The Handy Cyclopedia of Things Worth Knowing

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Scalds and Burns--The following facts cannot be too firmly impressed on
the mind of the reader, that in either of these accidents the first,
best, and often the only remedies required, are sheets of wadding, fine
wool, or carded cotton, and, in the default of these, violet powder,
flour, magnesia, or chalk. The object for which these several articles
are employed is the same in each instance; namely, to exclude the air
from the injured part; for if the air can be effectually shut out from
the raw surface, and care is taken not to expose the tender part till
the new cuticle is formed, the cure may be safely left to nature. The
moment a person is called to a case of scald or burn, he should cover
the part with a sheet, or a portion of a sheet, of wadding, taking care
not to break any blister that may have formed, or stay to remove any
burnt clothes that may adhere to the surface, but as quickly as possible
envelop every part of the injury from all access of the air, laying one
or two more pieces of wadding on the first, so as effectually to guard
the burn or scald from the irritation of the atmosphere; and if the
article used is wool or cotton, the same precaution, of adding more
material where the surface is thinly covered, must be adopted; a light
bandage finally securing all in their places. Any of the popular
remedies recommended below may be employed when neither wool, cotton,
nor wadding are to be procured, it being always remembered that that
article which will best exclude the air from a burn or scald is the
best, quickest, and least painful mode of treatment. And in this respect
nothing has surpassed cotton loose or attached to paper as in wadding.

If the Skin is Much Injured in burns, spread some linen pretty thickly
with chalk ointment, and lay over the part, and give the patient some
brandy and water if much exhausted; then send for a medical man. If not
much injured, and very painful, use the same ointment, or apply carded
cotton dipped in lime water and linseed oil. If you please, you may lay
cloths dipped in ether over the parts, or cold lotions. Treat scalds in
same manner, or cover with scraped raw potato; but the chalk ointment is
the best. In the absence of all these, cover the injured part with
treacle, and dust over it plenty of flour.

BODY IN FLAMES--Lay the person down on the floor of the room, and throw
the table cloth, rug, or other large cloth over him, and roll him on the
floor.

DIRT IN THE EYE--Place your forefinger upon the cheek-bone, having the
patient before you; then slightly bend the finger, this will draw down
the lower lid of the eye, and you will probably be able to remove the
dirt; but if this will not enable you to get at it, repeat this
operation while you have a knitting-needle or bodkin placed over the
eyelid; this will turn it inside out, and enable you to remove the sand,
or eyelash, etc., with the corner of a fine silk handkerchief. As soon
as the substance is removed, bathe the eye with cold water, and exclude
the light for a day. If the inflammation is severe, let the patient use
a refrigerant lotion.

LIME IN THE EVE--Syringe it well with warm vinegar and water in the
proportion of one ounce of vinegar to eight ounces of water; exclude
light.

IRON OR STEEL SPICULAE IN THE EYE--These occur while turning iron or
steel in a lathe, and are best remedied by doubling back the upper or
lower eyelid according to the situation of the substance, and with the
flat edge of a silver probe, taking up the metallic particle, using a
lotion made by dissolving six grains of sugar of lead and the same of
white vitriol, in six ounces of water, and bathing the eye three times a
day till the inflammation subsides. Another plan is--Drop a solution of
sulphate of copper (from one to three grains of salt to one ounce of
water) into the eye, or keep the eye open in a wineglassful of the
solution. Bathe with cold lotion, and exclude light to keep down
inflammation.

DISLOCATED THUMB--This is frequently produced by a fall. Make a clove
hitch, by passing two loops of cord over the thumb, placing a piece of
rag under the cord to prevent it cutting the thumb; then pull in the
same line as the thumb. Afterwards apply a cold lotion.

