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[Mephansteras]

Wouldn't hard alcohol like Vodka be a somewhat useful disinfectant? Not ideal, but better than nothing.

[Sheb]

Should work pretty well actually, with less pain than a cauterization.

[GrizzlyAdamz]

Well I did say 'sterile', but I suppose just 'clean' would suffice.

Electrocauterizers are only used in places where sutures wouldn't- in particular, trying to suture something like a pierced liver would only lead to more bleeding, and there's a certain artery up inside of one's nose that's notorious for causing frequent, nasty nose bleeds that they tackle with a cauterizer.

Yes, alcohol is much better for general 'disinfecting' than cauterizing- which just makes you more prone to infection. Cauterizing is used for bleeding, (that which cannot be staunched by pressure), or in the case of an already present infection:

You'd have to cut away the dead/infected area. Not just the dead stuff, but a little bit around it as well. This hurts a little, and you use cautery to stop the bleeding afterwards. After that you endeavor to keep the raw (seared) flesh clean & clear. Doesn't always work either.

[Iceblaster]

Maybe have a way to use alcohol as a disinfectant for those who don't have it

In all seriousness though, cauterization has never been used by me so I've never worried about it in the game.

[i2amroy]

Cauterizing actually increase the chances of infections. It dies help with bleeding though.

Pretty much this. The fact that it can cure an infection at all is just as a compromise between the old "instantly cures all bite wounds" and the reality of "doesn't help against infections at all".

[Mephansteras]

I've used cauterization a lot, mostly early on before I've found much in the way of proper medical supplies.

Hmm...this reminds me that I should have my current character scout out a bunch of the evac shelters nearby and stock them up a bit. Make things easier on me in case he dies before the next version comes out. I found a road map, so I know where quite a few of them are.

[Iceblaster]

Just a small trivial question: Anyone know why GlyphGryph's account here is inactive?

He on some binge coding spree or something

[GrizzlyAdamz]

Just a small trivial question: Anyone know why GlyphGryph's account here is inactive?

He on some binge coding spree or something

http://smf.cataclysmdda.com/index.php?topic=3501.0

[Iceblaster]

Ah.

Working on the game and such.

Will have to follow their forums more.

[scrdest]

Should work pretty well actually, with less pain than a cauterization.

No. Just... no. I know an MD who arrived with EMTs to a little girl who poured either very hot water or coffee, can't remember right now, and ended up having to save her from shock after her grandmother tried to disinfect the wound with vodka.

Besides, I've cauterized ulcers with alcohol before and it hurts comparably to burning, seriously.

[GrizzlyAdamz]

Vodka wouldn't have caused the shock unless it was boiling too. That sounds unrelated.

[scrdest]

Vodka wouldn't have caused the shock unless it was boiling too. That sounds unrelated.

Vodka on wound -> pain -> shock.

[Mech#4]

I would suggest an adult could better cope with the pain then a young girl. I do think alcohol could be used for disinfectant, not that effective since things like Vodka have extra things added for flavour and so forth.

Kind of related:

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

I remember reading a book by Spike Milligan that they used alcohol for getting rid of crabs during WW2. Apparently it was quite painful, if the screaming he wrote about was anything to go by.    The books called "Hitler: My part in his downfall" if your interested in reading it.

[Sheb]

Does it hurt that much? I've used rubbing alcohol a couple time for scratches and stuff (never hurt myslef seriously), and while it burns a bit, it seems waaaaay better than grabbing a knife and my lighter and burn the whole place.

[Mephansteras]

Vodka wouldn't have caused the shock unless it was boiling too. That sounds unrelated.

Vodka on wound -> pain -> shock.

I'm sure it hurts like hell, but it's better than dying of an infected zombie bite.