Why was turpentine used on cuts?

Answer 1

It's an antiseptic & it acts as a stiptic agent (stopping the bleeding).

Answer 2

The same reason that a stalk of tobacco was placed on a baby's diaper to stop diaper rash. Dr. says NO to turpentine therapy!
Misinformation!


Medicinal uses

Turpentine has been used medically since ancient times.

Applied externally to the affected areas, turpentine is a highly effective treatment for lice.
Turpentine can be mixed with animal fat as a primitive chest rub for nasal and throat ailments. Many modern chest rubs still contain some turpentine (e.g., Vicks).
Internal administration of turpentine is no longer common today, though it was once the preferred means of treating intestinal parasites due to its antiseptic and diuretic properties.
Drinking turpentine is extremely dangerous and can be life threatening. In addition, drinking turpentine is not an effective way to induce an abortion[2]
also read-
http://www.provet.co.uk/lorgue/5ce8a19.htm

:) Juju

Answer 3

I remember the use of turpentine on cuts and scrapes as a child. I was working on a farm tractor and cut my leg and nothing close around to clean it with. My father in law said to use the diesel fuel. I put a tiny dab on there and it didn't even get sore or infected. I am not recommending this however but it did work for me in a pinch.

Answer 4

No---peroxide kills the tissue surround the cut, and will cause scarring. I use Betadine Solution (Iodine) to clean cuts, dilute about 2 tablespoons in a cup of water and clean the wound with that. Its MUCH better than peroxide or rubbing alcohol--and it actually disinfects. Other must haves include: Crazy Glue (particularly helpful for cuts where a flap of skin has been partially "shaved off"---clean the wound, dry the skin, apply crazy glue around the area, put the skin back in place, wrap with Vet Wrap for about 4 days, unwrap and VOILA---barely any scarring and it works FAST!) Absorbent Cotton (in a roll) Standing Bandages Vet Wrap Stethoscope Cotton Swabs Baby Diapers a blood coagulator (like Wonderdust--stops bleeding in a pinch-- and I note ONLY in an extreme emergency--as it is bad for the tissue surrounding the cut, but hey--if your vet can't make it out immediately, its either stop the bleeding or lose the horse...you choose!) Epsom Salts (for making Saline Solution) Antibacterial Ointment (try HABITANE or DermaGel) Clean, Sanitized Rags (preferably cotton as it is smooth and absorbent--I love pieces of old cotton tee-shirts--I find they work the best & are cheap) Poultice Pads for abcesses Thermometer (we use a digital one) with a string attached--incase it goes "missing" up there....ahem.. Scissors--make sure they're sharp! Non-stick absorbent pads for bangaging Stretchy Gauze wrap--for bandaging wounds Duct Tape This is all I could think of for now...but I'm sure there is more that I have forgotten to add-----our barn first aid kit is basically ginormous--we have pretty much everything you would every need. Our travel kit is almost as large!

Answer 5

Nobody seems to have said it is also an astringent,Assists with the arrest of bleeding(Makes the blood vessels contract)its an old remedy and I think if you used it on a patient they would be liable to belt you,Hope this helps,Seasons Greetings.
PS just as an add on some mothers in the past used to put corn flour on cuts to stop bleeding.

Answer 6

cause it burns and your parents wanted you to learn a lesson to not cut your self so oftern!!! also works great as a teaching tool to break children from sucking there thumbs!!!

learned about the thumb thing when several girls wanted to insure i did not keep turpentine in the house!!!

Answer 7

Years ago, a solution was used called Mecurichrome (something like that). It was said to contain a small amount of mercury. Not on the market anymore.

Answer 8

Probably for it to do double-duty as a disinfectant and to cauterize the cut. --F.

Answer 9

antiseptic, bring boils to a head and to ease soreness

Answer 10

because it was handy and it's a good disinfectant! Ammonia works too!

Good Question!
Star for U!