CUTS AND WOUNDS--Clean cut wounds whether deep or superficial, and
likely to heal by the first intention, should always be washed or
cleaned, and at once evenly and smoothly closed by bringing both edges
close together and securing them in that position by adhesive plaster.
Cut thin strips of sticking plaster, and bring the parts together; or,
if large and deep, cut two broad pieces, so as to look like the teeth of
a comb, and place one on each side of the wound, which must be cleaned
previously. These pieces must be arranged so that they shall interlace
one another; then, by laying hold of the pieces on the right side with
one hand, and those on the other side with the other hand and pulling
them from one another, the edges of the wounds are brought together
without any difficulty.

Ordinary Cuts are dressed by thin strips, applied by pressing down the
plaster on one side of the wound, and keeping it there, and pulling in
the opposite direction; then suddenly depressing the hand when the edges
of the wound are brought together.

CONTUSIONS are best healed by laying a piece of folded lint, well wetted
with extract of lead or boracic acid, on the part, and, if there is much
pain, placing a hot bran poultice over the dressing, repeating both if
necessary every, two hours. When the injuries are very severe lay a
cloth over the part, and suspend a basin over it filled with cold
lotion. Put a piece of cotton into the basin, so that it shall allow the
lotion to drop on the cloth, and thus keep it always wet.

HEMORRHAGE, when caused by an artery being divided or torn, may be known
by the blood issuing out of the wound in leaps or jerks, and being of a
bright scarlet color. If a vein is injured, the blood is darker and
flows continuously. To arrest the latter apply pressure by means of a
compress and bandage. To arrest arterial bleeding, get a piece of wood
(part of a broom handle will do), and tie a piece of tape to one end of
it. Then tie a piece of tape loosely over the arm, and pass the other
end of the wood under it; twist the stick around and around until the
tape compresses the arm sufficiently to arrest the bleeding, and then
confine the other end by tying the string around the arm. A compress
made by enfolding a penny piece in several folds of lint or linen
should, however, be first placed under the tape and over the artery, If
the bleeding is very obstinate, and it occurs in the arm, place a cork
underneath the string, on the inside of the fleshy part, where the
artery may be felt beating by any one; if in the leg, place a cork in
the direction of a line drawn from the inner part of the knee toward the
outer part of the groin. It is an excellent thing to accustom yourself
to find out the position of these arteries, or, indeed, any that are
superficial, and to explain to every person in your house where they
are, and how to stop bleeding. If a stick cannot be got, take a
handkerchief, make a cord bandage of it, and tie a knot in the middle;
the knot acts as a compress, and should be placed over the artery, while
the two ends are c around the thumb. Observe always to place
the ligature between the wound and the heart. Putting your finger into a
bleeding wound, and making pressure until a surgeon arrives, will
generally stop violent bleeding.

BLEEDING FROM THE NOSE, from whatever cause, may generally be stopped by
putting a plug of lint into the nostrils; if this does not do, apply a
cold lotion to the forehead; raise the head, and place over it both
arms, so that it will rest on the hands; dip the lint plug, slightly
moistened, into some powdered gum arabic, and plug the nostrils again;
or dip the plug into equal parts of powdered gum arabic and alum, and
plug the nose. Or the plug may be dipped in Friar's balsam, or tincture
of kino. Heat should be applied to the feet; and, in obstinate cases,
the sudden shock of a cold key, or cold water poured down the spine,
will often instantly stop the bleeding. If the bowels are confined, take
a purgative. Injections of alum solution from a small syringe into the
nose will often stop hemorrhage.

VIOLENT SHOCKS will sometimes stun a person, and he will remain
unconscious. Untie strings, collars, etc.; loosen anything that is tight
and interferes with the breathing; raise the head; see if there is
bleeding from any part; apply smelling-salts to the nose, and hot
bottles to the feet.

IN CONCUSSION, the surface of the body is cold and pale, and the pulse
weak and small, the breathing slow and gentle, and the pupil of the eye
generally contracted or small. You can get an answer by speaking loud,
so as to arouse the patient. Give a little brandy and water, keep the
place quiet, apply warmth, and do not raise the head too high. If you
tickle the feet, the patient feels it.

