Testimonial for Witsalf:
I had a bottle of sulfuric acid spill on me at the co-op. Immediately, I cut away what was left of my pants and called for a doctor. They all said that ultimately there was nothing they could do for me since the acid had penetrated my flesh. So, we resorted to pouring milk, which fortunately brought some relief.
I went to the state hospital (it’s the only option in rural areas until you can reach the nearest doctor 150km away or a hospital 350km away in an emergency). The skin on the sole of my foot peeled away when they removed my sandal. They administered a shot and sent me home.
So, the photos with the severely swollen foot are from the first day. Then, it got worse, and a month later, it was closed and healthy. You can see that there was a time when there was no skin on my foot at all, and the locks on my leg could accommodate two matchsticks stacked on top of each other in those slots. I took painkillers for the first two days and then stopped because they were no longer needed, and NO antibiotics were used.
The first week was tough, and a lot of acid drained out. So, my father arranged four bags of saline for me, and I flushed my leg once and then just applied the ointment. I couldn’t wash with Dettol, Savlon, or saltwater because it was excruciatingly painful. I didn’t even clean my leg in the mornings and evenings, just wiped it with cotton. When I applied the ointment, it would sting for 2 to 5 minutes, and from there, I could walk on my foot. It was nauseating at times as it drained, but I could see the flesh turning pink, and every time I opened a wound, I could see it heal, and how the skin grew from morning to evening.