without any laceration or tearing about them.
2. LACERATED, when the flesh is torn by machinery, hooks, and other
blunt instruments.
3. CONTUSED, when there are divisions of skin and flesh with more or
less bruising of the parts, attended by a greater or less amount of loss
of substance. They are generally caused by falls or blows from blunt
instruments. A _blood blister_ is the simplest form of a contusion and
is due to an injury which breaks a blood vessel under the skin, without
breaking the skin itself.
4. PUNCTURED WOUNDS or STABS form another class. These are produced by
the forcible entry of pointed weapons, as bayonets, lances, daggers,
scissors, etc. The danger consists in their penetration into and injury
of the blood vessels, nerves, bowels, and other organs.
5. POISONED WOUNDS are those due to the introduction of some poison into
the incised or punctured part. Stings and bites of venomous reptiles and
insects belong to this class, and also wounds inflicted by poisonous
arrows.
Having briefly described the various kinds of wounds, we will proceed to
the treatment suitable to each class.
1. INCISED WOUNDS. TREATMENT. Here the flesh is divided by some sharp
cutting instrument, the cut parts naturally separating, giving the wound
a gaping appearance. All that is to be done is to bring the edges of the
wound together and keep them in that position until they join together
again. This can be easily managed by means of sticking plaster or
collodion, after the wound has been washed with cold water and the skin
dried. There need be no hurry to stop the bleeding in ordinary cases,
unless it be very profuse. When the blood has a dark bluish appearance,
it is from a lacerated or severed _vein_, and as its flow is from the
extremities toward the heart, this flow can be checked by pressure on
the flesh over the vein, _below_ the wound. If, however, the blood is of
a bright red color, it comes from an artery and must be at once stopped
by applying a bandage of some strong material, as a handkerchief,
tightly round the limb, and _above_ the wound. To perfect the pressure
on an artery, insert a stick under the bandage and twist it round
several times. This will close the channel and stop the flow of blood
until professional aid is obtained. It should be borne in mind that when
the blood ceases to come out in _spurts_, the artery is under control.
2. LACERATED WOUNDS. In these, large pieces of flesh are often torn away
and the open wound is filled with sand or other extraneous substances,
according to the nature of the accident, which must be removed by
washing freely with a soft sponge. Wounds caused by laceration are very
liable to active inflammation from the great injury done to the parts
and from their not bleeding much. If the wounds be considerable, the
sufferer must have absolute rest, and the injured parts should be
covered with cooling lotions. An attempt should be made to press the
parts as nearly as possible into their original position, so far as the
wound will allow, and to keep them so by using strips of plaster. The
bandages should lie loosely over the injured parts, but firmly applied
to the sound. The bowels should be opened by an ordinary black draught.
Should any part of the instrument or other cause of the wound remain
deeply in a dangerous region, do not use excessive force in efforts to
remove it, but await the arrival of a surgeon. In cases where there is
considerable inflammation, take off the adhesive plasters and put on
leeches, encouraging the bleeding by the application of hot water and a
sponge. Hot fomentations and poultices should take the place of cold
lotion; and if there be much fever, restlessness or delirium, then
saline purgatives, opium, and a very low diet will be required.
3. CONTUSED WOUNDS require the treatment as those by laceration. That
is, cold applications at the first, and if inflammation should afterward
set in, then leeches and hot fomentations. These wounds rarely heal
without suppuration and sloughing, or mortification of the parts,
according to the extent of the injury, but they do not bleed much.
Poultices of bread and water, or linseed meal should be applied three or
four times a day to encourage these processes, and when the abscess
breaks, or the slough is thrown off they should be treated as ordinary
ulcers, with basilicon, or other stimulating ointment, for the purpose
of effecting a healthy cure.
4. PUNCTURED WOUNDS or STABS, produced by swords, daggers, etc., are
more dangerous and difficult of cure than any of those previously
described. They cause great swelling and inflammation of the absorbents
(vessels running from the wound to the neighboring glands, marked by
lines following the course of those vessels), with abscesses of the
glands, and other portions of the body, symptomic fever and erysipelas.
