torn wounds bleed,
as a rule, very lit-
tle. Much differ-
ence exists as to
what is cut in an
incised wound. If
only small vessels,
the capillaries, are
divided, the blood
flows steadily, of a
moderately red
color, being a mix-
ture of arterial and
venous blood. If
a vei7i is cut, the
flow is steady, and
the color of the
blood is dai'k-re^,
almost blue-black
or dark-purple.
When an a7^te?y has
been cut, b?ight
red blood comes out
in jets, timing with
the pulsation of the
heart in pumping blood through the arteries.
Whatever the source of a flow of blood
from a cut wound, we should endeavor
(after cleaning out, best with a stream of
cold water, any fo7'eig7i bodies in it) to stop
the hemorrhage by putting and holding the
edges of the wound together. P7-ess2t7'e may
then be added, so far as needful and avail-
able. Over a solid bone, as the skull, this
will always be practicable. Bleeding even
from a divided artery of the scalp can al-
ways be checked, by firm pressure on the
vessel against the bone. A co7)ip7'ess may
be made by folding up a fragment of
PRESSURE ON ARTERY OF
THIGH
THE FAMIL Y DOCTOR
handkerchief, or rag of muslin or linen, into
a thick piece an inch square. Laying this
right over the source of the bleeding, it may
be kept in place by the firm application of
a bandage around the head.
To stop bleeding from a vein, large
enough to be seen, when pressure at the
wound will not do it, the rule is to press
lUst beloiv the wound ; that is, on the side
farthest from the heart; as the blood flows in
^he veins from the extremeties towards the
neart.
When an arte?-}' bleeds, and pressure at
the wound fails or cannot be applied, press-
ure must be applied above the wound ; that
is, on the side nearer to the heart ; the
course of the blood in the arteries being
from the heart.
Lacerated wounds are those which are
torii ; as by machinery, or bites of dogs,
horses, or other beasts, etc. They are irreg-
ular in shape, seldom bleed much, but often
inflame, sometimes mortify, and hardly ever
heal ' ' by the first intention . ' ' Machinery in-
juries may be dreadful in character ; a whole
limb being torn off at once ; or a hand or a
foot torn to pieces. Such may be speedily
fatal by shock ; or their results may entail a
tedious and uncertain struggle for life ; at
least when an arm or a leg is badly lacerated.
Erysipelas is one of the dangers attending
such injuries ; tetanus (lockjaw), another ;
septiccEmia {ox pycemia), another.
Besides what may be needful on account
of the general shock to the system, lacerated
wounds require to be carefully cleared of all
fragments of foreign bodies, dirt, etc., and
then protected from the air by a proper
dressing. To eleame such a wound, a
stream of water should be allowed to flow
over it from a clean sponge, dipped in warm
water and squeezed above the wound.
Water-dressins; agrees well with such in-
juries. Double a piece of lint or soft linen,
and squeeze it out of clean tepid water or
clear lime-water. Lay this upon the wound ,
and cover it with a piece of oiled silk, oiled
paper, or thin rubber-cloth. Bandage it on
the part with just enough firmness to pre-
vent its being displaced. Such a dressing
will have to be moistened at least twice a
day and had better be changed once in
Page 223
Presented as published in 1901. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
AI-modernized reading of the original text
torn wounds bleed, as a rule, very little. Much difference exists as to what is cut in an incised wound. If only small vessels, the capillaries, are divided, the blood flows steadily, of a moderately red color, being a mixture of arterial and venous blood. If a vein is cut, the flow is steady, and the color of the blood is dark-red, almost blue-black or dark-purple. When an artery has been cut, bright red blood comes out in jets, timing with the pulsation of the heart in pumping blood through the arteries. Whatever the source of a flow of blood from a cut wound, we should endeavor (after cleaning out, best with a stream of cold water, any foreign bodies in it) to stop the hemorrhage by putting and holding the edges of the wound together. Pressure may then be added, so far as needful and available. Over a solid bone, as the skull, this will always be practicable. Bleeding even from a divided artery of the scalp can always be checked, by firm pressure on the vessel against the bone. A compress may be made by folding up a fragment of
[illustration: Pressure on artery of thigh]
handkerchief, or rag of muslin or linen, into a thick piece an inch square. Laying this right over the source of the bleeding, it may be kept in place by the firm application of a bandage around the head.
To stop bleeding from a vein, large enough to be seen, when pressure at the wound will not do it, the rule is to press just below the wound ; that is, on the side farthest from the heart; as the blood flows in the veins from the extremeties towards the neart.
When an artery bleeds, and pressure at the wound fails or cannot be applied, pressure must be applied above the wound ; that is, on the side nearer to the heart ; the course of the blood in the arteries being from the heart.
Lacerated wounds are those which are torii ; as by machinery, or bites of dogs, horses, or other beasts, etc. They are irregular in shape, seldom bleed much, but often inflame, sometimes mortify, and hardly ever heal ' ' by the first intention . ' ' Machinery injuries may be dreadful in character ; a whole limb being torn off at once ; or a hand or a foot torn to pieces. Such may be speedily fatal by shock ; or their results may entail a tedious and uncertain struggle for life ; at least when an arm or a leg is badly lacerated. Erysipelas is one of the dangers attending such injuries ; tetanus (lockjaw), another ; septicemia (or pyemia), another.
Besides what may be needful on account of the general shock to the system, lacerated wounds require to be carefully cleared of all fragments of foreign bodies, dirt, etc., and then protected from the air by a proper dressing. To eleame such a wound, a stream of water should be allowed to flow over it from a clean sponge, dipped in warm water and squeezed above the wound. Water-dressins; agrees well with such injuries. Double a piece of lint or soft linen, and squeeze it out of clean tepid water or clear lime-water. Lay this upon the wound , and cover it with a piece of oiled silk, oiled paper, or thin rubber-cloth. Bandage it on the part with just enough firmness to prevent its being displaced. Such a dressing will have to be moistened at least twice a day and had better be changed once in