Litchfield enquirer., 1831-10-06
ACCIDENTS.


 people commit more egregous errors, thar the proper assistance to be rendered to in. diyiduaIs in whom an accidental injury ha: occurred. In all cases of accidents, how ever tri1ing they may appear to the by. saunders, the safest and most prudent course is undoubtedly to send at once for competent medical or surgical assistance. But as such assistance cannot always be immediately obtained, and in some instan- ces, as in that of wound attended with a profuse discharge of blood, the patients ; life would be destroyed by few moments delay, while in every case trifling injudi- cIous interference in the outset, may add greatly to the subsequent danger and suf- terlng, it is important that the public gene- rally be made aware of the proper course to be pursued, when an accident occurs, previously to the arrival of the physician.
 WOunds.-It is prevailing but very er- roneous opinion, that particular and spe- ciic applications are necessary for the C ure of wounds, or at least to prevent the loss of blood. The only proper dressings for these accidents are such as are best calcu- lated to keep the wounded surfaces in con. tact, and to defend them from the air and external injury. The milder and softer the materials of which they are composed, the better; above all should every thing of heating or irritating nature be avoid- ed. A simple cut, which might have been healed perfectly in few days, has often been converted iuto serious, painful, and tedious sore, by such applications as bran dy and sugar. turpentine, balsams, and the like, or by having crammed between its edges quantity of lint, tow, soot, char coal, or cobwebs-all of which are fre- quently resorted to. They invariably in- duce degree of inflammation, which inter- rupts the healing process of nature.
 When a wound has been received, the first thing that claims attention is the pres- ence of any foreign substance, as splinters oi wood, portions of stone, glass, or bits of cloth. &c. These should, if possible, be at once extracted, and the wound washed With soft sponge or rag and water. But when the exhaustion of the patient is considerable, or the flow of blood profuse. whatever foreign substance may be coa- tained in the wound, must be suffered to remain until in the judgment of the phy- sician it may be safe to attempt its extrac. Ftion.
 4 The bleeding from a wound. ever though at first protuse, will often in shor time cease spontaneously, and if the injur. ed part be kept at perfect rest, will no again return. Should this, however. no be the case. and the flow of blood is yer, considerable. especially if be in a contin. ued stream or in jets, it should be arrested without delay, by making pressure uno, the divided vessels, between the heart an, tne wound. When the injury has been re- ceived in either of the limbs, firm broa, Aigature or bandage should be applied snort instance above the wound. Tn pest plan is to place around the limb
 strong broad garter, sufficiently slack to al low ofa short stick being introduced unde It, and by which it is to be twisted until ,s sufficiently tight to arrest the bleeding Ot course. this is merely temporary OK Ped'enr, as the continuance of such ban cage for any length of time would be pro duetive of injury. In wounds situated in part of the body where the above mean cannot be resorted to, the bleeding may b, arrested by applying the hand firmly oye .ne wound, or, by tho 6ngsr passed withir the wounds pressure may be made direc,l, upon the orifee from which the blood pro ceeds. f'O
 In slight wounds, which do no. n.ns trate much deeper than the skin. noth;n better can be applied than the commo black sticking plaster. This. by keepiu the edges of the cut together, and preven ing the contact of the air, &cc., permits tl process of union to go on without in.erruT ton.
 Persons who have received a sever wound, or a severe iniurv of anv kin,