Important: Safety Warning
This page directs the use of hazardous substances — such as benzine, gasoline, lye, or strong acids — for household tasks. These materials are highly flammable, corrosive, or poisonous, and the practices described have caused fires, burns, and poisonings.
In addition, this page presents medical treatment from an era before modern medicine. The remedies described are ineffective against the conditions named, and some of the ingredients or doses are harmful. Do not use them to treat any illness; consult a qualified medical professional.
This information has been left in for historical purposes but should not be acted upon.
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Treatment of Whitlow
Steam the whole hand with bitter herbs for 30 or 40 minutes; bathe it frequently in strong hot lye water. The steaming must not be dispensed with. Or: Immerse the diseased finger in strong lye as long and as hot as can be borne of zinc, sulphate of copper, acetate of lead, &c. vent which, apply the cord above the wound, blood is of a florid or frothy appearance, and that is, between the wound and the heart. In brought up with more or less coughing, preup with more or less coughing, precase a string or cord is not at hand, tie the ceded by a short tickling cough, a saltish two opposite corners of a handkerchief around taste, anxiety, and tightness across the chest, the limb, put a stick between, and turn it round until the handkerchief is twisted sufficiently tight to stop the bleeding, and keep it so until a physician can be had. This appliance is called a tourniquet. its source is the lungs. The blood proceeding from the lungs is usually of a florid color, and mixed with a little frothy mucous only. It may be distinguished from bleeding from the stomach, by its being raised by hacking or
5557. To Stop the Bleeding from coughing, and by its florid and frothy appear- Leeches. Make a ball of cotton about the ance; that from the stomach is vomited in size of a pea; put this pellet of cotton or lint considerable quantities, and is of a dark upon the wound; press it down firmly; keep color. 5564. Treatment for Spitting of up the pressure for a quarter of an hour. Remove the finger cautiously, taking care to let Blood. Moderate the discharge of blood by avoiding whatever tends to irritate the body the pellet remain.