Petroleum Jelly

Petroleum Jelly is a collection of congealed heavier petroleum products. It has applications in industrial lubrication of moving parts and vacuum systems, but in this instance the sample is provided for health applications. We still use petroleum jelly for health reasons. It can seal chapped lips or dry skin and moisturize the skin. It can also relieve other irritations. This use of petroleum jelly has not changed since the time of the Depression.

One use of petroleum jelly in the earlier years of the century was as a dressing for burns. People thought that if they were burned, the best thing to do was to cover it in grease. In modern times, medical science claims that the grease method is a bad idea, and that cold water and ice are the proper treatment materials. However, petroleum jelly may be used on a burn much later (after it has cooled down) to keep the skin from drying out too much.
Continue with Aspirin

Go back to the index to Project 4

Neil Zuckerman