Punctures Case Xii
Categories:
ON THE APPLICATION OF THESE MODES OF TREATMENT TO PARTICULAR CASES.
Sources:
Application Of The Lunar
Caustic In The Cure Of Certain Wounds And Ulcers
A servant maid was bitten by a dog in four places--severely on the
forearm--three days ago. Adhesive plaster had been applied. There is a
wound across the arm two inches in length and three-fourths of an inch
in breadth, attended by dull pain, and swelling of the arm. I applied
the caustic to form an eschar, covering it with goldbeater's skin.
On the following day the eschar remained adherent round the edges, but
had a puffy feel in the centre; I pierced it with a penknife and a
little bloody fluid escaped, and I touched the orifice thus made with
the caustic. The swelling remained as before, with a degree of
soreness.
On the next day the swelling had subsided. The eschar had the same
character; a little fluid was again evacuated and the caustic applied
to the orifice as before.
This mode of treatment was pursued for nine successive days when the
eschar remained adherent in every part.
This patient continued her usual avocations all along. Under any other
plan of treatment I think it impossible that she should not have been
compelled to rest for a number of days.
Adherent eschars were formed on the other three bites which were less
severe, from the first application.
A very irritable sore sometimes forms after the application of
leeches. I knew one lady who was confined during five weeks with
several sores on her foot from such a case. I have no doubt that the
application of the caustic would have prevented all the inconvenience
and suffering she experienced. This observation will be confirmed by
the following case.