Topic: Sugar for medicinal purposes

[EDGE]

Anyone have any references to how sugar was used during the civil war for medicinal uses?  I'm specifically looking for how it can be used today.  Was it used to stop bleeding, heal wounds?

Thanks!

[Orbital-Burn]

you just watched shooter, didn't you

I don't know about Civil War, but try this:

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0CE4D8123AF936A35757C0A966958260

said of a Dr. Knutson:

He has since used a salve made of sugar, which he now mixes with a mild bacteria-killing iodine liquid, on about 6,000 patients with anything from burns to shotgun wounds.

[EDGE]

That's perfect, thanks!

Shooter is where I picked that up, but I haven't watched it for at least 2 months now.  Maybe I'll have to get it out tonight.......

[Dan Barry]

"Ditch Medicine" by Hugh Coffee has a chapter on using sugar to treat wounds if you're interested, unfortunately I can't seem to find my copy.  Also, while you're on the subject of weird therapies, don't forget about the maggots in wound care!  Pretty cool (and gross).

[Tomac]

It's been years since I read this but IIRC a doctor did a few experiments and found out that sugar mixed with just enough iodine to cause the sugar to pack was surprisingly effective for treating infected wounds that didn't respond to std procedures. Supposedly the iodine helps keep bacteria under control while the sugar helps speed up the healing process.
Tomac

[EDGE]

Thanks guys!  I'll go search Amazon for that book.  And I'll have to find some iodine to put in the supply.