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(3a) Extra Subjects.—Home Treatment.—What to do till the Doctor comes and after the Doctor has left.—Grave danger of being one's own doctor, of taking quack medicines, or a medicine which has cured someone else in quite a different case.
A cottage mother, not so very poor, fell into the fire in a fit while she was preparing breakfast, and was badly burnt. We sent for the nearest doctor, who came at once, bringing his medicaments, in his gig. The husband ran for the horse-doctor, who did not come, but sent an ointment for a horse. The wise woman of the village came of her own accord, and gave another ointment.
"Well, Mrs. Y.," said the lady who sent for the doctor, "and what did you do?"
"Well, you know, Miss, I studied a bit, and then I mixed all three together, because then, you know, I was sure I got the right one."
The consequences to the poor woman may be imagined.
Another poor woman, in a different county, took something which had been sent to her husband for a bad leg, believing herself to have fever. "Well, Miss, it did he a sight of good, and look at me, ban't I quite peart?" The "peartness" ended in fever.
Liquid food only to be given till the doctor comes. Danger-signals of illness, and how to recognise them. Hourly dangers from ruptures if not completely supported by trusses. What to do if clothes catch fire—and for burns, scalds, bites, cuts, stings, injuries to the head and to the eye, swallowing fruit-stones, pins, &c.