When the tendons and sinews have been punctured, lockjaw and violent
convulsions are generally the result.
In treating wounds of this kind, the puncture should, in the first case,
be laid open and superficial dressings of cold lotions or cold water
only be used, and a loose bandage. If the pain and swelling increase,
leeches may be applied to the parts about the wound and hot fomentations
and poultices should replace the cold lotions, putting a small linen
rag, spread with spermaceti cerate, over the wound. The limb should rest
on an inclined plane to assist the gravitation of the blood towards the
body. Saline purgatives and opiates are often required when great pain
and inflammation are present. All stimulating drinks should be stopped,
the bowels kept freely open, and perfect rest enforced.
5. POISONED WOUNDS. _Bites of Venomous Snakes and Reptiles._ When bitten
by a snake or other venomous reptile, at once tie a piece of string
tightly round the part _above_ the wound to prevent the return of the
blood to the heart. Wash the bite well, and either cut out a piece from
the bitten part, or apply a dry cup; if the latter is not ready at hand,
take a large quill or small tube and placing one end over the wound suck
away at the other. This will create a vacuum and do as a cupping glass.
Suction with the mouth, if the spot can be reached, will answer equally
well. After doing one of these things, rub the wound well with some
lunar caustic, or else take a poker or a steel, and after making it red
hot, press it well into the wound. In rattlesnake bites, whiskey or
other alcoholic stimulants, taken in large quantities, and immediately
after the injury, is the only known remedy.
_For Bites of Mosquitoes, Spiders, and Stings of Bees and Wasps_, the
best known applications are a solution of common salt, or sugar of lead,
1 scruple; rose-water, 4 ounces. Mix together and apply externally. If
the above are not at hand, cover the bites with wet earth. Tincture of
arnica, one-half ounce, and cold water, four ounces, is also an
excellent remedy.
---------------------
Accidents.—How to avoid them.
It is beyond the power of man to secure absolute immunity from
accidents, even when their possibilities have been reduced to a minimum,
so far as human foresight is capable of effecting it.
Disregard and neglect of the very precautions enjoined to ensure safety,
and the frequent wilful violation of both natural and moral law, are in
themselves the too fruitful cases of many disasters which might
otherwise have been prevented. Our path through life is daily beset with
unknown and unforeseen perils, and familiarity with them begets
contempt, and a disregard of what pain and suffering our selfishness and
want of care may entail not only to ourselves, but others.
The various inventions that tend to promote man’s wealth or pleasure and
comfort, impose responsibilities which, if not rightly understood and
carried out may bring disaster on many innocent people. In our
home-life, in our journeys whether of pleasure or business, in the
workshop or office, in the outdoor enjoyments in which we participate,
our freedom from accident depends upon the skill and care of others
equally as on our own, and this mutual dependence we must share through
our walk in life.
It is impossible to give any rule for the avoidance of accidents beyond
the common sense one of a proper regard to our own safety and that of
others dependent on the righteous discharge of our duty. By care and
presence of mind many accidents may be altogether prevented and the
disastrous results of others lessened by knowing what to do and how to
do it under certain given circumstances.
The object of this book is to provide in a clear and comprehensive form
such rudimentary knowledge of how accidents may be avoided and how we
should act in cases of emergency, before skilled advice can be obtained,
as can be readily possessed by any intelligent person.
---------------------
Presence of Mind. Take Things Quietly.
Knowledge of what should and ought to be done in cases of accident or
emergency, is without doubt of primary importance to all of us, for it
is impossible to say when its need may not be felt; but to have the
_power_ and will to put this knowledge to practical and effective use,
is a very different matter and requires qualifications which are either
non-existent or not readily found in persons called upon suddenly to
exercise them.
The truth of this statement can be verified any day in our very streets.
An accident occurs, a crowd naturally collects round the scene, doing on
the simple impulse of the moment what at other times they would decry as
culpable curiosity, but the observant onlooker will soon notice that one
man, by his mere force of character and presence of mind, at once seizes
his opportunity and knowing how to act—acts.
