Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1881-04-21
Wounds.
We wish to make few suggestions

need the attention of a surgeon. In
every family now and then wounds oc-
cur that need only very little knowledge
OF the proper ways and means of dress
ing. The mother is not only the house
physician. but also the house surgeon,
and so should be familiar with the art of
dressing wounds of all sorts. bruises,
cuts, and burns, etc. Her medical at
tendant NAV be far away and something
should be done Al once.
IDcised wounds are those thati are
made by sharp TOOLS As knives or CHS
els. If the too! is very sharp the cut
produced may be deep and demand
that the proper means for arresting
bleeding be applied at once. The color
OF the blood and its way of flowing in
dicates the greater or less amount of
danger. II the color is crimson and
Jets out of the wound and not in a
steady stream, an artery has been cut
bringing blood directly from the heart
and SO should be stopped at sight.
II the blood lowing from Il wound be
dark and move in a steady stream
vein has been cut Such IL wound is
not usually dangerous, still it may be
wise 10 stop il at once. Mothers are
very apt TO load The wound with many
rags in hopes to stop The stream. The
RAGS merely conceal the blood for while,
but do very little TO check its course. If
they apply strips of plaster, in place OF
applying them neatly aeross the wound,
they apply them in various directions
and in several LAYERS.
Wounds should be dressed at once.
especially if they are large and deep or
are near parts in which Is much mo-
ton. Wash them. cleanse them, bring
the edges in close contact with each
other either by passing strips of adj
hessive plaster from side to side or by
stitches of linen thread. ANY needle
may be used, but the glover's is the
best. Its point is sharp and three
ccrnered and passes easily through the
skin. The house surgeon can stitch
the wound as well as the surgeon in
chief IL is important to draw the
edges near each other, exactly as they
were previous to the making OF the
wound. The number of stitches or the
number of plaster strips must be enough
to bring the edges near each other
throughout their length. The more
completely this is done the smaller is
the scar. Usually the proper way TO
dress a slight cut is to apply the
pressure of the thumb, check the bleed
ing. and place strips ofadhesive plaster
directly across the wound at intervals
of quarter OF an inch between strips.
and fixing the edges of the wound
very closely to each other BY the
fifth day the edges have So well united
that the plasters may be removed
This is safely done By raising carefully
the ends Of the strips and pulling them
gently towards the wound.
Stitches are applied in nearly the
same way. Alta proper time the thread
inserted may be cut on one side near the
edges OF the wound and carefully drawn
out In this act the sides should be held
TO each other. The time during which
the plasters and strips should remain
must depend upon the depth and length
Of the cut. Six to ten DAYS may be !
needed TO induce complete healing of
the wound. If the edges are wellunit- 4
ed and have no discharge of matter and /
so leave but a very barrow scar. sur
geons say, .'that il unites by first inten- /
ton" All the surgeon has to do is to I
contine the corresponding edges to each
other and nature effects the cure. If
the edges are not fastened to eacn other
they do not unite AT first, but suppurate
and eNude greater or less amount of
matter and so are long time in the
process of healing. 1t is. therefore.
quite an object to make wounds heal by
first intention" Ii is also important
10 dress all wounds, incised. lacerated
or confused. al an esrly time.
The Inflammation OF wounds is usual
ly mild. especially in cuts. The process
of uniting the edges demand slight in
tlammation at the outset in order that
the edges may throw out an adhesive
matter. Sometimes the inflammation
4 l. 4 L