Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1840-09-11
HOW TO STOP BLEEDING.

Having noticed several cases of death re-
sulting from loss Of blood, have been IN
duced to offer few simple directions which
will enable any one to understand the nature
of the danger and how to apply the remedy.
Either an artery or vein may be wounded,
The arteries carry the blood from the heart
towards the extremitcs, and the veins return
It towards the heart. The blood, when an
artery is injured, flows in jets, not in contn-
uous stream, and is of a bright ford hue:
from vein it flows with an uniform stream,
and is of dark red color. Bleeding from
an artery is much the more dangerous.
The vessels Of the thigh, leg ard foot arc
the more liable to be wounded by various &C -
cIdents: such for example, as that os tho
late Mr.. Knickcbocker, who was cut with =,
| scythc and died in half an hour: the artery
of the thigh is often wounded by the falling
of par of scissors or of knife, in clap
ping the knees together to catch them. I
have known boy stab another with a PEN
knife so as to open an artery. A celebrated
surgeon tells us he has known fine Young
fellow lose his life from the alarm of the at.
PENDANTS and confusion of the surgeon. "Ho
was tall stoutyoung man, who was sitting at
table with his companions eating bread and
cheese, taking his glass and telling his tale.
He had in his hand sharp pointed table
knife, whichhe happened to hold dagger-wiso
in his hand, and in the highth of some asser-
ton he meant to strike the table, but tho
point missed and slanted over the table: ho
ad stabbed himself in his fcmoral artery.
and with one gush of blood he fell. When
l came l found the young man stretched out
upon the floor; he was just uttcring his last
groan; the floor was deluged with blood.
Tho wound was covered with confused
bundle of clothes, which Instantly whirled
off; and the by-standcrs had the unhapp,-
ness to see that the hole was no bigger than
what l could close with my thumb, and which.
had it been shut and compressed, would have
healed in three days, allowing time for de-
liberate operation"
When arterial blood is seen to eu,b from
wound, let the bystander reflect that tho
blood is passing from the body into the limb.
The member having been exposed as quick
~ as possible, leth take pocket handker-
chief and tie it closely, but with itch, NOT.
around the limb, abOue the wound then in.
troduce stick or the handle of penknif..
which will answer perfectly well, and twis, it
round several times, till the limb is firmly
compressed by the handkerchief, and the
blood ceases TO flow. Indeed the wounded
person might do it himself unless the bleed
ing was very profusc so as to cause his faint.
ing at once. After the bleeding is stopped,
the handkerchief may be somewhat relaxed.
but still continued around the limb until a
surgeon can be called to secure the vessel
In case OF wound of vein, there is much
less danger, and moderate compression be-
l0w the wound will retain the blood. When
a person is suddenly attacked with beceinp
from the lungs, nothing is so eflcctuaI as the
use of nutmeg grated or cut with u knife
and administered in little water or other
liquid which may be at hand. | have re-
peatedly employed it before any other reme-
dy could be procured, and with success.
| ". Y. Ere. Signal.