5.  Burns, Butter a Relief for.—­“Spread butter on the affected parts and bandage well.  This is one of the remedies our grandmothers used to use and is a good one.”

6.  Burns, Oil of Peppermint Draws Fire Out of.—­“Apply oil of peppermint; it will take the fire out almost immediately.”

7.  Burns, Sweet Oil and Cotton Batting Relieves.—­“Saturate cotton batting in sweet oil and cover the burns and keep covered until the fire is out.  I had my hand burned with steam until the skin peeled off, and this remedy relieved the smarting.”

8.  Burns, Vinegar Prevents Blistering from.—­“Vinegar applied every few minutes will keep it from blistering.”  This is a remedy always at hand, and will do just what it says.

[388 Mothers’ remedies]

Mothers’ remedies. 1.  Scalds, Elder Berries Soothing for.—­“The flowers of the black elder berries and the bark all possess valuable medicinal properties.  An ointment made by stirring the fresh flowers into melted lard or vaselin and occasionally stirring it, will be found an excellent remedy for scalds or burns.”  It is not only soothing, but forms a coating thereby keeping the air out.

2.  Scalds, Alum for Slight.—­“Put a teaspoonful of alum in a pint of water, and bathe the parts frequently.  Keep the parts well wet with this solution which extracts the heat in a remarkable manner and soothes the patient into a calm and refreshing sleep.”  This remedy is most always at hand and will relieve if the case is not too severe.

3.  Scalds, Scraped Potatoes will Relieve.—­” A few raw potatoes scraped or grated and beaten in a bowl, then add a dram of laudanum; apply to the affected parts as you would a poultice.”

4.  Scalds, Crackers and Slippery Elm as Poultice for.—­“Apply a poultice of cracker and slippery elm, made of raspberry leaf tea.  Guard against taking cold.”  Use enough of the raspberry tea to make a soft mixture.  This is very soothing, and keeps the air from the scald which is one of the essential things in order to get relief.

5.  Scalds, Raisins’ and Lard with Tobacco Helps.

   “One pound Raisins, chopped. 
    One pound Lard. 
    Five cent package of Chewing Tobacco.

Mix all together and let this simmer about three hours slowly, strain it and put in a jar.”

6.  Scalds, Sweet Oil Soothing for.—­“I know of nothing better than equal parts of sweet oil and lime water.”  This is very good and should be applied freely.

Physicians’ treatment for Superficial Bums.—­Exclude the air; protect and treat the parts is the theory of treatment.

Superficial Burn.—­When the skin is not broken, bicarbonate of soda may be sprinkled thick over the burn, then wrap the part in moist gauze, lint or linen, and over this a layer of common cotton, and hold in place with a bandage.  Flour can be used in place of the soda.  Oatmeal flour, rice flour, etc., will do also.  The objection to all powders is that the moist gauze, etc., will make the flour form cakes and make removal painful and difficult.  Applications in liquid form are therefore better.