Burns and their treatment : including dermatitis from high explosives / J.M.H. MacLeod.

  • MacLeod, J. M. H. (John MacLeod Hendrie), 1870-1954.
Date:
1918
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Burns and their treatment : including dermatitis from high explosives / J.M.H. MacLeod. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    The raw surface heals slowly, for the new growth of epidermis has to take place entirely from the edges, as the epidermal cells of the sloughed area imave been absolutely <destroyed.. It has been estimated that the new growth occurs at the rate of about an eighth of an inch per week, and consequently if the raw surface be large it may be months before it is completely covered. Healing is delayed should suppuration be excessive, owing to the more or tess. deep ulcerations which may - result ; it is also hindered where the granulations are ex- uberant and these must be restrained, either by suitable astringents or by continuous pressure exerted by a dressing. The healing may be facilitated by early grafting, which may be resorted to even in the presence of a semi-purulent discharge, as this is no deterrent to the grafts holding. The scar from burns of the fourth degree is invari- ably uneven and may be unsightly ; it is irregular in outline and not infrequently stellate, with processes extending for varying distances into the surrounding tissue. As a general rule, it may be said that the more rapid the healing the better the type of scar which will result, and that where healing is delayed from some reason or another it is liable to be asscciated with a more or less excessive formation of scar tissue, which, on contracting, may lead to impairment of movement or marked deformity. As time goes on the scar may become hypertrophic or keloidal from a definite new growth of fibrous tissue in the skin. This development appears first