs, milk, stimulants.

Dialyzed iron may be obtained at nearly every drug store. This is a prompt and perfect antidote to arsenic.

Another class of poisons is known as the Irritating Gases-carbonic acid, chlorine, nitrous acid, and hydrochloric acid. To overcome the effect from these gases provide plenty of fresh air, inhalations of ammonia, ether, the vapor of hot water, or if handy inhale amyl nitrite or nitroglycerin. Produce artificial respiration if unconscious. NOTE. - Poison ivy, snake bite, etc., are treated under "Poisonous Wounds." See page 655.

FAINTING Loss of consciousness often causes considerable alarm, and, in fact, should not be treated as a light matter, because it may be a preliminary to a grave illness The first thing to discover in the case of insensibility is the cause. Notice the surroundings. The condition may be due to a fall, fright, loss of blood, drunkenness, or poisoning.

Convulsions would suggest epileptic fits, hysteria, or kidney disease. If, however, the cause of the injury is known, then a systematic examination of the body should be made. The presence of a wound or bruise or bleeding would throw light upon the cause. Examine the eyes. If they are sensitive to the touch, brain injuries may be eliminated. If the pupils are contracted, it is indicative of opium poisoning, while unequal contraction is a sign of brain lesions. If the face be drawn to one side, it would suggest paralysis. A bloated face or the odor of liquor would be the sign of intoxication.

Treatment.-Lay the patient on his back. If the face is white and bloodless, have his head lower than his body. Let him have plenty of fresh air. Loosen the clothing. Apply cold water to the face. This in most cases will bring a return to consciousness. Aromatic spirits of ammonia is a good thing to use as a smelling salts and to give internally when consciousness returns. The above treatment is applicable in all cases of simple fainting due to weakness, mental emotions, and close, warm atmosphere of crowds.

In the event of fainting from shock following an accident, there may be more marked symptoms, such as coldness of the skin, dilatation of the pupils, and weak heart action.

In addition to the above treatment, the skin should be rubbed briskly, bleeding, if any, controlled, wounds dressed, and broken bones bound up.

Hot-water bottles, flatirons, or plates should be applied to the extremities.

Hot coffee is a good stimulant.

The temperament of the injured person is an important factor in determining the amount of shock. Some people go into hysterics over a very simple thing. I have known people to faint at the very sight of blood.

One experience comes to my mind of a young lady who was the sweetheart of a member of a volunteer regiment.

He had violated some rule of the regiment and was placed in the guardhouse for twenty-four hours as a penalty. The young lady was told of the circumstance, and was so overcome that she fell in a dead faint. She was picked up from the street and carried into a store. Seizing a glass of water from the counter in the store, I soaked a handkerchief in it and applied it to her face. She immediately revived. She seemed composed for a time, but suddenly she seemed overwhelmed with the terrible thought that her lover was imprisoned behind iron bars unjustly, and that she would not be able to see him nor hear his familiar voice for twenty-four long hours. She ran down the street toward the armory, but fell in a dead faint in the middle of the car tracks. I rushed out, and dragged her from in front of a rapidly approaching car. Again I applied the wet cloth, and she immediately revived. This time I held on to her wrist and gave her a good talking to. This proved a very effective means of treatment. Stunning. - A condition of the mind extending from bewilderment to insensibility, due to shaking of the brain by sudden violence. Concussion of the brain. Pilcher mentions three varieties: (1) Slight Stunning. After a blow or fall, the patient is confused and pale, and the pulse weak for a few moments. Treatment: Rest, lying down, and apply wet cloth to head. (2) Moderate Stunning. -Patient insensible and immovable, skin cold, pulse weak, eyes closed, pupils contracted. May be aroused, but returns to unconsciousness. Then comes a period of returning consciousness and restlessness; vomiting often occurs on return to consciousness. Treatment: Rest, lying down, quiet of body. Apply heat to feet and lower part of body, and cold to head. (3) Severe Stunning. -Serious. Patient cannot be aroused. Pulse very weak and irregular. Skin cold and clammy. Recovery is very slow, and death often occurs. Liability to excessive reaction and complication of congestion of the brain.

No stimulants of any kind are to be given where the brain is affected.

In all cases of complete shock, such as may come from those cases mentioned in this and other articles, and in cases of apoplexy and compression of brain, the treatment outlined above should be pursued. The patient must be kept quiet, placed in a comfortable position, the head kept cool, and the extremities warm. This to be done until the physician arrives, who should be called immediately. - Insensibility from Sunstroke.

The attack is usually preceded by giddiness, weakness, and nausea; eyes bloodshot and contracted; skin hot and dry; subject unconscious, breathing quick and loud; heart rapid and tumultuous.

Treatment. Place patient on back in a cool place with head raised. The chief object is to reduce his excessive heat. Remove clothing, pour cold water all over the body. Pilcher says to hold the vessel four or five feet above the patient and pour first on the head, then on the chest and abdomen, and then on the extremities, and to repeat until conscious. Bags of cracked ice may be applied to the head and under armpits. The patient should be wrapped in cold sheets or placed in a tub containing cold water.

Continue until patient is conscious or the heat greatly diminished. Repeat if symptoms return.

In prostration from excessive heat -not sunstroke-place the patient on his back, with his head on a level with his body, and loosen clothing. Apply heat to the surface of the body and extremities. Bathe the face with warm water into which a little alcohol or whisky has been poured. In prostration from drinking too much ice water when overheated, loosen clothing, place on back with head HEALTH HINTS-WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCY 1123 slightly elevated, give hot drinks, apply heat to the spine and the extremities. Don't give any alcoholic stimulants. Tea, coffee, or warm milk may be used.

In exhaustion from heat due to hard work and confinement in close, hot atmosphere, cover the body with blankets and apply heat to the extremities. Send for a physician. Electricity Accidents. - Proceed as follows: (1) Shut off the current or release the injured person from contact with it. (2) Don't touch the person affected or the live wire with the bare hands. If rubber shoes and gloves can be secured, well and good.

Stand on a dry board and cover the hands with woolen cloths or paper.

If a tool of any kind is used, it should have a wooden handle.

After shutting off the current, lay the patient down, keep him warm, and apply artificial respiration.