Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-12-19
CLUBBING AND It's EEEEcT.
How a Blow from the PoIiceman's Gu
Acts Oh the Recipient.

Acts on the Recipient.
The scene of a serious riot Just after
the mob has been dispersed by the
police is apt to suggest the idea of a
general massacre, says the Medical
Classics. Blood is spattered right and
left, and men are lyingabout apparent
ly lifeless or staggering away support
ed by friends. 1t is hard to realize,
under the circumstances, that, in all
probability, no one has been killed or
even seriously hurt, but that most of
them who have been 'laid out" will be
walking about the next morning and
detailing their experiences.
Generally, no permanent injury is
done to anyone, though the drug stores
in the vicinity are apt to run short of
sticking plaster, and the surgeons at
the neighboring station : houses fire.
quently are obliged to send out for
more lint. Still, there are generally a
number of cases bad enough to be sent
to the hospital.
The blow of u policemen's club usual
ly produces a mere confusion, especial
ly when applied, as it generally is, to
the body. In fact, for the purpose of
disabling an opponent, a blow in the
ribs is one of the most effcacious. 1t
gives the recipient a sense of "gone-
! ness" in his inside that takes up his en-
tire attention for a few minutes to the
exclusion Of all desire to infiict bodily
harm on the myrmidons of the law.
Even after he RECEIVERS his breath he is
more inclined to use it in denouncing
,no1.aa hIntolifr Than RI noa1o
further personal experiments in that
direction.
If the blow falls on the head a con-
fused wound may be produced. This,
if severe, is sometimes accompanied by
quite a copious h~emorrhage, giving the
wound a CHASTITY and sickening aspect.
Sometimes if the stroke is given with
great force, the wound may be not only
confused, but also lacerated. This is
about rs much damage as the locust,
or ever the ebony or rosewood is ca
pable of intiicting. Still, when the
weapon is swung with the full force of
a powerful man excited by hand-to-
fighting, or desperately defending HIM
self against several armed assailants, a
skull is sometimes fractured. A case
of this kind is, at times, peculiarly
dangerous, as the following incident
will show:
A man was brought to the station
house apparently with nothing worse
under his hat than a ''brick." There
was no external appearance of any
wound. He was partially unconscious,
but revived sufficiently to give his
name and address, and was put into
a cell. In the morning he was taken
to the court, paid his fine and was re-
leased. He was about the streets for
several days, but finally was obliged to
take to his bed and send for a physi-
clan, on account of trouble with the
head. q close examination then, for
the first time, revealed the fact that his
skull was fractured. In spite of the
doctors efforts, the man died.
This, of course, is a very unusual
case, but il shows how great should be
the care OF the surgeon in examining
what may seem to be a slight wound,
or no wound whatever, provided he
knows hat a blow has been struck.
In the above case the fracture was not
felt until inflammation had set in
around it, and emulation had caused a
pressure of the brain. This does not
generally occur until twenty : four
hours have elapsed, and, as in the
above case, it may lot be felt for forty
eight hours or more. 1t is dangerous
to neglect even ordinary wounds, cry
sipelas being liable to set in.