IN COMPRESSION OF THE BRAIN from any cause, such as apoplexy, or a piece
of fractured bone pressing on it, there is loss of sensation. If you
tickle the feet of the injured person he does not feel it. You cannot
arouse him so as to get an answer. The pulse is slow and labored; the
breathing deep, labored, and snorting; the pupil enlarged. Raise the
head, loosen strings or tight things, and send for a surgeon. If one
cannot be got at once, apply mustard poultices to the feet and thighs,
leeches to the temples, and hot water to the feet.

CHOKING--When a person has a fish bone in the throat, insert the
forefinger, press upon the root of the tongue, so as to induce vomiting;
if this does not do, let him swallow a large piece of potato or soft
bread; and if these fail, give a mustard emetic,

FAINTING, HYSTERICS, ETC.--Loosen the garments, bathe the temples with
water or eau-de-Cologne; open the window, admit plenty of fresh air,
dash cold water on the face, apply hot bricks to the feet, and avoid
bustle and excessive sympathy.

DROWNING.--Attend to the following essential rules: 1. Lose no time. 2.
Handle the body gently. 3. Carry the body face downward, with the head
gently raised, and never hold it up by the feet. 4. Send for medical
assistance immediately, and in the meantime act as follows: 5. Strip the
body; rub it dry, then wrap it in hot blankets, and place it in a warm
bed in a warm room. 6. Cleanse away the froth and mucus from the nose
and month. 7. Apply warm bricks, bottles, bags of sand, etc. to the
armpits, between the thighs, and to the soles of the feet. 8. Rub the
surface of the body with the hands inclosed in warm, dry worsted socks.
9. If possible, put the body into a warm bath. 10. To restore breathing,
put the pipe of a common bellows into one nostril, carefully closing the
other, and the mouth; at the same time drawing downward, and pushing
gently backward, the upper part of the windpipe to allow a more free
admission of air; blow the bellows gently, in order to inflate the
lungs, till the breast be raised a little; then set the month and
nostrils free, and press gently on the chest; repeat this until signs of
life appear. The body should be covered the moment it is placed on the
table, except the face, and all the rubbing carried on under the sheet
or blanket. When they can be obtained, a number of tiles or bricks
should be made tolerably hot in the fire, laid in a row on the table,
covered with a blanket, and the body placed in such a manner on them
that their heat may enter the spine. When the patient revives, apply
smelling-salts to the nose, give warm wine or brandy and water.
Cautions.--1. Never rub the body with salt or spirits. 2. Never roll the
body on casks. 3. Continue the remedies for twelve hours without
ceasing.

HANGING--Loosen the cord, or whatever it may be by which the person has
been suspended. Open the temporal artery or jugular vein, or bleed from
the arm; employ electricity, if at hand, and proceed as for drowning.

APPARENT DEATH FROM DRUNKENNESS--Raise the head; loosen the clothes,
maintain warmth of surface, and give a mustard emetic as soon as the
person can swallow.

APOPLEXY AND FITS GENERALLY--Raise the head; loosen all tight clothes,
strings, etc.; apply cold lotions to the head, and send for a surgeon.

SUFFOCATION FROM NOXIOUS GASES, ETC.--Remove to the fresh air; dash cold
vinegar and water in the face, neck, and breast; keep up the warmth of
the body; if necessary, apply mustard poultices to the soles of the feet
and to the spine, and try artificial respirations as in drowning, with
electricity.

LIGHTNING AND SUNSTROKE--Treat the same as apoplexy.

POISONS AND THEIR ANTIDOTES.

General Rules

Always send immediately for a medical man. Save all fluids vomited, and
articles of food, cups, glasses, etc., used by the patient before taken
ill, and lock them up.

As a rule give emetics after poisons that cause sleepiness and raving;
chalk, milk, eggs, butter, and warm water, or oil, after poisons that
cause vomiting and pain in the stomach and bowels, with purging; and
when there is no inflammation about the throat, tickle it with a feather
to excite vomiting.

