A foundation for the investigation of burns and their effect upon the human body, with the aim of effecting a cure, is to be established at Mount final Hospital, though a donation by Jacob D. Lit, president or the institution.
Dr. Henry B. Shmookler, medical director, and Dr. Maurice Saltzman, chief resident physician, are preparing a special report on observations made by them. Observations of the burns on numerous patients brought to the hospital have been made to determine changes which are believed to take place in the chemical composition of the blood.
Dr. Benjamin Lipshutz, who also has participated in the investigations sponsored by the Lit Foundation, asserted that the problem of improvement in methods of treating surface burns requires much intensive study.
“Considerable research and much thought have been experded on this problem,” he said, “In general, results have been fatal where more than one-third of the skin’s surface has been seriously impaired.”
The introduction into the body of fluids by way of the mouth to offset the effect of any poisons engendered by the burns, is one of the startling methods of treatment being perfected by the Foundation experimenters.
“The recognition of blood concentration as a factor of importance,” said Dr. Lipshutz, “has led to a rational method of treatment, the rapid and continuous introduction of fluids by mouth, and subcutaneously and intravenously.
“The forcing of fluids is certainly a logical procedure in burn cases, for not only will blood concentration be reduced to a normal level, and thus tend to the maintenance of a normal circulation and heart action, but any hypothetical poisons will be diluted sufficiently to diminish their degree of toxicity and this dilution will also undoubtedly greatly accelerate their elimination.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
