ent may be applied to all cuts, bruises, skin eruptions,
chafings and sores of minor importance. It is one of the best
applications for chafing of the skin in babies.
The medicine chest should also contain a small jar of Unguentine for
burns; one-tenth grain calomel tablets for a cathartic for baby to be
used as explained in the text of the book, or as advised by the
physician. It may also contain tablets for colds and for other purposes
as suggested by the family physician. It should never contain medicines
the use of which is not thoroughly understood by the mother. It is a
wrong practice for mothers to keep medicines to use for the same ailment
at a subsequent time. The ailment may not be the same and frequently the
medicine itself deteriorates, or it may get stronger with age. Many
medicines are made with alcohol in them. If kept for some time the
alcohol evaporates and leaves a concentrated mixture which, if given in
the dose meant for the fresh preparation, may poison a child. Such cases
of poisoning are on record. The same argument applies to powders.
Certain drugs lose their strength, some absorb moisture, others change
their chemical strength if kept mixed with other chemicals. They should
be thrown away after the case is over if they have not been used. It is
a dangerous practice to keep medicines around if there are children in
the family.
Foreign Bodies in the Eye.--Particles which accidentally lodge in the
eye are usually located on the under surface of the upper lid. They are
sometimes, however, found on the ball of the eye or on the inner aspect
of the lower lid. Foreign bodies which are propelled into the eye with
great force, as iron specks which railroad men frequently get sometimes
imbed themselves into the eye-ball and have to be cut out or dug out.
The entrance of the foreign particle is always accompanied by a flow of
tears which is nature's way of removing them. The offending object may
escape through the tear duct into the nose, or it may be simply washed
out with the flow of tears. Rubbing the well eye will cause a flow of
tears in both eyes and may facilitate removal of the foreign matter.
Blowing the nose may force the particle into the tear duct. The use of
the eye cup may help in ridding the eye of the body. The same object may
be accomplished if the eyes are immersed in a basin of water and opened
wide. Then by moving the eyes around the particle may be washed out. If
the particle is loc
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