The Red Cloud chief., 1881-06-02
Wounds.

We wish TO make a few suggestions
regarding wounds. Severe wounds
need the attention of a surgeon. I'm
every family now and then wounds Oc-
cur that need only very little knowledge
of the proper ways and means OF dress
inc. 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 may be far away and something
should be done at once.
Incised wounds are those that are
made by sharp tools, As knives or CHS
els. Ii the tool is very sharp the cut
produced may be deep and demand
that the proper means for arresting
bleeding be applied atonce. The color
of the blood and its way of flowing in
dicates the greater or less amount OF
danger. If the color is crimson and
lets out of the wound and not in 4
steady stream. an artery has been cut
bringing blood directly from the heart
and SO should be stopped at sight.
II the blood flowing from a wound be
dark and move in n steady stream 4
vein has been cut. Such 4 wound is
not usually dangerous, still it may be
wise to stop it at once. Mothers are
very apt to load the wound with many
rags in hopes to stop the stream. The
rays merely conceal the Blood for while,
but do very little TO check its course. II
they apply strips of plaster, in place of
applying them neatly across the wound,
H. ..l,, fLan, IN x-arinps Iira.ftnns
and in several layers.
Mounds should be dressed at once.
especially if they are large and deep or
are neal 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
cornered and passes easily through the
skin. The house surgeon can stitch
the wound as wen as the surgeon in
chief. 1t is important to draw the
edges near each other, exactly rs 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 a 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 81 we'll 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 applsd in nearly the
same way. AtaprOper time thethread
inserted may b cut o. 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 d~epthand length
of the cut. Six to ten days may be
needed to induce . complete healing OF
the wound. II the edges Z web unit
ed and have no discharge OF matter and
so leave but avery narrow scar. sur
geons say, THAT it unites by first inten-
ton" All the surgeon has to do Is to
ccnine the corresponding edgesto each
other and nature effects the cure. II
the edges are not hseenod to each other
they do not unite at Arsk bat supparate
and exude q greater or less amount OF
matter and SO r a long time in the
process Of healing. 1t is, therefore.
quite an object to make wounds heal by
first intention" II is also Important
to dress all wounds. incised, lacerated
or confused. at an early time.
The Inflammation of wounds % usual
" mid. especially in cuts. The process
Of uniting the edges demand slight in
fiammation It the outset in order that
the edges may throw out an adhesive
matter. Sometimes the iniamnatson
is severe and should be relieved at
once. Place large piece OF oiled
silk over the wound and plasten and
then apply cloths wrung out q hot
water. In cases OF y infamma-
ton. healing by first intention may not
be possible.
Avoid the many applications often
made 10 wounds as soap and sugar:
such applications do much more harm
than good. They ause a greater or less
amount Of irritation. and so delay the