Surgical emergencies, together with the emergencies attendant on parturition and the treatment of poisoning : a manual for the use of general practitioners / by Paul Swain.

  • Swain, William Paul, 1834-1916.
Date:
1896
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Surgical emergencies, together with the emergencies attendant on parturition and the treatment of poisoning : a manual for the use of general practitioners / by Paul Swain. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    eighth of an inch in thickness. The gutta-percha is obtained in sheets, and the best method for cutting out the splint is to trace the outline with the point of a knife. Then bending the gutta-percha, and drawing the point of the knife successively along the original line, the gutta- percha will give before it, and a clean cut will be effected in the exact direction required. It is then to be placed flat in a tub of boiling water, and retained long enough to make it quite soft. The limb must be well oiled, and the gutta-percha being moulded to it should be retained in place for a few minutes by a bandage. When it is suffi- ciently hard it may be removed, the edges pared, the inner edge being bevelled off, and the inside covered with flannel stuck on with paste. The splint must then be well per- forated with small holes made with a punch. If the splint requires strengthening at any point, this may be accomplished by putting on to the parts requiring extra support strips of gutta-percha softened in boiling water. A very excellent and stiff bandage is made with gum and starch, of each %iv, chalk $vii], water 5vnj- These ingredients are mixed well in a mortar and run through a hair sieve, to make the mixture perfectly smooth. The addition of methylated spirits ^iv prevents the mixture spoiling, and it can be kept in a bottle ready for use. The bandage should be rolled in the mixture immediately before application. Its removal is very readily affected by immersing the limb in hot water for a short time, which softens the bandage, when it can be simply removed by unrolling. Glue is sometimes used instead of starch. A strong solution of the best French glue is made, to which is added one eighth part of methylated spirits of wine. The limb being cased in wool is then bandaged, the glue being painted on with a stiff brush. Successive layers of bandage and glue may thus be applied. The method of applying extension to the lower extremi- ties by weight is as follows : A thin piece of board, from three to four inches long