The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1879-02-13

EMERGENCIES.
Emergencies are events that demand
immediate action. In our rural dis
tricts, where so many noble men and
women live, and where so many chill
dren begin to live and grow, emergen-
cies will occur that test the ability of the
mothers. Often the physician is miles
away, when some accident may happen
that demands knowledge and prompt
decision So we will relate what may
be done if any accident should happen.
"Emcrgencies" are more numerous than
We supposed when We began to write
list of accidents that may properly be
included under this term. We have
thought it we'll for the convenience of
our readers to arrange them alphabet
ically and limit ourselves to the smaller
emergencies at the present time, and by
and by refer particularly to the larger
ones.
|. Arteries are sometimes cut or pune
tured by children. The mother may dis
tinguish this serious accident by observ-
ing that the blood does not ooze out as
it does from veins. but gets out as fast
as the action OF the heart drives it to
every part Of the frame, Should this
accident occur, pass a strong strip of
cotton cloth about the limb that has
been wounded; have it large, so that
Its ends may be strongly tied and room
enough be left within the ring it forms,
to pass rod two feet long or more
Place this ring above the wound and
turn the rod more and more until the
pressure on the artery checks the flow
inc Of the blood. Hold the rod firmly
until the surgeon may arrive. A boy
we knew some fifty years ago, saved a
younger brothers life by knowing what
to do in this emergency. Arteries con-
duet blood directly from the heart and
so demand, when cut, immediate action
> Bites are somewhat rare If a dog
or cat, or other animal, that bites, is
mad, the wound demands proper treat
ment at once. Pass a strong stri p Of
cloth above the wound, as if an artery
had been cut or punctured. Twist the
ring as tightly as the sufferer can bear.
This process is to stop the virus that
may have been deposited within the
wound by the creatures teeth, from be-
ing absorbed and then conveyed to all
other sections of the body. The parts
below the ligature soon become so numb
that a sharp stick of lunar caustic may
penetrate and burn out the wound or
neutralize the poison. Keep the suffer
er in perfect quiet and upon his back,
until the surgeon arrives and gives fur
ther orders.
Bleedings from ordinary cuts are not
usually dangerous if no artery is incised.
The blood oozes out from veins in
moderate way. Avoid balsams. They
do no good, but often a large amount of
harm They hinder the healing of the
wound and, in delicate children, pro-
duce a dangerous sore. IF the bleeding
continues long-half an hour, or soap
ply bandage lightly below the wound
and around the limb The veins are
superficial, and so are easily compressed
and prevented from carry ing upward the
vital fluid Then wash the wound with
cold water and remove all dust, bits of
thread, or other foreign substances. If
the wound is long one and runs across
the limb, pass strong threads of silk or
linen from side to side, aud bring the
edges near each other. If brougltnear
each other and kept in that position. the
edges of the wound will stick together
and leave very narrow scar. If the
wound runs iengthwisc of the limb or
body, bringing the edges near each other.
aud applying narrow strips of adhesive
plaster may hold them so forever Moth
ers are apt to apply plasters too near
each other. A space of a quarter inch
should be left between them, otherwise
the wound may infame and bad sore
be formed. Stitches have their advant-
ages over plasters. They keep the edges
more firmly in their place and allow the
wound to be daily cleansed. Randages
used for checking bleeding should be
removed as soon as the wounds have
been duly cleansed. stitches have been
made and tied, or plasters have been
applied. Bandages firmly drawn about
the limbs should not long remain unless
watched by surgeon, or mother prop
erly instructed. Long compression may
result in the loss of the limb compressed.
The thing most worthy of attention in
ali cuts is checking severe bleeding.