It is not given to every one to possess this gift, but with some it is
inherent, a part of their very nature, and a sense of danger and the
necessity for prompt, decisive and undemonstrative action, seems at once
to rouse the latent energy to life. It is this very power of being equal
to the occasion which constitutes _presence_ of mind, a quality,
however, capable of cultivation and development. A great difficulty is
often felt when a person is, for the first time, suddenly brought face
to face with a case that demands the exercise of self-possession and the
ability of keeping calm and quiet when these are absolutely essential.
There is an instinctive feeling of horror and shrinking from the sight
of blood, or any great bodily suffering, which is not unnatural, but the
difficulties are only increased and the dangers intensified by senseless
screaming and the hindering fussiness so frequently displayed, when
silence and prompt recourse to the necessary treatment are imperatively
required.
It by no means follows that a person is by nature hard-hearted and
unsympathetic, when bravely and determinedly facing a difficulty which
requires personal feeling to be put aside, indeed it is very far from
being the case, for powers of self-control and self-sacrifice are called
for, which are often painful and hard to exercise.
The wards of our hospitals are walked and tended by tender-hearted men
and women whose unselfish devotion testifies to their sympathy with, and
their desire to alleviate the sufferings of the patients.
Pain and suffering affect persons in different ways, borne by one in
silent endurance, whilst another will shout and writhe with the agony.
The man whose calling necessitates an active life in the open air, feels
more acutely the confinement to a bed, than one whose life has been
devoted to study or other sedentary occupation, and a restlessness is
exhibited by the former which the latter seldom shows. This is a point
worth bearing in mind by those who attend on patients. The sufferers,
too, can do much to hasten their own recovery and to lessen the anxiety
and trouble of those who administer to their wants and comforts by a
cheerful acquiescence in all that is required of them and a manly
determination not to give way, but bravely to bear their burden of
suffering. As presence of mind and calm self-control are necessary in
the nurser, so is a ready compliance to all that is asked of him
requisite in the patient.
---------------------
Concluding Remarks.
If this book is to be used by the present and rising generation, as I
humbly hope and trust that it will, it ought not to be listlessly read
merely as a novel or as any other piece of fiction, but it must be
thoroughly and carefully studied until its contents in all its bearing
be completely mastered and understood.
-----
Footnote 1:
This appears to be from _Lectures on the Principles and Practice of
Physic_ by Sir Thomas Watson.
Footnote 2:
Dr. John Hunter, 1728-1793.
THE END.
---------------------------------------------------------
INDEX.
---
A.
Accidents and Emergencies, 7
Accidents on the Water, 11
” How to avoid them, 123
Ache, Tooth, 114
Acids, Poisoning by, 93
Ague Drops, see Arsenic, 94
Alkalies, Poisoning by, 95
Ammonia or Hartshorn, see Alkalies, 95
Ankle and Foot broken, 30
Ankle, Dislocation of, 60
Antidotes for Poisons, 93
Antimony, Poisoning by, 94
Apoplexy, 12
Aquafortis, see Acids, 93
Arm, above the Elbow broken, 22
” below the Elbow broken, 24
Arsenic, Poisoned by, 94
Asiatic Cholera, 15
B.
Bad Fish, Poisoning by, 95
Bilious Colic, 45
Bites of Snakes, 102
Bleeding from the Nose, 31
” ” Cut or Wound, 33
Blue Vitriol, see Copper Compounds, 96
Bones broken, 19
Bowels, Looseness of the, 52
Broken Bones, 19
” Head, 20
” Collar Bone, 20
” Ribs, 21
” Arm above the elbow, 22
” Elbow, 23
” Arm below the elbow, 24
” Hand, 25
” Finger, 26
” Wrist, 26
” Hip Joint, 26
” Thigh, 27
” Knee-pan, 28
” Leg, 29
” Ankle and Foot, 30
Bruises, 30
Bug Poison, Poisoning by, 95
Burns and Scalds, 34
Butter of Antimony, see Antimony, 94
C.
