Document Bv7qqJ97m8X0E12GOKD57BE4k

@1 fel O0 Industrial Hygiene Digest April. 196( 361 Electrical Inquiries. W. Mills, Jr., W. E. Switzer, and J. A. Moncrief. J. Am. Med. A.asn. .195, 852-854 (March 7, 1966). Electrical injur-ies constitute an important, distinctive, but often poorly understood, variety of trauma. In our complex society, and home utilization of electric power, we are continue, faced with a significant incidence of electrical accidents, and their morbidity and mortality are high. It ha* been estimated that approximately 1, 100 electrical fatalities now occur an nually in this country. Most physicians are aware that electrical burns differ from ordinary thermal Injuries of other etiologies, but the specific manner in which they are dissimilar is . frequently not uunderstood. Electrical burns present certain distinctive pathological and clin cal features, knowledge of which is important for their proper management. The smergenc; treatment of ele ctrical injuries consists of freeing the victim from the electrical contact, ap propriate precautions being taken by the rescuer to prevent electrical injuries to himself, and cardiac or respiratory resuscitatlve efforts or both as dictated by the clinical situation. Following emergency therapy and hospitalization, electrical injuries are then managed in es sentially the same manner as are ordinary thermal injuries with the exception of the treatme of the local burn, wounds. While most surgeons are in agreement that some form of excision therapy is the best method of managing the local burn wounds, this is not unanimous, and there is a wide divergence of opinion with reference to the timing of excisional therapy. Th authors' current method of treatment of the local burn wounds consists of a first excision pe: formed between "the third and fifth day after the injury, usually followed by one ot two ad ditional debridements before all devitalized tissue has been removed and autografting is feas ble. Cutaneous tiomografts are frequently employed for temporary coverage after each de bridement and pr*ior to final autografting. 362 Effectiveness of Ullute Aqueous Silver Nitrate in the Treatment of Major Burns. W. W. Monafo amdG. A. Moyer. Arch, Surg. 9_1, 200 (1965). Inanition and bacCerlal colonization of the wound are two principal causes of mortality from burns. Continuous dressing with 0.5 silver nitrate has been found to be extraordinary ef fective in preventing the growth of pathogenic bacteria without Interfering with either spon taneous epithelial-itation or the growth of split-thickness skin grafts. The wet dressings aim' late baths, and writh this technique the authors report that there has been a major decrease in mortality and in contractures. Use of 0. 52 silver nitrate stains everything, but argyrla has not occurred and antibiotics appear to be unnecessary. Being hypotonic, the dressings can syphon off extracellular minerals, and dietary supplements are indicated. It is suggested thi most burns are second degree and are made third degree by bacterial enzymes. The use of 0. 5% silver nitraCe appears to be successful because it prevents this bacterial worsening. -- Can. Med. Assn. J. Absts. 363 Resin Dermatitis In a Car Factory. H. O. Engel and C. D. Calnan. Brit. J. Ind. Med . 23., 62-66 (Jan, 1966). An outbreak of devnvatltis in a car assembly factory is described; It affected 50 workers who handled rubber weatherstrips coated with an adhesive. The adhesive was found to contain para-tertiary butyl phenol (PTBP) formaldehyde resin. Of those patch tested 70% gave posi tive reactions to tine adhesive and 65% to the resin. Improved methods of handling and per sonal protection succeeded in arresting the occurrence of dermatitis. Barrier creams gave no protection in those circumstances. The episode illustrates the different preventive con trol methods which* have to be tried when dealing with a simple skin hazard which cannot be abolished. Authors' abst. 364 Vesiculobullous Dermatitis from Tobacco Smoke. F. E. Cormia and P. F. deGara. J. Am. Med. Assra. .193, 141 (1965). Allergic aensitivitv to tobacco is veTy rare. A 35-year-old printer with a chronic vesicu lobullous dermatiti s observed a marked flare of his dermatitis after smoking 1-1/2 packs of cigarettes. When he stopped smoking, the dermatitis cleared. Several types of tobacco caused flares after smoking, and a skin teBt with tobacco extract gave a positive wheal and flare reaction. -- Cond. from J. Occ. Med, Absts. 03122100 13.