The importance of a visit to the dentist before coming to camp cannot be over-estimated. Every one knows the torture of a toothache, and realizes how unbearable it must be for a boy away from home and among other boys, sympathetic, of course, but busy having a good time, and with only a few patent gums to relieve the misery, and the dentist perhaps not available for two days. Parents cannot have this point too forcibly thrust upon them, as by even a single visit to a competent dentist all the sufferings of toothache may usually be prevented.

Surgical Supplies

The following list of surgical supplies will be found necessary. The quant.i.ty must be determined by the size of the camp, and the price by the firm from whom purchased.

Surgical Supplies

One-half dozen a.s.sorted gauze bandages, sizes one to three inches, 10 cents each.

Two yards sterilized plain gauze in carton, 20 cents a yard.

One roll three-inch adhesive plaster, $1.00.

One paper medium size safety pins, 10 cents.

One paper medium size common pins, 5 cents.

Four ounces sterilized absorbent cotton in cartons, 20 cents.

One-half dozen a.s.sorted egg-eyed surgeon's needles, straight to full curve, 50 cents.

One card braided silk ligature, a.s.sorted in one card (white), about 30 cents.

One hundred ordinary corrosive sublimate tablets, 25 cents.

Small surgical instrument set, comprising (F. H. Thomas Co., Boston, Ma.s.s., $3.50).

2 scalpels Forceps Director Probe Curette Scissors

One Hypodermic Syringe, all metal, in metal case, $1.50.

One Fountain Syringe (for enemata and ears).

One one-minute clinical thermometer in rubber case, $1.25. Get best registered instrument.

One number nine soft rubber catheter, 25 cents.

Small bottle collodion[1] with brush.

One-quarter pound Boric acid powder, 25 cents.

Four ounces Boric acid ointment, 50 cents.

One-quarter pound Boric acid crystals, 25 cents. Carbolic Acid, 95 cents.

Hypodermic tablets, cocaine hydro-chlorate, 1-1/8 grain, making in two drachms sterile water or one per cent solution. (To be used by Physician only.) Alcohol, 80 per cent.

Sulpho Napthol.

Iodoform gauze.

Chloroform liniment.

[Transcriber's Footnote 1: collodion: Flammable, colorless or yellowish syrupy solution of pyroxylin, ether, and alcohol, used as an adhesive to close small wounds and hold surgical dressings, in topical medications, and for making photographic plates.]

With the above list the ingenious man can perform practically every surgical operation that he would care to undertake.

For "First Aid" demonstration work you will need a number of Red Cross Outfits. 25 cents each. (31 cents postpaid.)

Medical Store

(Tablets to be used hypodermically should be used only by a physician.)

Quinine Sulphate, gr. 5. Useful in malarial regions. Give 15-20 gr. at time of expected chill. Better stay away from malarial country. No place for a camp.

Calomel, gr. 1/4, 200 at 10 cents per C. Take one tablet every 30 minutes or every hour, for eight doses in all cases where bowels need thorough cleaning out.

Phenacetine and Salol, of each gr. 2-1/2, 100 at 50 cents per C. One tablet every four hours. For headache and intestinal antisepsis. Dangerous as a depressant to heart.

Dover's Powders, gr. 5, 100 at 50 cents per C. Two tablets at bedtime, in hot water or lemonade, in acute colds. One after each meal may be added.

Dobell's Solution Tablets, 200 at 25 cents per C. One as a gargle in one-half gla.s.s hot water every two to four hours in tonsilitis and pharyngitis.

Pota.s.sium Bromide, gr. 10, 100 at 25 cents per C. For headache. Best given in solution after meals. May irritate an empty stomach.

Aspirin, gr. 5, 100 at $1.25 per C. One or two every four hours for rheumatism, headache, or general pains and aches.

Compound cathartic pills, 100 at 21 cents per C. Two at night for constipation.

Epsom Salts, four ounces, 5 cents. Two to four teaspoonfuls in hot water before breakfast.

Compound tincture of opium (Squibb), 4 ounces, 50 cents. Teaspoonful after meals for summer diarrhea.

Baking soda. Teaspoonful after meals for "distress."

Morphine Sulphate, gr, 1/4;

Strychnine Sulphate, gr. 1-30; for hypodermics, used by physicians only.

In addition to the above everyone has a stock of "old-fashioned" home remedies. Some of these are described under "Simple Remedies."

BIBLIOGRAPHY

"Backwoods Surgery and Medicine"--Charles Stuart Moody, M. D. Outing Publishing Co., New York, 75 cents net. A commonsense book written from experience. It is invaluable to campers.

"Home Treatment and Care of the Sick "-A. Temple Lovering, M.D. Otis Clapp & Son, Boston, $1.50. Full of helpful suggestions.

American Red Cross Abridged Text Book on First Aid (General Edition).

American Red Cross Society, Washington, D. C., 30 cents net. Reliable and comprehensive.

Annual Report of the United States Volunteer Life Saving Corps (Free).

Office, World Building, New York City. Contains many hints and suggestions.

Boys' Drill Regulations. National First, Aid a.s.sociation, 6 Beacon Street, Boston, Ma.s.s. 25 cents. A ma.s.s of information concerning setting-up drills, litter drills, swimming drill on land, rescue and resuscitation drills, etc.

CHAPTER XIV--SIMPLE REMEDIES

BITES BLEEDING BURNS EARS EYES FEET HEADACHE SUNSTROKE STOMACH ACHE TOOTHACHE

In a small camp a physician is unnecessary, though one should be within call. The camp leader should have a knowledge of the ordinary ailments of growing boys and simple remedies for relief. No camp of fifty or more boys should be without a physician or some upper cla.s.s medical student of high moral character. Don't run risks. When in doubt, call in a physician. The treatment of local disorders described is largely from nature's medicine chest, and simple in application.

Bites and Stings

Put on salt and water, or make a paste of soda and water, or rub the wound with aromatic ammonia, camphor, or tar soap. Common salt is excellent.

Bleeding Nose