As texts from the era will explain, there was a considerable lack of concrete knowledge regarding medicine in the 1800s, and this resulted in bad burns on the hands being treated through methods that would be labelled as ‘holistic’ therapy today. Publications such as ‘The Frugal Housewife’, released in the 1830s, provide a valuable insight into how the pain of burns would be eased, in addition to relieving pain from bruises, corns and even cancers. According to this published book by Lydia Child, the most important process of curing bad burns was to hold the affected hands in cold or lukewarm water to stop any blisters from developing. However, Child’s observations found that such patients would be inpatient and unwilling to try this remedy for long enough.
The 1800s also provided us with many elaborate medicines made of the unlikeliest of ingredients. How did they ever find out that pieces of chalk and hog’s lard would alleviate pain from burns?
Another unlikely remedy that has been proven to have some scientific merit in today’s medically-advanced word is colloidal silver - and, in the 19th century, different applications of this metal would be used dependent on the severity of the burn. As with burns in the 21st century, the main concerns of medical professionals treating a burns patient is infection, and the colloidal silver includes antibacterial properties that reduce the chance of such complications arising. Despite antibiotics now being instated as a popular alternative, specialist burns wards will still utilise treatments that involve this type of silver at the core of its delivery.
Sources:
www.purestcolloids.com/colloidal-silver-burns.php
www.wellsphere.com/parenting-article/healing-yourself-in-the
The 1800s also provided us with many elaborate medicines made of the unlikeliest of ingredients. How did they ever find out that pieces of chalk and hog’s lard would alleviate pain from burns?
Another unlikely remedy that has been proven to have some scientific merit in today’s medically-advanced word is colloidal silver - and, in the 19th century, different applications of this metal would be used dependent on the severity of the burn. As with burns in the 21st century, the main concerns of medical professionals treating a burns patient is infection, and the colloidal silver includes antibacterial properties that reduce the chance of such complications arising. Despite antibiotics now being instated as a popular alternative, specialist burns wards will still utilise treatments that involve this type of silver at the core of its delivery.
Sources:
www.purestcolloids.com/colloidal-silver-burns.php
www.wellsphere.com/parenting-article/healing-yourself-in-the
