The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-07-18

samples of letters received from hospital
superintendent strongly commencing the
work of first-aid corps.
In concluding Dr. Shields touched upon
the social and elevating side of f1rst-aid
organization as well as the humane side.
ut has," he said, "a tendency to uplift
the men morally and since no race or
creed is recognized, all are united in a
glorious and humane work of doing good
to their fellow men, WARN applause.)
After DR.. Shields had taken his seat
Chairman Jones presented DR.. R. M.
Cunningham as follows; Gentlemen,
1t is now my pleasure to introduce to
you a gentleman whom you all know
and like. I thought 1t best and more
appropriate for Mr.. Ramsay to in
troduce this gentleman, for the reason
that I have forgotten most of the old
Jokes (laughter) that We used to get
off on him. He has declined, however,
and therefore I will proceed to intro
duce him. I have the pleasure of in
Producing to you DR.. r. M. Cunning
ham," cloud applause).
DR.. Cunningham: Mr.. President and
gentlemen-I don't know of any meet
ing that I have attended In recent
years that l believe is frought with
more interest than this. The primary
purpose of this meeting is the interest
of humanity, because it is in the in
terest of the bodies of human beings.
I'VE have all been highly enter
tanned and instructed by the address of
DR.. Shields. He has sh own you what
has been done in other states; he has
given you from letters quoted the re-
suits that have followed his instruc-
lions and teachings in other states, and
1 say now that if the heads of the in
dustrial corporations of this county
nd iGt ri THAR q M am
| ployes, rise to the occasion that the
| merits of the case demand there will
| be organized in every Industrial works
of this district a irst-aid corps, COM
petent to render assistance. Gap
plause).
"Dr. Shields has dealt largely with
the organization of that corps and it's
work. 1 believe that 1t would be ap-
propriate for me in opening this dis
cussion to make my remarks along the
line of the purpose of frst-aid and
what first-aid can accomplish.
would divide first-aid to the injured
under three general classes. First,
where it is under the direction and at
the hands exclusively of laymen, that
is non professional men; not doctors,
mean. Second, where the flrst-aid is
rendered by a physician who does not
contemplate the final surgical treat
ment of the case And third where
there is an adequate hospital well
equipped near at hand to which the
patient can be at once or Immediately
removed. Those are the three circum-
! stances under which 1 believe we should
discuss this important question.
Now, secondly, what are the pur-
poses of first-aid? First, to disengage
the injured from rock, coal, timbers,
machinery or whatsoever agency that
has caused the injury; second, atten-
ton to the patient himself first, hem
orrhage; second. sh ock; third, pain;
I fourth, infection. Taking up these in
| detail, 1 first call your attention to
! hemorrhage. This is divided into two
| kinds, internal or concealed, and ex-
| ternal or visible. Over the internal or
/ concealed the flrst-aid has no power
| either in the first or second classes to
| which L alluded, because usually a
| surgical operation Is required in order
| to give relief, but in the second, that
| is to say the revealed or open hemor-
rhage, a great deal can be done.
! I'm the first place. the vast majority OF
| these cases of severe injury resulting in
! the laceration of soft parts, including an
! important artery of a limb, is not at
| tended by primary hemorrhage. The
| traumatism itself acts as a preventative
to hemorrhage, the vessel is torn In two
| or crushed in two, its edges are rough
ened, the inner coat turns in and impor-
| tant blood clots form, which operate as
stopper because of the injury adopting
| natures own methods for the prevention
| of hemorrhage. Those of us who have
| had experience in many cases where
| limbs were torn from the body or torn in
two, we not infrequently observe
the important blood vessels protruding
| from the wound with the edges torn and
| clotted at the end. There is but very little
| danger of hemorrhage here, but under
/ such circumstances where the artery Is
| visible, let the first-aid in the hands OF
J the laymen, or any one else, throw a
| string around the arteries. In those other
| cases of open or external hemorrhage
J where there is actual bleeding going on
| from an extremity, there is always at
| hand a ready remedy to prevent the
| hemorrhage, and that is an improvised
| tourniquet. Now, then, never apply a
! tourniquet below the knee, never apply a
| tourniquet below the elbow. A tourni-
| quet is something thrown around the limb
| that congresses the vessel. because II
you apply it below the knee or below the
elbow the important blood vessels are be-
| tween the bone, and 1t would have nc
| more effect than to tie a tourniquet around
| two bars of iron with a rubber between
In the second place, don't use wire. ]
mad mad them brought to my place with
| wire around the thigh, or around the arm
until the several parts were almost d.
| vided. Don't use wire; don't apply 1t toe
| tight. Use piece of rope, a belt that q
good many worlsfngmen wear around Their
! bodies. but the best thing Is a pair OF
/, suspenders. Cut them in two and tie
| them together, and then with the eye
on the wound, apply that tourniquet suf-
flciently tight to stop the bleeding and
~ - -
time for that. In those hemorrhages
| where the tourniquet does not apply, and
1 in hemorrhages that are not really seri.
| Gus at the time, but which II continued
for some little time would become serious
| apply the frst-aid dressing in, the oper
| wound without taking the time for wash.
ing, and over that apply a neat bandage
Anybody - common sense can be taught
how to do that in Ave minutes or two