For the burn or scald itself, there is no better application than lime water and oil (flaxseed, olive, or lard oil) mixed together in equal parts. Lint, if it can be had, if not, muslin or linen rags, should be well wet with this, and laid all over the burn. If the burnt surface be extensive, over the lime-water and oil dressing put a layer of cotton wadding, for warmth. Should it be a small burn, put instead of this a piece of oiled silk, oiled paper, or rubber cloth.

A burned hand or foot will obtain the best relief by being held in cold water for some time. A remedy for limited burns which has lately become popular is, a saturated solution of soda (sodium bicarbonate). Other applications sometimes used are, simple oil (lamp-oil, castor-oil, etc,), and powdered starch. But nothing is equal in effect to the " carron oil," as the mixture of lime-water and oil has long been called.

When the sufferer's clothing covers the burn, it should be carefully removed by untying, unbuttoning, and cutting everything needful, so as to get all off without pulling or much moving the injured body. Raised water-blisters should be merely nicked to let out the water; leaving the cuticle to protect the true skin underneath. Then apply the dressing above spoken of. If the patient reacts and does well, the lime-water and oil rags must be renewed when they begin to get dry; taking them off with extreme gentleness, so as to disturb the parts as little as possible. After two or three days, a dressing of simple cerate, thickly spread on lint or soft rags, may be substituted for the oily dressing. Deep and extensive burns are sometimes very slow to heal, and leave ugly contracting scars which may require special surgical attention.