Vomiting may be caused by giving warm water, with a teaspoonful of
mustard to the tumblerful, well stirred up. Sulphate of zinc (white
vitriol) may be used in place of the mustard, or powdered alum. Powder
of ipecacuanha, a teaspoonful rubbed up with molasses, may be employed
for children. Tartar emetic should never be given, as it is excessively
depressing, and uncontrollable in its effects. The stomach pump can only
be used by skillful hands, and even then with caution.

Opium and other Narcotics--After vomiting has occurred, cold water
should be dashed over the face and head. The patient must be kept awake,
walked about between two strong persons, made to grasp the handles of a
galvanic battery, dosed with strong coffee, and vigorously slapped.
Belladonna is an antidote for opium and for morphia, etc.; its active
principles; and, on the other hand, the latter counteract the effects of
belladonna. But a knowledge of medicine is necessary for dealing with
these articles.

Strychnia--After emetics have been freely and successfully given, the
patient should be allowed to breathe the vapor of sulphuric ether,
poured on a handkerchief and held to the face, in such quantities as to
keep down the tendency to convulsions. Bromide of potassium, twenty
grains at a dose, dissolved in syrup, may be given every hour.

Alcoholic Poisoning should be combated by emetics, of which the sulphate
of zinc, given as above directed, is the best. After that, strong coffee
internally, and stimulation by heat externally, should be used.

Acids are sometimes swallowed by mistake. Alkalies, lime water,
magnesia, or common chalk mixed with water, may be freely given, and
afterward mucilaginous drinks, such as thick gum water or flaxseed tea.

Alkalies are less frequently taken in injurious strength or quantity,
but sometimes children swallow lye by mistake. Common vinegar may be
given freely, and then castor or sweet oil in full doses--a
tablespoonful at a time, repeated every half hour or two.

Nitrate of silver when swallowed is neutralized by common table salt
freely given in solution in water.

The salts of mercury or arsenic (often kept as bedbug poison), which are
powerful irritants, are apt to be very quickly fatal. Milk or the whites
of eggs may be freely given and afterward a very thin paste of flour and
water. In these cases an emetic is to be given after the poison is
neutralized.

Phosphorus paste, kept for roach poison or in parlor matches, is
sometimes eaten by children and has been willfully taken for the purpose
of suicide. It is a powerful irritant. The first thing to be done is to
give freely of magnesia and water; then to give mucilaginous drinks as
flaxseed tea, gum water or sassafras pith and water; and lastly to
administer finely powdered bone-charcoal, either in pill or in mixture
with water.

In no case of poisoning should there be any avoidable delay in obtaining
the advice of a physician, and, meanwhile, the friends or bystanders
should endeavor to find out exactly what has been taken, so that the
treatment adopted may be as prompt and effective as possible.

KEEP STILL.

Keep still. When trouble is brewing, keep still. Even when slander is
getting on its legs, keep still. When your feelings are hurt, keep
still, till you recover from your excitement at any rate. Things look
differently through an unagitated eye. A doctor relates how once in a
commotion he wrote a letter, and sent it, and wished he had not. "I had
another commotion and wrote a long letter; but life had rubbed a little
sense into me. I kept that letter in my pocket against the day when I
could look it over without agitation and without tears. I was glad I
did. Less and less it seemed necessary to send it I was not sure it
would do any hurt, but in my doubt I leaned to reticence, and eventually
it was destroyed."

PHILOSOPHICAL FACTS.

The greatest height at which visible clouds ever exist does not exceed
ten miles.

Air is about eight hundred and fifteen times lighter than water.

The pressure of the atmosphere upon every square foot of the earth
amounts to two thousand one hundred and sixty pounds.

The violence of the expansion of water when freezing is sufficient to
cleave a globe of copper of such thickness as to require a force of
27,000 pounds, to produce the same effect.

During the conversion of ice into water one hundred and forty degrees of
heat are absorbed.

Water, when converted into steam, increases in bulk eighteen hundred
times.

