First Care For Bites Of Insect And Dog
Bites and stings may be divided into three kinds :
1. Those of Snakes
2. Those of Insects.
3. Those of Dogs and other Animals.
The Bites or Stings of Insects
Such as gnats, bees, wasps, etc., need cause very little alarm, and are, generally speaking, easily cured. They are very serious, however, when they take place on some delicate part of the body, such as near the eye, or in the throat.
The treatment is very simple in most cases; and consists in taking out the sting, if it is left behind, with a needle, and applying to the part a liniment made of finely-scraped chalk and olive-oil, mixed together to about the thickness of cream.
Bathing the part bitten with warm turpentine or warm vinegar is also of great use. If the person feels faint, he should lie quietly on his back, and take a little brandy-and-water, or sal-volatile and water.
When the inside of the throat is the part stung, there is great danger of violent inflammation taking place. In this case, from eight to twelve leeches should be immediately put to the outside of the throat, and when they drop off, the part to which they had been applied should be well fomented with warm water.
The inside of the throat is to be constantly gargled with salt and water.
Bits of ice are to be sucked. Rubbing the face and hands well over with plain olive-oil, before going to bed, will often keep gnats and musquitoes from biting during the night.
Strong scent, such as eau-de-Cologne, will have the same effect.
Bites of Dogs.
For obvious reasons, these kinds of bites are more frequently met with than those of snakes.
The treatment is the same as that for snake-bites, more especially that of the bitten part.
The majority of writers on the subject are in favour of keeping the wound open as long as possible.
This may be done by putting a few beans on it, and then by applying a large linseed-meal poultice over them.
Also see :
