The dictionary of medical and surgical knowledge and complete practical guide in health and disease for families, emigrants, and colonists / by the editor of the "Dictionary of useful knowledge" [i.e. Robert Kemp Philp], etc. [With illustrations.].

Date:: MDCCLXIV [1864]

Credit: The dictionary of medical and surgical knowledge and complete practical guide in health and disease for families, emigrants, and colonists / by the editor of the "Dictionary of useful knowledge" [i.e. Robert Kemp Philp], etc. [With illustrations.]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by King’s College London. The original may be consulted at King’s College London.

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$the heads of Bums and Scalds, Poisonous Exhalations, Drowning, Suspended Ani- mation, &c.; and only those which refer to wounds, or violence applied to the body, wdll be considered under this head. As the iudividual injured is seldom able to assist himself, there are certain proper- ties which those who act the part of the Good Samaritan on such occasions should always be prepared to exercise, and with- out w'hich the services rendered, however well-intentioned, may become more hurtful than beneficial; these are energy, coolness, and decision. There are accidents of daily occurrence, where many valuable lives are either endangered or sacrificed, from the want of the most ordinary prudence and reflection; and for which, had it not been for the alann consequent on the suddenness of the accident, or the fright occasioned by the appearance of the sufferer, a child, in many instances, might have devised a remedy. Nothing so materially tends to deprive a looker-on of his coolness and presence of mind, as the sight of blood exuding in any quantity from the body; and no accident, in general, can be more easily reheved. The friendly assistant should never forget, that every moment he delajys to stop the crimson tide, while castmg about for suitable means, may be fatal to the sufferer; wEereas the point of his finger is a means alw'ays ready, and when only a single vessel is injured, the pressure of that small member is sufficient to suspend all bleeding from the artery or vein. In case of an accident involving insen- sibilitjy or great bodily suffering, the fii-st duty IS to remove any weight or encum- brance from the bodjr, and then lay it gently on the back, in such a position that the air may have free access to the sufferer, especially about the face and neck. All imncccssary examination, or moving of the person, should be avoided till some professional gentleman arrive to take the responsibility of the case. Should a bone be broken, and the fractui'cd ex- tremities protrude through the flesh, any attempt at reduction or setting the bone, before the arrival of the surgeon, would be highly culpable; if, however, there is any violent bleeding, it should be at once arrested. If the bleeding ]>rocccds from the leg or arm, the seam of that part of the coat or trousers should be ripped uj) with a penknife, so as to e.xpose the limb w'ithout disturbing it; the point from whence the blood issues is then to be sought for, a finger immediately placed on the spot where the open vessel is bleeding, and a gentle pressure established, but merelysufficient to arrest thediseharge; in the mean time, a large handkerchief is to be folded in its longest direction, so as to make a kind of broad bandage, which must then be passed round the limb, above the wound, and also the fracture, and tied tightly; the finger is then to be removed from the wound, and if there be no further bleeding, the limb may be left alone till professionally attended; but should the blood still flow, though in diminished quantity, the bandage must be made still tighter by inserting a piece of stick under the last fold, and by giving it a few turns, compress the artery more effectually. Arterial blood is always known by its bright scarlet colour, and by its springing out in leaps or jerks; while venous blood is characterized by its dark purple colour, and by its flowmg steadily like water. The bleeding having been suppressed, the face may be bathed with cold wmter, and if there is great exhaustion, a small quan- tity of brandy and water administered occasionally. In cases of collision, where the person has been violently shaken, and there is no external injury, onl^ insensibOity, attended with pale face, livid lips, cold hands and lower extremities, the body should be placed in a horizontal position, the head slightly raised, and bottles of hot water or heated bricks applied to the feet, legs, and inside of the thighs, and small quantities of warm hrandy and w-ater given every few minutes; at the same time, ammonia or smelling salts should be applied, but cautiously, to the nostrils. AVTien the insensibility is attended with abrasion, laceration, or wounds of the head, the same means are to bo adopted, the injuries washed with a sponge and cold water, so as to remove all dirt that may be present. The edges of the cut or lacerated part are to be next brought together, and secured by strips of adhesive plaster, and a light bandage passed over all. See Head, Injuries of ; Wounds, Contusions, Ac. ACCIDENTS, Precautions against. —It would be a reflection on the reader’s understanding, and lake up loo large a space in our work, to set dowm all the precautions that it behoves a person ])Ossessed of ordinary prudence to adopt, to guard against avoidable' accidenis, as every one must know that going too near the verge of a jirccipice, throwing orange- peel on the jiavemcnt, leaving a room with$