Turpentine, where granulations are sluggish, will give excellent results used either in full or diluted strengths, giv ing care not to produce too much stimu lation. II. L. McInnis states that spirit of turpentine applied to a burn of either the first, second, or third degree almost at once relieves the pain, while the burn heals. After wrapping a thin layer of absorbent cotton over the burn, the cot ton is saturated with common turpen tine and covered with bandages. Being volatile, the turpentine evaporates, and it is therefore necessary to keep the cot ton moistened with it. When there are large vesicles, these are opened on the second or third day. It is best to keep the spirit off the healthy skin if possible to avoid the local irritation.
Turpentine applied to a burn of either the first, second, or third degree will al most at once relieve the pain. The burn heals very rapidly. It is applied as fol lows: After wrapping a thin layer of absorbent cotton over the burn it is saturated with the turpentine and band aged. The common commercial article found in every house is sufficient. H. L. McInnes (Brit. Med. Jour., Sept., '96).
Surgery of this day has placed many excellent antiseptics at our disposal, and there is no better application than bi chloride of mercury in the proportion of 1 or more grains, preferably the former, to 1000 parts of water and kept in con stant contact, the dressings being made without removing the former cloths.
Ichthyol in watery solutions (1 or more drachms to the ounce), or in glyc erin similar strength), or even in oint ment form (with zinc oxide or petrola tum, about 1 to 3 drachms to the ounce) and the iodine derivatives, such as iodol, aristol, europhen (given preferably in ointment, 15 to 30 grains to the ounce of petrolatum or lard) are reliable meas ures.
Ichthyol is efficacious in treatment of burns of the first and second degrees. It allays the pain at once and slight superficial burns heal rapidly. In burns of the second degree with the formation of bullet, even when extensive areas are involved, the remedy also acts favor ably. It is used dry, diluted with zinc oxide or bismuth, the powder being spread evenly over the surface; in oint ment (10 to 30 per cent.); or as a com bination of these two methods. The powder is the most satisfactory form in extensive burns of the first degree, and should be plentifully applied. In
extensive burns of the second degree the soft paste is preferable.
The zinc-oxide powder may be com bined as follows:— Zinc oxide, 20 parts. Carb. mag,nes., 10 parts. Ichthyol, 1 to 2 parts.
While the paste is mixed as follows: E. Carbonate of lime, 10 parts. Zinc oxide, 5 parts.
Oil. 10 parts.
Lime-water, 10 parts.
Ichthyol, 1 to 3 parts.
Leistikow (Monat. f. prak. Derm., Nov. 1, '95).
Ichthyol used in cases of severe burns with remarkable success. It is applied pure and in a rather thick layer, talcum powder being then liberally sprinkled on it, and plenty of cotton batting applied, the whole being fixed in place by means of a strip of soft material. The bandage should not be renewed. After three or five days it is removed. If the contents of large vesicles are gelatinous, or if the vesicles are already cracked, it is neces sary to remove the detritus before ap plying the ichthyol.
Disinfection is entirely unnecessary. Should the bandage have become wet through from excessive secretion on the second day, it should be removed, and a new application of ichthyol with fresh cotton be made. Fr. E. Mueller (Aerztl. Rundsch., No. 21, '99).
Thiol has been found useful for all degrees of burn. According to Bidder, it allays pain very rapidly and arrests cutaneous In this manner it tends to prevent ulceration and scar ring.
Thiol especially valuable in burns of the second degree. Suppuration and cicatrices are avoided even after burns of the third and fourth degrees. The parts are first washed with a weak anti septic solution, and the cuticle that may be hanging loose from ruptured blisters is removed, taking care to leave intact those that have not opened. After dusting the burn with boric acid the entire surface of the burned region and the skin around it are painted with a solution of equal parts of thiol and pure water. A layer of greased cotton is then laid on the burn, and kept in place with a loose bandage. Giraudon (These de Paris, '95).
Aristol—which occurs in crystals of a light-reddish-brown color, soluble in water, slightly soluble in alcohol, and freely soluble in ether and fats—is another valuable agent in burns of the second and third degrees, and has been found strikingly effective where other remedies have failed.
Pain is almost instantly relieved and healing is rapid. Maas (Deutsche med. Woch., p. 783, '94).