Carbolic Acid, see Acids, 94
Catalepsy—Trance, 37
Charcoal, suffocated by, 109
Children’s Colic, 49
Chloroform, Poisoning by, 97
Chloral, see Chloroform, 97
Cholera Morbus, 40
” Asiatic, 15
Choking, 39
” suffocated by, 108
Clothes catching Fire, 42
Collar Bone broken, 20
Cold, Effects of, 64
Colic, 43
” Wind or Flatulent, 44
” Flatulent or Wind, 44
” Bilious, 45
” Painters’, 47
” in Children, 49
Concluding Remarks, 128
Contused Wounds, 120
Convulsions—Fits, 75
Copper Compounds, Poisoning by, 96
Corrosive Sublimate, see Mercury Compounds, 96
Corrosive Sublimate, see Bug Poison, 95
Crabs, see Bad Fish, 95
Cramps, 51
Creosote Acid, see Acids, 94
Crochet Needles in the Flesh, 73
Cut or Wound, Bleeding from, 33
Cyanide of Potassium, see Prussic Acid, 94
D.
Diarrhœa, 52
Dislocations, 56
” of Neck, 56
” of Fingers and Toes, 57
” of Jaw, 57
” of Shoulder, 58
” of Hip, 59
” of Wrist, 59
” of Knee-pan, 60
” of Ankle, 60
Drowning, 61
” suffocated by, 109
E.
Ear-ache, 115
Ear, Foreign Bodies in the, 80
Effects of Cold, 64
Elbow broken, 23
Emergencies and Accidents, 7
Epilepsy, 67
Epileptic Fits, 67
Ether, see Chloroform, 97
Eye, Things in the, 113
F.
Face and Jaw, Pains in the, 114
Fainting Fits, 72
Finger broken, 26
Finger and Toes, Dislocation of, 57
Fire, Clothes catching on, 42
Fish-hooks in the Flesh, 73
Fits—Convulsions, 75
” Fainting, 72
” Epileptic, 67
Flatulent or Wind Colic, 44
Flesh, Fish-hooks in the, 73
” Crochet Needles in the, 73
” Thorns in the, 74
” Splinters in the, 74
Foreign Substances in the Nose, 82
Foreign Bodies in the Gullet, 78
Foreign Bodies in the Windpipe, 79
Foreign Bodies in the Ear, 80
Foot and Ankle broken, 30
Foul Air, suffocated by, 109
Fractures, 19
Frost Bites, 64
G.
General Remarks, 99
Gullet, Foreign Bodies in the, 78
H.
Hand, bones broken, 25
Hartshorn or Ammonia, see Alkalies, 95
Head, broken bones in the, 20
Hip, dislocation of, 59
Hip Joint broken, 26
How to avoid Accidents, 123
Hydrophobia—Rabies, 84
I.
Illuminating Gas, suffocated by, 109
Incised Wounds, 118
Insects, Stings of, 107
Iodine, Poisoning by, 96
Ivy Poison, 91
Ivy, Poisoning by, 98
J.
Jaw and Face, Pains in the, 114
” Dislocation of, 57
” Lock, 86
K.
Knee-pan broken, 28
” dislocation of, 60
L.
Lobsters, see Bad Fish, 95
Lacerated Wound, 119
Laudanum, Poisoning by, 97
Laurel water, see Prussic Acid, 94
Lead Compounds, Poisoning by, 96
Leg, Bones broken, 29
Litharge, see Lead Compounds, 96
Lockjaw, 86
Looseness of the Bowels, 52
Lucifer Matches, see Phosphorous, 99
Lunar Caustic, Poisoning by, 96
Lye of Wood-ashes, see Alkalies, 95
M.
Mercury Compounds, Poisoning by, 96
Mind, Presence of, 125
Morbus, Cholera, 40
Morphine, see Laudanum, 97
Muriatic Acid, see Acids, 93
Mussels, see Bad Fish, 95
N.
