3. Foreign Bodies in the Nostril. - These undesirable intrusions may often be met with among the more juvenile section of the community, but mind and body of the small sufferer car soon be eased. Place the patient with the back of the head well supported by the operator, press against the free nostril, make the patient blow down the nose, and at the same time distend the nostril with the bent end of a hairpin (Fig. I.)

4. Burns and Scalds. - Of more serious nature are those injuries of the tissues known as burns and scalds, which may be so severe as to lead to a fatal issue. Burns are injuries caused by dry heat or by corrosive fluids, such as strong acids and alkalis. Scalds are similar injuries caused by moist heat, but as the method of treatment is essentially the same, both will be described under the general name of burns. The severity of a burn depends upon the amount of tissue injured, as well as on its position. A large superficial burn may be as serious as a small deep one, since injury to the skin impairs its functions. Burns on the chest or abdomen must always be regarded as more serious than similar ones on the limbs.

The chief point to attend to in treating a burn is to avoid exposing it to the air. As quickly as possible the wound should be covered with cotton-wool, lint, or clean linen, soaked with any kind of oil, provided it is not a mineral oil; or if the burn occurs on a limb the limb should be plunged into cold water. Carbonate of soda dissolved in the water greatly relieves the pain and induces healing, and as this treatment is generally available, it should be resorted to until a proper dressing can be procured. Boric wool spread over the wound makes an excellent dressing. Carron oil, an emulsion formed by shaking in a bottle equal quantities of linseed oil and lime-water, when spread on lint is good provided it is not stale, but even when freshly made it is liable to become offensive after it has been kept on a wound for any length of time. A far better preparation is a mixture of equal parts of vaseline and zinc ointment, which can be kept almost indefinitely, and remains sweet until the wound is healed. This last is a great point in its favour, for a burn should be dressed as seldom as possible. When applying the first dressing to a burn do not drag off any charred fabric which has become attached to the injured part. Such debris will be Sloughed as the wound heals. The dressing should take the form of small pieces rather than one large sheet, as an overlapping succession of strips fit to the contour of the body better than a large piece; and, moreover, if a change of dressing becomes necessary it can be replaced little by little without exposing the whole injury. Never drag off a dressing; if it sticks, syringe the part, or soak it with a warm solution of soda. Burns always occasion shock, which must be treated as soon as the wounds have been dressed.

Fig. I. Removing a glass bead from the nostril

Scalded Pharynx. - There is one form of injury which is fairly common among the children of the poor, and that is scalded pharynx, brought about by attempting to drink from a kettle or teapot. The child shrieks, and the skin soon assumes a dusky colour, the breath comes brassily, and with such difficulty that the muscles of the chest are drawn in, and there are symptoms of collapse. Send at once for the doctor, place the child immediately on a bed or couch, loosen the clothing around the neck, and apply hot fomentations to the throat. Arrange a canopy over the bed to form a "tent" bed, which can be extemporised by tying a broom at each corner and covering a sheet over the upstanding ends (Fig. 2). Set a bronchitis kettle to work near the child's head, so that warm moist air may be breathed. Failing a proper kettle, extemporise one from an ordinary kettle with a funnel or child's toy trumpet in the spout (Fig. 3). Treat the patient for shock.

What to do with clothing alight. - A very simple experiment suffices to show that fire cannot burn without a sufficient supply of air, that when in motion fabrics burn more quickly than when at rest, and that flames ascend more quickly than they descend. Having grasped these simple principles, burning garments can be managed so as to minimise the risk of injury to their wearer. Thus, when a person is seen to be on fire, hold up a rug, blanket, or overcoat in front for self-protection, and throw the person down on the floor with the flames upwards.

If the flames are at the back make the patient lie face downwards, but face upwards if the flames are at the front. Spread the rug, or its substitute, over the flames, and beat them out.

Fig. 2. An improvised tent bed

If the accident is to oneself, lie down on the floor and roll over until the flames are extinguished. Let there be no running about, as the increase of draught increases the strength of the flames. Extinguishing flames by cutting off the supply of air is preferable to dashing water over them, since the steam generated in this treatment increases the severity of the burns. When the flames are extinguished, treat the burns by the method given above.

Many burning accidents might be avoided by having a proper guard in front of each open fireplace. Those who work among the poor should be constantly reminding them that it is now a criminal offence if a child is burnt to death owing to the lack of a fireguard.

5. Frostbite. - Frostbite is not unknown in this country during severe winters. If it is not properly treated mortification sets in, and may lead to the loss of a limb. The first symptoms of frostbite are a waxy white appearance of the flesh, which soon afterwards turns congested and purple, while the part itself becomes first numbed and then dead to all sensation. Proper treatment takes the form of rubbing the affected part with snow, which is generally at hand; or, failing that, with olive oil. As soon as the sensation begins to return, the patient may be brought by degrees into a warmer atmosphere.

circulation is often impaired as the result of frostbite, and if this is the case, care must be taken of both the heart and the general health of the patient. Massage is beneficial, and the clothing must be warm.

6. Choking. - Choking is unpleasant, and may prove dangerous. It is generally caused by a turn of food entering the larynx instead of Passing over the epiglottis into its proper channel.

hock will often cause the irritating body to be blown upwards, and this result can best be obtained by giving the patient a sharp slap on the back between the shoulders. Sometimes a piece of food or a fish bone sticks in the gullet. The fish-bone can often be extracted by means of pliers or tweezers, while solid food can be pushed down the gullet with the forefinger. If this fails administer an emetic, and send for a doctor.

When solid articles, such as buttons, pins, nails, etc., are swallowed, on no account administer an emetic. Send at once for the doctor, and if the patient can manage it let him eat new bread or buns to embed the dangerous article without injury to the digestive tract.

7. Suffocation. - Suffocation results from continued breathing of an undue proportion of carbon monoxide in the afterdamp of an explosion, or smoke, or certain gases, or the noxious products of combustion of a charcoal, coke, or gas fire. The patient must be immediately dragged forth into pure air, and the general treatment for insensibility, which will be described in detail in the next paper, must be applied. If this is unavailing, artificial respiration must be resorted to, and will be described in the next number of Every Woman's Encyclopaedia.

8. Strangulation and Hanging. - With all promptitude cut the rope which suspends a person discovered hanging. To do this, first grasp the lower limbs and raise the body, to ease the tension of the rope, and also to prevent a sudden fall, which might cause irreparable injury. Lay the patient on the floor, and treat as for strangulation: that is, cut and remove the band constricting the throat, and apply artificial respiration.

A child has been known to be accidentally strangled by its scarf catching in the wheels of its perambulator, unnoticed by the nurse in charge.

Fig. 3. Bronchitis kettle. This can be made by fixing to the spout of an ordinary kettle either a funnel or a child's toy trumpet