The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1845-02-21
From Chambers Edinburs Journal.
What 10 do ia c,isc. Of a ccidcut.
BROKEN llNRS.

bhSsS iiOiI lldtNuiCN OOuCS an
none in which the attempts at relic
afforded by bystanders are iraugh, viii
greater danger to the patient. When
person is seen to fall PROSTATE, the frs
impulse Of the crowd is TO raise him up
without stopping to inquire the nature o
extent of the accident, and totally over
looking the fact, that the redundant pc
si,ion is the one chosen by nature as bes
adapted for the sick, The weary, and tn,
infrm-as the only position in which
they can enjoy perfect, rest, without TIT
exercise OF any muscular effort. In the
case of fracture Of any par, of the lower
extremity, moving the patien! from the
horizontal position is productive of great
mischief, and knowledge of this simple
fact would, in majority of cases, avert
the necessity OF the surgeons knife, OF
the patient from permanent lameness, and
much subsequent torture.
The writer's attention was first parlic-
ularly drawn to this subject by an acct.
dent that occurred some years ago TO him
self. His horse fell with him, and as il
happened in principal lhoroughiare, a
crowd Immediately gathered round, and
the first cry was, Lift the gentleman up
Happily for him his presence of mind
had not deserted him, and he enoined
them to desist, as, being medical man,
he best knew how to proceed. In few
moments he discovered that his leg was
broken, and then the consequence of be-
ing lifted up occurred to him in all their
horror. A shutter having been procured,
he directed i! TO be laid down at his side,
and moving very cautiously, so as not to
disturb the limb. soon conlrived to edge
himself upon it: it was then raised by
four of the bysianhers, and in this man
ner he was carried TO his residence.
A few moments consideration will con-
vince us Of the Improperly of raising the
body from the ground. 1t may readily be
conceived that by preserving the hori-
zontal position, if the limb be strait, en-
cased as it is by its various muscles and
integuments, the broken bone will remain
in its natural situation: but that by using
the body aud consequently the leg, we
make lever Of the upper half of the
bone, the broken point of which becomes
tho falcrum, and turns at right angles
with the lower half, which, having lost
its continuity of support, is disposed TO
preserve its original posture; and that
by this, although the skin may not in
every case be torn, still there must be an
APPROXIMATION towards it, and that the
surrounding parts must be more or liss
lacerated. Should the skin be torn, the
simple fracture, in the language of surge
ry, becomes compound, the inconveni-
ence TO the patient more severe, aud
the chances Of recovery considerably les
sened.
The possible mischief, and consequent
danger does not rest here. One of the
arteries Of the limb may be wounded by
point Of the bone, and then the danger
is much increased. The arteries gradu-
ally increase in size from the foot up
wards, and above the knee unite in one
trunk or main artery, any laceration of
which is productive of the worst conse-
quences. Even in the foot they are large
enough. if the bleeding be permitted to
continue, to produce fatal results, al.
though in that case time enough is gene
rally obtained to arrest the hemorrhage.
But should the thigh be fractured, and
the femoral, or main artery of the limb
be wounded, the flow of blood is so great,
that if not Immediately stopped, the pa
,ient's life may be lost in three min
Nutes.
The lemormal artery takes the course
Of, and. runs parallel to the thigh bone
and when that is broken, it will readily
be seen how likely it is to be pierced by
a spicula of bone, or one of its broken
points ; and this indeed frequently hap.
pens.
1t now remains for us 10 consider what
we are called upon to do in accidents of
this nature. In the first place, do not at
tempt TO alter the position from that in
which the patient falls; that is suppose
the limb be no. bent. Administer glass
Of wine, or spirit and water, next. Should
the accident occur in crowded thorough.
fare, let a ring be formed, to prevent The
sufferer from being pressed on or run
over. In few moments, if his senses
have been spared, he will be able 10 say
where he is hurt, by gentle moving his
limbs. A shutter should now be obtain
cd; and if he possesses sufIicen. nerve,
it will be best, as in the writer's case. for
him gradually to edge himself upon it, as
ne will best know what degree Of motion