[Illustration: FIG. 1.]
3. Lay the patient on his back, and ascertain whether he is bleeding. If
it is from the artery of the fore-arm, it must be compressed immediately.
If from the _artery_, the blood will _spurt out in jets_. Do not try to
stanch the blood at the wound, but find the main artery. Strip the arm,
feel for the artery, a little below the arm-pit, _just inside_ of the
_large muscle_. (Fig. 1.) _You can feel it throb._ Press it with your
thumbs or fingers, while an assistant folds a large handkerchief, or piece
of shirt, if necessary, and ties a knot in the middle, or places a _flat_,
_round_ stone in it, puts this over the artery, ties the handkerchief
below the thumbs, puts a stick through, and twists it just tight enough
to stop the bleeding. (Fig. 2.) The first man may relax his grasp, to
ascertain if the compress is sufficiently tight. If you get the knot (or
stone) on the artery, a few twists will check the blood. If the limb
becomes cold and purple, you have got it too tight. One end of the stick
may be tucked under the bandage to hold it from untwisting. The surgeon
will arrive and take up the bleeding vessel and tie it.
[Illustration: FIG. 2.]
4. If it be the leg which is cut or mangled and bleeding, find the artery,
inside the thigh, quite high up, back of the large muscle. (Fig. 3.) Bear
on quite hard, for it is deeper than in the arm, till you feel it throb.
Compress it hard, and proceed with the bandage as above directed for the
arm. The large artery (femoral) bleeds fast. Work quickly, and do not get
excited.
[Illustration: FIG. 3.]
A schoolmate of mine died in a few moments, in a blacksmith shop, from a
piece of steel flying into his leg. If the smith had known this simple
process, stripped the boy, and compressed the artery till help arrived, he
would have saved a life, an only son, the support and solace of a widowed
mother.
5. If the wound is much below the knee, find the artery (Fig. 4.) in the
hollow back of the knee (_popliteal space_), and proceed as above
directed.
[Illustration: FIG. 4.]
6. If a wound is not of an artery, that is, if the blood does not spurt
out, bandaging the wound may do till the doctor arrives.
7. If the shock has prostrated the patient, give him a teaspoonful of
brandy or other liquor--always provided he has not been drinking. Many
accidents occur in consequence of liquor-drinking. If the patient is cold,
faint, and prostrate, wrap him or her up warm, placing hot bricks, or jugs
of hot water, at the feet. When he can swallow, some hot tea, or soup, may
be given, if necessary.