Comminuted is where the bone is broken into small parts.
Impacted is where one part of the broken bone is driven into the other
part.
Green stick break. This is not really a break, but only a bending of the
bone, seen mostly in children.
Bandages for fractures can be made of muslin. They should be six to eight
to twelve yards long for large bones.
Width. For a finger one inch.
For arm or head two and one-half inches.
For the leg three to four inches.
For the body six to eight inches.
An old sheet can be used and the ends of the strips sewed together and
then wrapped tight in a roll, with the ravelings from the sides removed.
The bandage should be started from the end of the limb, wrapped towards
the body. They should not be wrapped so tightly as to shut off
circulation,
Padding.--This should be of cotton. In case of necessity, handkerchiefs,
towels, pieces of muslin, cloths; hay or grass can be used temporarily.
Splints.--In emergencies splints can be made from shingles, pasteboards or
even bark.
How to Take Hold of a Broken Leg or Arm.--Never take hold of it from
above, but slip the hands underneath, and then take a firm but gentle hold
at two points a short distance from the break on each side, and all the
while making slight extension with the hand on the end part (distal part)
so as to keep the ends from rubbing together, and lift with both hands at
the same time slowly and evenly until the limb is in the required
position. Then apply the emergency treatment. This is to help keep the
broken parts in place until proper care can be given, or to assist in
safely and comfortably moving the patient to the place desired. Support
the broken limb with something smooth and stiff, such as a thin narrow
shingle, three inches wide perhaps, or thin board, stout pasteboard, or
the bark of trees, and padded with something soft, such as cotton, wool,
hay, straw, leaves, which can be held by bandages of required width, or
handkerchiefs folded in triangular shape, or by strips of linen, muslin,
ribbon or anything with which the splint can be temporarily held fast.
For the Forearm.--Two padded splints three to four inches wide and long
enough to take in the hand also should be applied, one to the thumb, and
the other to the back of the forearm, slight extension being made by
pulling on the patient's hand. This pulls the broken end in place. Tie on
the splints over the hand, wrist and just below the elbow. Two or three
wraps of adhesive plaster or five or six wraps of a bandage or
handkerchief or towel folded and pinned will temporarily hold the limb in
place. Put on a sling reaching from the finger tips to beyond the elbow.
[382 MOTHERS' REMEDIES]
For the Arm.--Put on two padded splints from the shoulder to the elbow,
one in front and the one behind, and bind on at the bottom and top. Then
place the forearm on the chest pointing to the well or sound shoulder and
bind the arm with bandages or a long towel to the body.
For a Broken Leg.--Pull on the foot gently to make slight extension, and
lift the leg on a pillow or some sort of pad, and tie this firmly about
the leg; or broad strips of wood may be padded and placed on either side
of the broken leg and securely tied.
For a Broken Thigh, Upper Leg.--The splint should extend from under the
arm to the ankle, padded and bound to the body and to the leg by means of
long towels or pieces of sheeting applied six inches apart. If the patient
is in a wagon and no splint can be had, bags of dirt or sand applied
around the thigh will hold some. But there is always something at hand to
use as a splint and to bind the splint to the leg.
For a Broken Collar Bone.--Place the patient on his back if he is to be
moved and put a firm pad in the arm pit and bind the arm to the side with
the forearm across the chest; or if you have a roll of adhesive plaster
two or three inches wide, after putting a pad in the arm pit (sometimes
this is not necessary) put the adhesive strip around the arm midway to the
shoulder. The arm should be lifted up and a little back. Run the strip of
adhesive plaster around the body and fasten to the first part. Then put
another strip fast to the band around the arm and run this down around the
bent elbow and over the forearm placed on the chest, the fingers pointing
to the sound shoulder. This strip can pass over the sound collar bone and
fasten to the strip about the body. If it is put on properly, the injured
part will feel comfortable.
Broken Ribs.--Put on a towel, about eight to twelve inches wide. This
should go around the body and be pinned tightly; or, if you have a roll of
adhesive plaster, two and one-half to three inches wide, use this. Start
at the backbone, at the lowest point necessary, about two ribs below the
broken one, and carry it straight across the chest to the breast bone; put
on about eight of such strips, lapping each about one-half inch. Fasten
the ends with a strip running up and down one-half on the flesh and the
other half on the strip. This is to keep the strips from slipping any. The
arms should be held up while the strips are being applied.
