Powder Bums
Powder Burns may be not only very painful but more or less disfiguring. Sometimes grains of powder become im¬bedded in the skin, where they may remain to give a bluish, spotted appearance. The burns themselves may also be dis¬figuring; but they require no other treatment. Hydrogen peroxide is excellent for the treatment of such wounds, and causes no added pain. After extracting all the powder grains possible, it may be applied alone to the wound.
A better preparation is one part glycerine and three parts hydrogen peroxide, applied by compresses.
CAEBOX MONOXIDE POISONING.—Carbon monoxide is a poisonous gas developed by the imperfect combustion of ma¬terial containing or yielding carbon. This gas is present in coal-mines after use of explosives; it is also present in illumi¬nating gas and in the exhaust from automobiles. When inhaled it combines with the hemoglobin of the blood, caus¬ing a deficiency of the oxygen necessary to the life of the tissues.
Symptoms. The severity of the symptoms depends upon the length of time one may be exposed to the fumes, and whether the place in which the.gas is discharged is or is not ventilated, also upon whether one is active or inactive during the inhalation. The most important symptoms are headache, dizziness, nausea, and vomiting. If the amount of carbon dioxide inhaled is large and if it is taken into the system very rapidly, drowsiness followed by unconsciousness will occur. In severe cases the skin becomes blue in color, the heart action and the breathing very rapid, and convulsions may occur. In some cases death may take place quite suddenly, the victim not even realizing that he has been exposed to inhalation of such deadly fumes.
Treatment. The patient should be wrapped in warm blankets and artificial respiration resorted to immediately, even though breathing has not ceased. Artificial respiration helps to expel the poisonous gas from the lungs more quickly. (See also Asphyxia, Page 2983.) If a pulmotor is at hand it should be used until the patient breathes normally.