Chapter 71
Section 71 of A Thousand Things Worth Knowing This is a LibriBox recording. All LibriBox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriBox.org. How to avoid accidents Never cross the street without looking both ways. Do not get off of a car or other vehicle while it is in motion.
Never thrust your head or arms out of the car or other vehicle. When it is lightning, avoid trees and metallic articles. Never allow firearms to be lying about. Have some one place for them and be sure that no one can get at them. Move quickly when it is cold, and when any part is frozen, do not go near the fire, but rub with snow. Always change wet clothing as soon as possible and keep moving until you have the opportunity to change.
Never walk on a railroad track. Do not light a fire with kerosene or other inflammable fluid. Never enter a cellar or anywhere else where gas is escaping with a light in your hand. Under no circumstances touch a wire hanging in the street. Maintain a medicine chest containing all of the common remedies, but don't select them without the advice of your physician.
Mark each bottle plainly, with directions under the label. Never take medicine without looking at the label beforehand. Illuminating gas Summon a physician, and before he arrives, proceed as follows. Remove the patient into fresh air and walk him around.
Place the sands about your shoulders, and if there are two rescuers, place one arm around the shoulders of each. A glass of waste beer should be given while the patient is walking, as it removes gas from the stomach. In five minutes, give half a teaspoonful of aromatic spirits of ammonia in a third of a glass of water. Repeat this dose every 15 minutes until four doses having given. The neck of the beer bottle may be forced into the patient's mouth.
Infectious diseases It is now generally supposed that all contagious and communicable diseases are contracted by the germs which pass into the body or system. These germs are so small that millions of them may enter the body through the nose, throat and skin. They do little or no harm to a healthy person, for the healthy body is supposed to their growth, but if one is weak, or suffering from a slight cold, or is depressed, they may multiply and cause diseases. These germs may be wildly scattered, in the clothes, bedding, carpets and in the hair and skin.
They cling to walls and ceilings and they will multiply on almost any kind of food. No one can wholly prevent coming into contact with them, but he can, if he will, avoid most of the contagious diseases by never sitting down in the sick room, especially avoiding the bed, and keeping away from the walls and furniture. He should wash his hands with antiseptic soap after handling the patient. Exercise regularly in the open air. Nurses should wear washable dresses, which are frequently changed and a washable cap should cover the hair.
When in the sick room, do not approach the patient near enough to catch his breath. Do not touch with your lips any food, dish or utensil which has been in the sick room. Do not eat or drink in the sick room. Wear no clothing that the patient wore before being taken sick. Never touch the sick person if your hands are sore or scratched and be sure to wash them after contact with them.
Never allow the dishes used by the patient to be used by any other unless they are very carefully washed and scalded in boiling water. All articles of food not eaten by the patient should be burned and milk and food should never be allowed to stand in the sick room. All bodily discharges should be immediately removed and covered with disinfecting solution, and the vessel should be washed with antiseptics before being brought back into the room. Do not attempt to cure it. Consult your physician. It will probably be fatal.
Plasters occasionally are efficacious, but most give more apparent than real relief. They should not be used indiscriminately or without the advice of a physician. Neuralgia. This is often incurable, but may be relieved. Certain liniments are efficacious, but are not to be recommended indiscriminately. Better consult your physician.
End of section 71
