The assistant nurse had very little time for the next lesson in the boys' class, so she gave them only notes in the morning, promising the practice games at four o'clock in the afternoon. After telling them of this plan, she began the lesson.
"Probably you boys have never thought of the fact that the little pipes and larger tubes which carry the blood may be broken under the skin," Miss Helpem said. "When the blood gathers in dark purplish spots underneath the unbroken skin, you have what is called a bruise or contusion.
BRUISES (CONTUSIONS)
(See Reference List)
"Black and blue" spots which result from bleeding under the skin are caused by falls or blows, or pinching (as in door or window).
Treatment:
Apply cold water or ice wrapped in a cloth, or an ice bag, or bathe with half water and half alcohol, or witch hazel, or arnica.
If an arm or finger, hold up over the head.
If severe, after the pain and swelling have lessened, use hot applications, wringing cloths out of hot water, changing them as they cool, use a hot-water bag.
For ''black eye," bathe with ice-cold water, or use cloths wrung out of water as hot as can be borne.
Massage gently for discoloration.
NOTE. Never open a blood blister apply hot water.
SPRAINS
(See Reference List)
Sprains should be treated as soon as possible by a physician, but while waiting for the doctor, use cold water applications. If cold water does not relieve the pain in an hour's time, try hot water. Do not attempt to use the sprained joint.
STINGS AND BITES OF INSECTS
(See Reference List)
For stings of bees and bites of spiders, apply any of the following list:
- Mud
- Slice of onion
- Household ammonia
- Paste made of bicarbonate of soda (baking soda)
- Spirit of camphor
Miss Helpem paused. "While we are thinking about insects," she said, "I wish to speak of filthy flies.
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| Keep flies out of food and off of baby's bottle. |
THE FILTHY FLIES
If you could look at the bottom of a fly's foot under the microscope, you would see thousands of the most disgusting germs, particularly of the dreaded typhoid fever.
Please remember that it is far more important to prevent disease than to cure so do all that you can to keep flies out of the house, out of food, off the baby's bottle and body. Just looking at this picture shows you a little of what must go into baby's mouth after the fly has stolen a bit of baby's breakfast. How many of you promise to do everything you can to reduce the number of flies in this
beautiful country of ours by destroying them and by removing their breeding places, which are in manure piles?"
Every boy's hand shot up.
" Thank you," smiled the assistant nurse. "I can see that the boys of this class an' to be real soldiers of health for this entire community."
"Please, Miss Helpem," said Ibee Brave, "there are two more animals I would like to learn something about. One is the mosquito, and the other is fleas."
The boys laughed.
''Not animals Ibee, insect." corrected Miss Helpem.
"We will not have time to speak at length of the mosquito, for that would make a whole lesson in itself, but I do want to say that mosquitoes are the cause of some of our worst diseases, for they carry disease germs from one person's blood into another's. To destroy them, kerosene oil should be sprayed or sprinkled or poured on the surface of any stagnant water; for mosquito babies (wigglers) live in stagnant (standing) water. Please remember this: one old tin tomato can half full of water will be an ample amount to supply a whole neighborhood with young mosquitoes in a short time, so overturn any old tins you see, just to help in a good cause."
"Now, Ibee," she continued, after a slight pause, "I will tell you
HOW TO RID A HOUSE OF FLEAS
Dust naphtha flakes* all over the floors. Leave twenty-four hours, if possible, then sweep up and sprinkle the sweepings with kerosene to destroy the eggs before throwing away.
"I say, fellows," sang out Ibee Brave, after the class was dismissed, "let's go on a hike like any good scouts. Gee, I wish I were twelve years old, so I could be a boy scout!"
"We treat you just as if you were one. Let's go over to the river bank," suggested their patrol leader. At the signal, off they started over the hills of the sand-pile of Mary Frances' playroom, coming at length to Painted River and Looking Glass Lake, on which floated the toy ducks and swans which Mary Frances' little friend Eleanor had given her for a Christmas present.
When they re-assembled at four o'clock, the assistant nurse was surprised at their appearance, for several swollen faces were plastered in blotches of mud.
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| "You must have had good treatment." |
"We don't need any practice games," commented one of the boys.
"We have had real practical practice," explained their leader.
"I should judge you had," said Miss Helpem, looking over the group. "Do tell me what happened."
"When we left here, we started on a hike to the river.' went on the leader, "and after we had rested a little while, we began a game of baseball. Tom Holden was catcher, and somehow when he leaned over to fasten his shoe, bang! the ball went into his eye an accident, of course."
"At first I thought it had put my eye out," said Tom, "but the fellows used 'first aid' immediately."
"I never saw a 'black eye' look better," praised the assistant nurse. "You must have had good treatment."
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| "I held my finger in it." |
"Next," continued the leader, "I raised a blood blister on my finger, splitting kindling wood for a camp fire. The fellows made some water hot on the fire, and I held my finger in it - but if it hadn't been that we were 'first aiders,' I wouldn't have noticed a little thing like that."
"And last of all," said Ibee Brave, "I stepped into a hornets' nest!"
"I can imagine the rest of the story," smiled Miss Helpem. "And I can understand why you haven't clean faces!"
"But you can't imagine how grand it was to know 'what to do,' " protested Ibee Brave through swollen lips.
"Well, boys," said the assistant nurse, "after this day's happenings, I think we will not need any practice games. I'm very glad nothing really serious occurred, and that your first-aid knowledge prevented suffering."
"Say, Miss Helpem, you wouldn't mind not saying anything to the other class about the things that happened, would you? We might just pass it off without much explanation, you know."
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