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My character was just stung on the foot by a particularly venomous scorpion, and is having a bad reaction that will eventually lead to gangrene.
If he has decent early-Victorian medical care, how long can he stave off gangrene?
I’d like him to last about a month, if that’s possible.
Thanks for your help!
Happy writing,
Deb Salisbury
The Mantua-Maker, Quality Historical Sewing Patterns and Books
www.mantua-maker.comThe Art of the Hoop: 1860 - 1869, Dress, Sewing, and Clothing Care Advice
https://www.mantua-maker.com/a---1860s-fashion.htmlDead Wizard's Loot: Wizard Whitewing #1
http://www.djsalisburybooks.com/Dead-Wizard-s-Loot.htmlHi Deb,
In my experience as a nurse, someone with a bad foot infection would not only eventually get gangrene, but probably would develop sepsis or blood infection where the offending bacteria gets into the blood and overwhelms the body. This could take a couple weeks to set up but not sure if the person with bacteremia could last a month without antibiotics? But a surgeon could amputate the person’s limb to save his life, then die later from another infection in the Victorian era. Here are some links that might help:
http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/guide/gangrene-causes-symptoms-treatments
Thanks, S. Durham! That’s exactly what I needed to know.
I think if I let the foot develop an ulcer, or just not heal (I’m not sure of the differency, so my POV character won’t know either
), and later let it get reinfected, I can have gangrene set in after a couple of weeks.Thanks for your help!
Happy writing,
Deb Salisbury
The Mantua-Maker, Quality Historical Sewing Patterns and Books
www.mantua-maker.comThe Art of the Hoop: 1860 - 1869, Dress, Sewing, and Clothing Care Advice
https://www.mantua-maker.com/a---1860s-fashion.htmlDead Wizard's Loot: Wizard Whitewing #1
http://www.djsalisburybooks.com/Dead-Wizard-s-Loot.html
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