In one second of time--in one beat of the pendulum of a clock--light
travels two hundred thousand miles. Were a cannon ball shot toward the
sun, and were it to maintain full speed, it would be twenty years in
reaching it, and yet light travels through this space in seven or eight
minutes.

Strange as it may appear, a ball of a ton weight, and another of the
same material of an ounce weight, falling from any height will reach the
ground at the same time.

The heat does not increase as we rise above the earth nearer to the sun,
but decreases rapidly until, beyond the regions of the atmosphere, in
void, it is estimated that the cold is about seventy degrees below zero.
The line of perpetual frost at the equator is 15,000 feet altitude;
13,000 feet between the tropics; and 9,000 to 4,000 between the
latitudes of forty degrees and forty-nine degrees.

At a depth of forty-five feet under ground, the temperature of the earth
is uniform throughout the year.

The human ear is so extremely sensitive that it can hear a sound that
lasts only the twenty-four thousandth part of a second.

Sound travels at the rate of one thousand one hundred and forty-two feet
per second-about thirteen miles in a minute. So that if we hear a clap
of thunder half a minute after the flash, we may calculate that the
discharge of electricity is six and a half miles off.

ALPHABETICAL INDEX

Accent and Pronunciation
Accidents and Emergencies
Aeronautics, Dictionary of
Age, To Tell, of Any Person
Age, When One Becomes of
Alphabet of Advice to Writers
Amendments to the Constitution
Analogies in Nature, Queer
Appalling Depths of Space, The
Apparel for Men, Proper
Art of Not Forgetting, The
Asthma, Relief for

Baby's Mind, Development of the
Balls and Evening Receptions
Bank, Doing Business with a
Bathing, Hints on
Beauty and Health
Bees (Memory Rhyme)
Bell Time on Shipboard
"Best Man." Duties of the
Birthdays (Memory Rhyme)
Birth Stones
Blonds and Brunettes, Colors for
Brain, The Wonderful Human
Bread, Salt-Rising
Bride's Trousseau
Bright's Disease, Tomato in
Burial Alive, To Guard Against
Business Law in Brief
Bust, To Develop the

Canary Birds, Care of
Capital Letters. The Use of
Chamois Skins
Change, How to Make
Character as Seen in Faces
Check, How to Draw a
Check-Raising Made Easy
Cities, Nicknames of
Cities, Principal American
College Colors
Color Contrast and Harmony
Colors, How to Select
Colors for Blonds and Brunettes
Complexions, Men and
Constitutional Law, Principal Points of
Constitution of the United States, The
Copyright, The Law of
Cost and Price Marks
Coughs, What Cures
Counterfeit Money, How to Detect
Courtship and Marriage, Etiquette of
Criminal Law, Points of
Cuckoo, The (Memory Rhyme)
Cure for Love, A

Days of the Week
Death Sentence of the Savior
Debutantes, Etiquette for
Declaration of Independence, The
Declaration of Independence, Signers of the
Dentifrices, Useful and Injurious
Dictionary of Aeronautics
Dictionary of Dreams
Discount, Trade
Distances by Water from New York
Distances that Stun the Mind
Divorce and Marriage
Dog, Senator Vest's Eulogy on the
Doing Business with a Bank
Don't Be Buried Alive
Dower, The Right of
Dreams and Their Meaning
Dress and Etiquette, Formalities in

Engagement and Wedding Rings
English Grammar in a Nutshell
Etiquette of Courtship and Marriage
Etiquette of the Visiting-Card
Evolution Theory, The
Exercise, Physical
Eyes, Care of the
Eyes, Character Indicated by the
Fables, Modern
Facts about Sponges
Facts about the Liberty Bell
Facts of General Interest
Facts, Handy, to Settle Arguments
Fat People and Lean, Rules for
Female Figure, The Perfect
Feminine Height and Weight
Finding, The Law of
Fingers and Hands, Various Forms of
Flag, The Language of the
Flowers, The Language of
Formalities in Dress and Etiquette
Friendly Advice on Many Subjects

