ucbesvax.turner@ucbcad.UUCP (08/02/83)
#N:ucbesvax:5500001:000:514 ucbesvax!turner Aug 2 02:00:00 1983 This is not on the level of the Heimlich Maneuver, but might come in handy: When you burn yourself, should put something cold on the burned spot quickly. Well, I've done this, and wasted precious time getting an ice-cube out, wrapping it in a paper towel, etc. While you're doing this, LICK the burn, and suck air past it to cool it. Saliva is supposed to have an natural but mild disinfectant value anyway [ref?]. Please don't call it the Turner Maneuver. Michael Turner ucbvax!ucbesvax.turner
mlb@cbosgd.UUCP (08/16/83)
actually if you got a dog to lick the burn you would be better off. dogs have more natural disinfectant in their saliva than humans. human mouths also contain more bacteria than most other mammmals so that licking the burned area may actually increase chance of infection. the burn would have to be > 1st degree for this to occur though. cbosgd!mlb mike brooks
rcj@burl.UUCP (08/18/83)
I can definitely believe the bit about dog saliva being better for a burn than human saliva -- many animals have this anti-bacterial mucus "feature" (I've been around computers too long). When I first moved down to the Mississippi Gulf Coast, where I grew up, I used to hear "Old Wives Tales" about catfishes. Seems that catfishes have a small poison sac at the base of their dorsal fin (very common among bottom-dwelling salt-water fishes). This makes for interesting enjoyment when you are allergic to that toxin, as I am. The first time I caught a catfish spine in the finger (little fish, maybe 5" long), I passed out for about an hour and the finger was very sore for about two weeks. The next time I got stuck badly, I followed the Old Wives Tale and immediately flipped the fish over and rubbed his belly slime all over the wound. Result: No problems whatsoever; hand sore for about two DAYS only. I didn't find out until later about bottom-dwelling fishes having anti-bacterial slime on their undersides to protect them from all the muck they swim around on. I was just lucky that the catfish's mucus counteracts his own poison so well. Enough of this drivvel, I've made my point -- don't discount Old Wives, -- The MAD Programmer -- 919-228-3814 (Cornet 291) alias: Curtis Jackson ...![ floyd sb1 mhuxv ]!burl!rcj