A Broken Jaw.--Take a strong piece of muslin, long enough to reach around
the neck and eight inches longer. Split this through the center to within
about seven inches of the center of the band. Put this unsplit part above,
over and under the chin. Tie the upper tails around the neck and run the
under tail pieces up in front of the ear to the crown of the head. Tie
each end on the back part of the head to the pieces left over after tying
back of the neck.
[ACCIDENTS AND POISONS 383]
Broken Nose.--Put the parts in place by pressure and moulding. It is
easily done. Do not hurry. Put a strip of adhesive plaster across the
bridge of the nose over the break reaching to the cheek.
If the injury causes bleeding, the wound should be washed with clean linen
and boiled water and covered with clean linen. To wash the wound, one
teaspoonful of salt to one pint of boiled water. Salt is usually at hand.
If an artery is cut, this bleeding must be stopped. The blood spurts out.
Press your hands hard on the back of the thigh towards the body of the
wound. Another should tie some cloth around the thigh above the wound
tightly. It can be made tighter by putting a stick under the band and
twisting it around as much as possible. Raise the leg high up and put the
head low. If the cut is below the knee or on the foot, bend the leg back.
First put a pad or your fist in under the knee joint and bend leg over the
pad or your fist. Sometimes the spurting artery can be caught or pressed
upon with your finger. If the arm is injured, bandage as for the thigh. If
the forearm, the same as for the leg.
If a finger is cut clean off, pick the piece up and wash it and the stump
clean and then place the cut off part against the stump and tie on, or
stick on with adhesive plaster. It sometimes grows fast.
SPRAINS.--Sprains or wrenches of the joints are caused by a twist or a
blow. The injury consists in the tear or rupture of a number of the fibres
of the ligaments.
Symptoms.--Severe pain, the joint is practically useless for a time;
swelling, heat and later the joint discolored from effusion of the blood
into the tissues.
MOTHERS' REMEDIES.--1. Sprains, Ointment for.--"The bark of bittersweet
with chamomile and wormwood simmered in fresh lard make an excellent
ointment for sprains and swellings."
2. Sprains, Vinegar and Bran Poultice for.--"Make a poultice with vinegar
and bran only, or with the addition of oatmeal, or bread crumbs. As the
poultice becomes dry it should be moistened with vinegar."
3. Sprains, Turpentine Most Common Remedy for.--"Rub the injured part with
turpentine and keep warm and you will find this remedy to be one of the
best to keep proud flesh out that has ever been used. I always have
turpentine in my home and find that I have to use it often, and it always
does as I said above, if once used you will never be without it."
4. Sprains, Quick Relief for.--"Bathe the parts with hot water as hot as
one can bear it and relief comes at once." This is an old tried remedy,
but if hot water does not give relief use cold water.
5. Sprains, Relieves Pain of.--"Put warm woolen cloth over sprain, drip
hot water as hot as can be borne on cloth for half hour. Bathe with
spirits of camphor."
[384 MOTHERS' REMEDIES]
[Illustration: Method of applying Bandage to the Arm.]
[Illustration: Spiral Bandage of the Finger.]
[Illustration: Simple Method of applying Bandage for Sprained Ankle.]
Bandaging and Photographs by DR. W. E. ZIEGENFUSS, of Detroit.
Done expressly for this book.
[ACCIDENTS AND POISONS 385]
6. Sprains, Quick Application for.--"A poultice of stiff clay and
vinegar." Add enough vinegar to the clay to make a nice moist poultice.
The clay is exceptionally good for swellings and sprains.
7. Sprains, Turpentine Liniment for.--"Equal parts of spirits of
turpentine and vinegar and the yolk of one egg make a valuable liniment in
cases of sprains, bruises and rheumatism poultice. Take common salt, roast
it on a hot stove till dry as possible. Take one teaspoonful each of dry
salt, venice turpentine and pulverized castile soap. Excellent for felon,
apply twice daily until open." This is a very good liniment and if applied
often will draw, which is one of the essential things for a felon.