Emergencies : the etiology, pathology, and treatment of the accidents, diseases, and cases of poisoning which demand prompt action : designed for students and practitioners of medicine / by Joseph W. Howe.

  • Howe, Joseph W. (Joseph William), 1843-1890
Date:
1890
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Emergencies : the etiology, pathology, and treatment of the accidents, diseases, and cases of poisoning which demand prompt action : designed for students and practitioners of medicine / by Joseph W. Howe. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine, Harvard Medical School.

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    glottidis), or from blood flowing down into tlie air-passages. Internal liaemorrbage may go on slowly for some time with- out attracting special attention, the shock of the injury and deficient aeration of the blood benumbing the sensibility of the mucous membrane. Laryngitis may occur from extension of inflammation from surrounding parts, or directly from a wound of the larynx. The most dangerous inflammations are bronchitis and pneumonia. These complications arise principally from the inhalation of cold air through the opening in the throat. In ordinary breathing, the air is heated by passing through the nose, and thus loses its irritating qualities. In all suicidal attempts upon life, there is extreme men- tal depression, which tends to prevent recovery. Treatment.—As the great danger arises from loss of blood, the first efforts are directed to suppress the flow. This is accomplished either by means of pressure, or with the ligature. If the bleeding vessel cannot be reached in the wound, sufficient pressure maybe made to stop the haem- orrhage, while the upper or lower portions of the wound are enlarged and the vessel searched for. Should it not be found, and the haemorrhage be still threatening, the carotid arteries must be tied. If the wound does not implicate the air-passages, the edges may be drawn together with strips of adhesive plaster. In doing this, care should be taken to leave an opening for the discharges from the wound. The cellular tissue of the neck is very loose, and, unless this be done, pus and other inflammatory products will burrow at the base of the neck, between the muscles and vessels, and produce serious trouble. The same rule holds good when ' the wound extends into the air-passages. ]^o attempt
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