Neck, Dislocation of, 56
Nitrate of Silver, see Lunar Caustic, 96
Nitric Acids, see Acids, 93
Nose, Bleeding from the, 31
” Foreign Substances in the, 82
Noxious Vapors, Suffocated by, 109
Nux Vomica, see Strychnine, 98
O.
Oil of Vitriol, see Acids, 93
Oil of Bitter Almonds, see Prussic Acid, 94
Opium, see Laudanum, 97
Oxalates or Oxalic Acid, see Acids, 93
Oxalic or Oxalate Acid, see Acids, 93
Oxide of Antimony, see Antimony, 94
P.
Pains in the Face and Jaw, 115
Painters’ Colic, 47
Palsy—Paralysis, 87
Paralysis—Palsy, 87
Phosphorous, Poisoning by, 99
Plants and Seeds, ” 98
Poison—Ivy, 91
Poisoned Wound, 122
Poisoning by Acid, 93
” ” Prussic Acid, 94
” ” Arsenic, 94
” ” Antimony, 94
” ” Alkalies, 95
” ” Bad Fish, 95
” ” Bug Poison, 95
” ” Copper Compounds, 96
” ” Mercury Compounds, 96
” ” Zinc Compounds, 96
” ” Iodine, 96
” ” Lead Compounds, 96
” ” Lunar Caustic, 96
” ” Laudanum, 97
” ” Chloroform, 97
” ” Strychnine, 98
” ” Plants and Seeds, 98
” ” Ivy, 98
” ” Phosphorous, 99
Poisons, 91
Poisons and their Antidotes, 93
Potassa Caustic, see Alkalies, 95
Presence of Mind, 125
Prussic Acid, Poisoning by, 94
Punctured or Stab Wounds, 121
Q.
Quicklime, see Alkalies, 95
Quietly take things, 125
R.
Rabies and Hydrophobia, 84
Rat Poison, see Strychnine, 98
” see Arsenic, 94
Red Lead, see Lead Compounds, 96
Red Precipitate, see Mercury Compounds, 96
Ribs broken, 21
S.
Scalds and Burns, 34
Scheele’s Green, see Arsenic, 94
Sea sickness, 99
Seeds and Plants, Poisoning by, 98
Shoulder, Dislocation of, 58
Sickness, Sea, 99
Smoke, suffocated by, 110
Snake Bites, 102
Soda Caustic, see Alkalies, 95
Solution or Tincture, see Iodine, 96
Soothing Syrups, see Laudanum, 97
Spirits of Salts, see Acids, 93
Splinters in the Flesh, 73
Sprains or Strains, 104
Stabs or Punctured Wounds, 121
Stings of Insects, 107
Strains or Sprains, 104
Strychnine, Poisoning by, 98
Suffocated by Choking, 108
” Drowning, 109
” Noxious Vapors, 109
” Foul Air, 109
” Charcoal, 109
” Illuminating Gas, 109
” Smoke, 110
Suffocation, 108
Sugar of Lead, see Lead Compounds, 96
Sulphuric Acid, see Acids, 93
Sunstroke, 110
T.
Take Things Quietly, 125
Tartar emetic, see Antimony, 94
Thigh broken, 27
Things in the Eye, 110
Thorns in the Flesh, 73
Tincture or Solution, see Iodine, 96
Toes and Fingers, Dislocation of, 57
Tooth-ache, 114
Trance—Catalepsy, 37
V.
Verdigris, see Copper Compounds, 96
Vermilion, see Mercury Compounds, 96
W.
Water, Accidents on the, 11
White Precipitate, see Mercury Compounds, 96
White Vitriol, see Zinc Compounds, 96
White Lead, see Lead Compounds, 96
Wind or Flatulent Colic, 44
Windpipe, Foreign Bodies in the, 79
Wounds, 116
” Incised, 118
” Lacerated, 119
” Contused, 120
” Punctured or Stab, 121
” Poisoned, 122
Wound or Cut, Bleeding from, 33
Wrist, Dislocation of, 59
” broken, 26
Z.