Geographical Nicknames
Girdle of Venus
Glue, Test for
God, The Name of, in Fifty Languages
"Good Bye, God Bless You"
Grammar, English, in a nutshell
Grammar, Short (Memory Rhyme)
Grammar, Spelling and Pronunciation

Hair, Curious Facts About
Hair and Scalp, Care of the
Hand Grenades
Hands and Fingers, Various Forms of
Hands, Care of the
Handy Metric Table
Happiness Defined
Health Line
Health and Beauty
Height and Weight
Height of Noted Structure
Holidays, Legal, in Various States
Horse's Prayer, The
Horses, To Tell the Age of
Housekeepers Should Remember, What
Hypnotism, The Mysteries of

Independence, The Declaration of
Indorsement of Checks, etc.
Infant Feeding and Management
Interest Rules, Short
Invitations and Announcements

Jefferson's Political Policy
Jewelry, Correct Form of

Keep Still

Lady's Chance of Marrying, A
Language of Flowers, The
Language of Precious Stones
Last Words of Famous Men and Women
Law, Business, in Brief
Law, Points of Criminal
Letter Combinations
Liberty Bell, Facts About the
Loisette's Memory System
Love, A Cure for

Magna Charta
Marriage and Courtship, Etiquette of
Marriage and Divorce
Measures and Weights
Mecklenburg Declaration, The
Memory Rhymes
Memory System, Loisette's
Merchants' Cost and Price Marks
Metric Table, Handy
Months, Derivation of the Names of the
Months, The (Memory Rhyme)
Mottoes of the States
Mourning Colors the World Over
Mourning Customs

Name of God in Fifty Languages
Names of Men, Meanings of Christian
Names of Women, Christian
Name, What's in a
Nature's Wonders, Some of
Nicknames, Geographical
Nicknames of Cities
Notes and Acceptances
Nursing of Infants

"Oh, I Wish I Was in Eden"
Opportunity--Ingalls' Famous Sonnet
Opportunity--Poem
Osteopathy, The Claims of
Palmistry, The Mysteries of
Palm-Reading, Chart for
Parliamentary Law, Principles, of
Patent, How to Obtain a
Philosophical Facts
Phrenology, Dr. Spurzheim's
Physical Exercise
Piano, How to Care for a
Points of Criminal Law
Poisons and Their Antidotes
Population of Principal Cities
Poor Richard's Sayings
Presidents, Ages and Deaths of the
Presidents of the United States
Precious Stones, The Language of
Pronunciation and Accent
Pronunciation, Common Errors in
Pronunciation, Simple Rules of
Punctuation

Quinine to Break Up a Cold

"Raised" Checks
Rats, How to Get Rid of
Recipes, Trade Secrets, etc.
Reputation, Lines of
Riddles, Old and New
Riding, Rules for (Memory Rhyme)
Rights of Married Women
Road, Rule of the

Salt-Rising Bread
Scalp and Hair, Care of the
Science and Statistics, Facts of
Shakespeare's Counsel
Shaving, Hints on
Short Rules for Spelling
Shoulders, To Straighten Round
Single Tax, The
Skin, Care of the
Social Forms
Sparrow, The English
Spelling, Short Rules for
Sponges, Facts About
States, Mottoes of the
States, The Names of the
Steps in the Growth of American Liberty
Swollen Feet, Relief for

Tea and Coffee
Teeth of Children, The
Teeth, The Care of the
Theosophy
Things That Are Misnamed
Toasts and Sentiments
Toothache
Time in Which Money Doubles
Trade Discounts
Trademarks, The Laws of
Trees, Big
Trees, Maximum Age of

United States, Constitution of

Visiting-Card, Etiquette of the

Water, How and When to Drink
Water, To Tell Pure
Wedding and Engagement Rings
Wedding Anniversaries
Wedding Customs
Weights and Measures
Weights and Measures, Handy
What Housekeepers Should Remember
What's in a Name?
Wine, How to Serve, etc.
Woman's Lunch, A
Workingmen Easily Gulled
Writers, Alphabet Of Advice to

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