Dripread - Book

or
cleaned, and at once evenly and smoothly closed by bringing both edges
close together and securing them in that position by adhesive plaster.
Cut thin strips of sticking plaster, and bring the parts together; or,
if large and deep, cut two broad pieces, so as to look like the teeth of
a comb, and place one on each side of the wound, which must be cleaned
previously. These pieces must be arranged so that they shall interlace
one another; then, by laying hold of the pieces on the right side with
one hand, and those on the other side with the other hand and pulling
them from one another, the edges of the wounds are brought together
without any difficulty.

Ordinary Cuts are dressed by thin strips, applied by pressing down the
plaster on one side of the wound, and keeping it there, and pulling in
the opposite direction; then suddenly depressing the hand when the edges
of the wound are brought together.

CONTUSIONS are best healed by laying a piece of folded lint, well wetted
with extract of lead or boracic acid, on the part, and, if there is much
pain, placing a hot bran poultice over the dressing, repeating both if
necessary every, two hours. When the injuries are very severe lay a
cloth over the part, and suspend a basin over it filled with cold
lotion. Put a piece of cotton into the basin, so that it shall allow the
lotion to drop on the cloth, and thus keep it always wet.

HEMORRHAGE, when caused by an artery being divided or torn, may be known
by the blood issuing out of the wound in leaps or jerks, and being of a
bright scarlet color. If a vein is injured, the blood is darker and
flows continuously. To arrest the latter apply pressure by means of a
compress and bandage. To arrest arterial bleeding, get a piece of wood
(part of a broom handle will do), and tie a piece of tape to one end of
it. Then tie a piece of tape loosely over the arm, and pass the other
end of the wood under it; twist the stick around and around until the
tape compresses the arm sufficiently to arrest the bleeding, and then
confine the other end by tying the string around the arm. A compress
made by enfolding a penny piece in several folds of lint or linen
should, however, be first placed under the tape and over the artery, If
the bleeding is very obstinate, and it occurs in the arm, place a cork
underneath the string, on the inside of the fleshy part, where the
artery may be felt beating by any one; if in the leg, place a cork in
the direction of a line drawn from the inner part of the knee toward the
outer part of the groin. It is an excellent thing to accustom yourself
to find out the position of these arteries, or, indeed, any that are
superficial, and to explain to every person in your house where they
are, and how to stop bleeding. If a stick cannot be got, take a
handkerchief, make a cord bandage of it, and tie a knot in the middle;
the knot acts as a compress, and should be placed over the artery, while
the two ends are c around the thumb. Observe always to place
the ligature between the wound and the heart. Putting your finger into a
bleeding wound, and making pressure until a surgeon arrives, will
generally stop violent bleeding.

BLEEDING FROM THE NOSE, from whatever cause, may generally be stopped by
putting a plug of lint into the nostrils; if this does not do, apply a
cold lotion to the forehead; raise the head, and place over it both
arms, so that it will rest on the hands; dip the lint plug, slightly
moistened, into some powdered gum arabic, and plug the nostrils again;
or dip the plug into equal parts of powdered gum arabic and alum, and
plug the nose. Or the plug may be dipped in Friar's balsam, or tincture
of kino. Heat should be applied to the feet; and, in obstinate cases,
the sudden shock of a cold key, or cold water poured down the spine,
will often instantly stop the bleeding. If the bowels are confined, take
a purgative. Injections of alum solution from a small syringe into the
nose will often stop hemorrhage.

VIOLENT SHOCKS will sometimes stun a person, and he will remain
unconscious. Untie strings, collars, etc.; loosen anything that is tight
and interferes with the breathing; raise the head; see if there is
bleeding from any part; apply smelling-salts to the nose, and hot
bottles to the feet.

IN CONCUSSION, the surface of the body is cold and pale, and the pulse
weak and small, the breathing slow and gentle, and the pupil of the eye
generally contracted or small. You can get an answer by speaking loud,
so as to arouse the patient. Give a little brandy and water, keep the
place quiet, apply warmth, and do not raise the head too high.

The Handy Cyclopedia of Things Worth Knowing / A Manual of Ready Reference