July/August 2011 ISSN-1059-6518 Volume 24 Number 4
Removing a Splinter from Under a Fingernail
By Frank Hubbell, DO
Illustrations By T.B.R. Walsh
Ouch, dang it!
You have managed to hook a piece of wood under your fingernail, and in the process a splinter is now firmly lodged there. OUCH! The discomfort is quite remarkable for such a small torture device. In fact, it is almost nauseating. And even worse, if the splinter or any part of it remains under the fingernail, it will very likely turn into a very nasty and even more painful infection.
You closely examine the injury. Through the fingernail you can see the dark line of wood that runs three quarters of the way up under the nail. There is a small piece of the splinter just barely protruding out from under the nail. With great care you gently grab the stub and pull. To your absolute horror, it breaks off, leaving you with no hope of easily extracting the splinter. Now what do you do?
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Epsom Salts
/in Infection, Laxatives, Medications, OTC, Skin, Soft Tissue, Treatment/by WMN EditorsJuly/August 2011 ISSN-1059-6518 Volume 24 Number 4
Epsom Salts – MgSO4
By Frank Hubbell, DO
What is Epsom Salts?
Epsom salts consists of magnesium sulfate, MgSO4, simply magnesium plus sulfate. The name comes from the town of Epsom in England, where the mineral was originally distilled from the water of springs that came up through the porous chalk in the area.
Epsom salts is a readily available, over-the-counter, inexpensive compound with a variety of medicinal uses. In this particular article we will focus on its usefulness in treating skin infections like cellulitis. Read more
Removing a Splinter from Under a Fingernail
/in hands, Treatment/by WMN EditorsJuly/August 2011 ISSN-1059-6518 Volume 24 Number 4
Removing a Splinter from Under a Fingernail
By Frank Hubbell, DO
Illustrations By T.B.R. Walsh
Ouch, dang it!
You have managed to hook a piece of wood under your fingernail, and in the process a splinter is now firmly lodged there. OUCH! The discomfort is quite remarkable for such a small torture device. In fact, it is almost nauseating. And even worse, if the splinter or any part of it remains under the fingernail, it will very likely turn into a very nasty and even more painful infection.
You closely examine the injury. Through the fingernail you can see the dark line of wood that runs three quarters of the way up under the nail. There is a small piece of the splinter just barely protruding out from under the nail. With great care you gently grab the stub and pull. To your absolute horror, it breaks off, leaving you with no hope of easily extracting the splinter. Now what do you do?
Read more
SUMMER 2011 SOLO TRAVELS
/in Teaching Wilderness Medicine, Travel Medicine/by WMN EditorsJuly/August 2011 ISSN-1059-6518 Volume 24 Number 4
Disclaimer: The content of the Wilderness Medicine Newsletter is not a substitute for Read more
RED TIDE POISONING
/in Poisons, prevention/by WMN EditorsIt was a great day of sailing off the coast of northern Maine. Everyone was having a wonderful time cruising with the wind under bright blue skies on spectacular clear, azure waters. Late afternoon finds the crew coming into port when they noticed the usually crystal clear waters leading to port were now red along the shoreline. The waters were not just a little pink, but red and opaque. Someone asked if this was the infamous “red tide” they had often heard about; and, if so, what caused it?
ISSN-1059-6518
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