A handbook of local therapeutics / edited by Harrison Allen.

Date:
1893
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A handbook of local therapeutics / edited by Harrison Allen. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    170/554 (page 158)
    General Surgery.-In the treatment of Burns lime-water holds high rank. It forms the chief ingredient of Carron oil. which consists of equal parts of hme-water and linseed or olive oil. Carron oil was first used in the Carron Iron Works in Scotland, and has long had a great reputation in the treatment of Burns and Scalds. When the oil is mixed with hme-water it forms a creamy substance which is spread on old linen or mushn, and covered with oiled silk or waxed paper. It is customary to speak of this as a filthy dressing; but we cannot see that it is any less cleanly than other applications, while it is certainly a bland and soothing application to this class of injuries. It is in general use in the hospitals of Philadelphia. When the sloughs have separated and the surface is covered with granulations (which are delicate and have a tendency to bleed), appli- cations of lint soaked in lime-water will be found a satisfactory means of treatment. We have noticed in these conditions that on changing the dressing from zinc ointment to boric acid ointment, and then to lime-water, the granulations appear to keep more healthy, and the cicatrizing process to advance more rapidly than when one line of dressing is alone pursued. Lime-water, owing to its alkalinity and astringency, is often used as a wash in Leucorrhcea, Vaginitis, and Gleet. When the discharge is abundant lime-water is of service in the acute stage ; but in chronic condi- tions it is inferior to bichloride of mercury (i to 8000), and to tannic acid. Lime-water is used with advantage as an injection to destroy Seat-worms. When employed for this purpose it is important to distend the lower bowel as much as possible with the fluid, so as to unfold the mucous membrane and to bring the agent in contact with all the surfaces, thereby thoroughly cleansing them as well as exposing every parasite to the action of the remedy. Black-wash (lotio nigra), a non-ofificial but efficient dressing of Vene- real Sores, is made by shaking up a drachm of calomel with a pint of lime-water. Lint saturated with this mixture may be wrapped about the glans penis. This dressing is especially applicable where much inflam- matory action exists. Chancroidal Buboes that have suppurated are often packed with lint that has been previously saturated with black-wash. Yellouu-wash (lotio flava, aqua phagedasnica) is made by adding half a drachm of corrosive sublimate to a pint of lime-water. This combina- tion is less often used than is black-wash. It is more stimulating^ and thus may be employed in the treatment of Chancroids that have a phagedenic tendency. The efficiency of both preparations depend on the black, and the yellow oxide of mercury, which result from the action of the lime-water on the salts with which they are made. Diseases of the Skin.—Lime-water enters into the composition of a number of local preparations employed in the treatment of skin diseases. Among these black-wash, is one of the best local applications in acute