Burns and Scalds—First Aid Treatment.

For a small burn or scald the only treatment necessary is to cover the part with a non-irritating dressing that will exclude the air and not adhere to the skin. A soothing application is a compress of soft gauze or perfectly clean old linen saturated in a solution of baking-soda made in the proportion of one large teaspoonful of soda to a cup of warm water. Moisten the dressing at intervals to prevent it sticking to the skin. A dressing saturated with carron oil or plain olive oil may be used later if the skin is not broken.

Burns that are at all extensive are very dangerous owing to the amount of shock and pain that is present. A doctor must be sent for immediately.

Lay the patient at once in a recumbent position and keep warm and as quiet as possible. Cover the burned area with a compress of cotton-wool, gauze, or perfectly clean old linen saturated with the soda bicarbonate solution and keep it moist, but do not remove it.

If the clothing must be removed to' expose the burns, be very careful not to break any blisters that may have formed; disturb the patient as little as possible, and expose only a small portion of the burn at a time, and cover with a dressing before proceeding further. If any clothing sticks to the injured part, moisten with warm water or some of the soda solution, and cut it up the seams if necessary.

It is inadvisable to use oily dressings in these cases before the arrival of the doctor. Dredging with flour is messy and is difficult to remove; therefore, this treatment should only be used as a last resource.

If a child scalds his mouth, give him a teaspoonful of olive oil at intervals, pending the arrival of the doctor.

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