AT THE DOLLS’ HOSPITAL
IN a short time Mrs. Brave began to feel better, and, by the time the
ambulance returned, was able to stir about.
“Let us have a look at this broken leg,” said Doctor Quickenquack,
examining Mr. Brave. “Ahem! I think, Miss Bossem, after all, we would
better use—
FIRST-AID TREATMENT FOR BROKEN LEG
(_See Reference List_)
Place pillows under the leg to make it more
comfortable, but do not move the patient before the
doctor comes, unless absolutely necessary. If necessary
to move, place a board or an umbrella, one on each
side of the leg, and tie in place, (or tie both legs
together if it seems advisable) using bands of muslin,
handkerchiefs, or[A]triangular bandages.
“After we have Mr. Brave in the hospital, we’ll put that leg in the
right kind of splints and bandages,” remarked the doctor, as he and
the driver and orderly placed him on the stretcher. “You’ll be running
a race like a boy in a few weeks,” he continued encouragingly as he
seated himself beside the patient in the ambulance, and the nurse
helped Mrs. Brave to a place.
“Like a tortoise, I’m thinking,” said Mr. Brave, trying to joke above
the pain, for oh, how his broken leg did ache.
[Illustration: HIS MOTHER WAS SITTING BESIDE THE BED]
Clang! clang! clang—clang! sounded the ambulance gong, and in less than
a few minutes they were at the Dolls’ Hospital.
* * * * *
The next, morning little Ibee came into his father’s room, where his
mother was sitting beside the bed with her scalded arm nicely dressed
and bandaged.
“I’m going to be a doctor,” he announced proudly, after bidding his
parents good-morning. “This is a dandy place! There aren’t any private
rooms for Soami or me, so we’re each in a ward, and there’s a fellow
in the men’s ward all done up in bandages. I just wish you could see
him! I got Doctor Quickenquack to tell me what kinds they all were
and I can’t remember all of them, but I know he said something about
triangular and spiral and figure-of-eight bandages. My, that fellow
looks fine! He has a broken arm and a broken leg and a dislocated
shoulder and a fractured jaw, and his bandages are swell! He did the
whole thing by sliding off his barn roof last Sunday when he was
putting shingles on it. He says it’s a judgment—whatever that is.”
“Well, for pity’s sake,” exclaimed his mother, “Ibee, how you talk! Do
take a breath!”
“Hello, everybody!” said little Soami, running in. “How’s father?
Shesa’s fine, Miss Helpem told me. No bones broken except one finger.
Shesa’s asleep now, and her finger’s bandaged beautifully!”
“Father’s just about as well as can be expected, dear,” answered their
father. “And very thankful none of us are hurt worse.”
“I don’t know,” said Ibee, shaking his head. “Even though my arm aches
so, I’d have liked to have had something worth while; for instance, a
compound fracture of the thigh. Father’s was only a simple fracture.
In a compound fracture the broken bone often comes through the skin, I
heard the head nurse say to one of the assistants.”
“Well, sir,” said his father, “if you had this, you’d find it was
enough!”
“Why, what’s the matter with the boy? Is he crazy?” exclaimed his
mother. “As though we hadn’t all had trouble enough!”
“I don’t think he’s crazy,” said Soami. “There’s a girl in our ward who
has a broken nose, and it looks too interesting for anything to see
the nurse dress it! I want to be a nurse when I grow up! Just think
how many people one can help! Why, if it hadn’t been for the nurses,
perhaps we might—nearly all be dead!”
“Indeed we might,” agreed their mother. “I don’t know whether you’ll
be a doctor, Ibee, or whether Soami will be a nurse, but I do know
that I’m going to ask Miss Bossem if a class cannot be formed in our
neighborhood in which we can all learn how to render first-aid to the
injured.”
“Good for you, Mother,” said Shesa, coming in at that moment, and
kissing her father. “I’ve just been talking with Miss Helpem, and she
has explained how to join the Preparedness Movement, so that if we
should have war right in our own land, or serious accidents, we could
help care for the wounded or injured.”
“That brings my dear Ima to mind. Oh, I do hope we’ll get a letter
to-day,” said her mother.
“Here’s a postcard just received for Master Ibee Brave,” said a nurse,
coming along with the mail.
[Illustration: “READ IT OUT LOUD!”]
“From Ima!” said Ibee. “It’s from New York,” looking at the postmark.
“Read it out loud!” cried his mother. “Let us all hear how the dear boy
is.”
Ibee read:
_Dear Folks:_
_New York never looked better to us than as we left for
the front—but who wouldn’t be brave for the sake of the
red, white and blue? Will write mother a long letter as
soon as time permits._
_As ever,
Ima Brave._
“Now, isn’t that brave?” exclaimed his mother. “He’s as brave as Teddy
Roosevelt!”
“It’s wonderful to belong to such a brave family,” said Miss Helpem,
who came in just then to renew the dressing on Mr. Brave’s head.
FOOTNOTES:
[A] Triangular bandages are described in Chapter XIII.