Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1871-06-01
Simple Injuries to which
Children are Liable.

SPRAlNs.-All injuries or af-
fections in children should be
particularly attended to. Any
unaccountable swelling about
a joint, although it may be I'M
attended with pain, a halt or
lameness in walking, and pain
or uneasiness in any Of the
limbs, ought to excite suspicion
Of a serious disease, and be i'm
mediately Investigated. The
most important Of all our reme-
dies here is rest to the limb; and
the principal danger to be aver
ted is inflammation Of the joint.
If a joint has been injured, and
is much swollen and painful,
leeches may be applied to it in
the first instance; after this the
employment Of lamentations
and absolute rest are to be re-
lied upon; and upon the subsi-
dencc of the more acute symp-
toms, moderate exercise of the
limb, frictions either with the
dry hand or some simple lini-
ment, such as camphorated oil,
and wearing a flannel bandage
round the joint, are the chief
measures to be adopted.
PAINTING AND CoNvULsIVE
FITs.-Thesc two very differ
ent affections are frequently
COMPOUNDED with another, al
though, in general, they may be
easily distinguished. In faint
ing, the face and lips become
pale, the skin is generally COW
cred with clammy perspiration,
and the patient falls to the
ground motionless; in a few mo-
ments recovery takes place with
deep and heavy sighs, and oc-
casionally vomiting occurs. In
commissions, again, the attack
comes on suddenly, and in most
cases with a loud cry; the pa
tient falls, and is affected with
strong muscular writhing. or
spasms, the limbs being kept in
violent motion, or firmly fixed
in one position, while the face
is much distorted, and froth is
sues from the mouth. These
symptoms cease in from five to
ten minutes, leaving the patient
drowsy and motionlcss.
In both these affections the
treatment must be the same.-
Cold water dashed on the head
and face-the removal of all
pressure on the neck, such as
neckcloths, etc, and, in conyui-
sions, the insertion Of something
between the teeth, such as the
corner of a towel folded once
or twice, to prevent the biting
of the lips or tongue, which is
here apt to occur-constitute all
that is essentially necessary to
be done during the fit.
The most important treat
mcnt is that which has for its
object the removal of the con-
stitutional condition which
leads to these fits, and this, of
course, is not to be attempted
by non-professional individuals.
BROKEN BoNES.-The indi-
cations of a bone being frac-
tured are alteration in the shape
of the limb, unnatural mobility
at some part Of its length, and
II grating or rubbing Of the
rough broken ends Of the bone
against each other at this part
when the fractured bones is
moved in certain directions.
All that is necessary to de-
scribe here in the way Of treat
ment, are those temporary
measures to be adopted previ-
GUS to the arrival ofs the sur
gcon. The limb should be
placed in position as nearly
natural, and as easy for the pa
tient, as possible, and maintained
there at aperfect rest by means
of pillows placed along side of
it, or by pieces of thin wood or
stout pasteboard being ban
daged round the limb, and pad
ded with tow or pieces Of blan-
ket, or any other soft material,
so as to be more comfortable
The patient ought to be moved
as little as possible before being
seen by a medical man as by
lifting and carrying individuals
so injured, the ends of the
bone may tear the flesh sur