Zinc Compounds, Poisoning by, 96
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Transcriber’s Notes
▪ Note: Archaic spellings have been retained. Printer’s errors and
apparent misspellings have been changed and are noted below
▪ Pg. 6: Added hyphen: ‘Tooth-ache, Pains in the Face and Jaw, Ear
ache’ to ‘Ear-ache’—Table of Contents only place without hyphen
▪ Pg. 13: Corrected typo: ‘... persons of square stout built’ to
‘build’
▪ Pg. 19: Corrected typo: ‘... or from it’s being bent’ to ‘its’
▪ Pg. 23: Corrected typo: ‘... but not to tightly’ to ‘too’
▪ Pg. 26: Changed formatting: ‘_Hand._ Fracture of the _Hand_.’ to
‘HAND.’—Small Caps elswhere in comparable settings
▪ Pg. 29: Corrected typo: ‘... lifting the latter well of the ground’
to ‘well off’
▪ Pg. 35: Corrected typo: ‘... depends upon the extend’ to ‘extent’
▪ Pg. 37: Corrected typo: ‘... after the paroxism has passed’ to
‘paroxysm’
▪ Pg. 38: Missing period added: ‘... may be cited as amongst the
principal’ to ‘principal.’
▪ Pg. 38: Corrected typo: ‘... should also be taken to strenghten’ to
‘strengthen’
▪ Pg. 38: Spelling retained: ‘oil of vriganum’—most likely an old
variant of ‘origanum’
▪ Pg. 39: Corrected typo: ‘Some children eat much to fast’ to ‘too
fast’
▪ Pg. 51: Corrected typo: ‘... the exercise mast be moderated’ to ‘must
be’
▪ Pg. 56: Missing period added: ‘Neck Place’ to ‘Neck. Place’
▪ Pg. 62: Corrected typo: ‘... the occurrence of insensibilty’ to
‘insensibility’
▪ Pg. 67: Missing period added: ‘difficult to heal Red precipitate’ to
‘heal.’
▪ Pg. 67: Corrected typo: ‘... where there is much imflammation’ to
‘inflammation’
▪ Pg. 76: Corrected typo: ‘... following is recomcommended.’ to
‘recommended’
▪ Pg. 78: Corrected typo: ‘Foreign Bodies n the Gullet.’ to ‘in’
▪ Pg. 87: Corrected typo: ‘one side of the body is attacked
(hemephligia)’ to ‘hemiphlegia’
▪ Pg. 89: Corrected typo: ‘... in a half delining position’ to
‘declining’
▪ Pg. 90: Corrected typo: ‘... lower part of the body that is attacked
(paraphligia)’ to ‘paraphlegia’
▪ Pg. 91: Corrected typo: ‘a decoction of which-hazel’ to ‘witch-hazel’
▪ Pg. 94: Removed extra comma at end of sentence: ‘rat poison, etc.,’
to ‘etc.’
▪ Pg. 96: Corrected typo: ‘often been accidentally swalloed’ to
‘swallowed’
▪ Pg. 100: Corrected typo: ‘At there is no vomiting,’ to ‘At first’
▪ Pg. 106: Corrected typo: ‘Tinture of arnica’ to ‘Tincture’
▪ Pg. 108: Corrected typo: ‘which will distent the gullet’ to ‘distend’
▪ Pg. 110: Corrected typo: ‘... a person soon looses consciousness’ to
‘loses consciousness’
▪ Pg. 117: Corrected typo: ‘forbible entry of pointed weapons’ to
‘forcible’
▪ Pg. 124: Corrected typo: ‘certain given cirumstances’ to
‘circumstances’
▪ Pg. 136: Two entries in index out of order. Moved ‘Phosphorous,
Poisoning by’ and ‘Plants and Seeds’ to their correct place
▪ Pg. 137: Corrected typo: ‘Scheel’s Green, see Arsenic’ to
‘Scheele’s’—Scheele’s elsewhere
▪ Pg. 138: Entry in index out of order. Moved ‘Verdigris’ to its
correct place