Page:Every Woman's Encyclopedia Volume 1.djvu/536

 MEDICAL 512 give rise to serious haemorrhage. Such people should always warn their dentist of this constitutional tendency. In ordinary cases of bleeding from a tooth cavity, ice or ice- cold water suffices, or water as hot as can be borne may prove more effectual ; but with excessive bleeding the tooth should be replaced in the cavity, or it should be filled with a small pad of lint or cotton-wool, dipped in a styptic powder, and the jaws kept firmly together, so as to press the loose tooth or pad against the injured blood-vessels. Slight bleeding inside the mouth from the lip, tongue, or cheek can be controlled by sucking ice or by holding very hot water in the mouth ; but, whichever remedy is fol- lowed, it is not advisable to swallow the liquid with its admixture of blood. Bleeding from the Ear Channel Bleeding from, the ear channel is commonly associated with fracture of the base of the skull. The first aid treatment for such haemorrhage is to wipe away the blood as it flows, and to avoid plugging the ear. Varicose Veins The diseased condition known as varicose veins often gives rise to severe haemorrhage, owing to the bursting of the blood-vessels. The veins of the leg are specially liable to become varicose, through the downward pressure of the blood distending the veins so that the valves cannot close to prevent the tendency to a backward flow which results from prolonged standing or the wearing of tight garters. When haemorrhage occurs from varicose veins, digital pressure must be applied as promptly as possible to the seat of injury, and as soon as can be managed the thumb must be replaced by a graduated pad of lint, which must be securely bound in position. The leg should be firmly bandaged both above and below the wound, and it should be kept raised and in a comfortable position until the doctor arrives. Whenever medical aid is sought for an injured person, the doctor should be informed as accurately as possible of the nature and extent of the injury, so that he may arrive provided with suitable appliances and remedies. Various Wounds and their Treatment Wounds vary in character according to their cause as well as in severity, so that some may be treated by homely reme- dies while others require skilled medi- cal assistance. I. An in- cised wound is a simple cut with a knife or sharp in- s t r u m ent. Such a wound should be washed with t-. r u I reatmcnt for burst varicose vein clean water or with water containing an antiseptic, and bound firmly with a clean linen bandage. If the wound is large and gapes open, medical assistance must be sought to bind the edges together with stitches ; but, with slighter injuries, a strip How to arrest nose bleeding of goldbeater's skin or court plaster suffices to keep the edges closed till the wound is healed. 2. A contused wound is brought about by a blow with a heavy instrument, which tears the skin and bruises the surrounding tissue. This is best treated by a clean folded handkerchief or a piece of lint soaked in spirit lotion made by a mixture of equal parts of cold water with whisky or brandy, which must be lightly spread over the injured part, and renewed as soon as it becomes warm, A Lacerated Wound 3 . A lacerated wound is one which accom- panies accidents involving the loss of a limb or the tearing of flesh from the body by the wheels of machinery, etc. Such wounds are of a very serious nature, and all that can be done by the lay helper is to arrest bleeding, to cover the wound with a clean cloth or piece of flannel wrung out of very hot water, and to treat the patient for shock. If the doctor is late the warm applications must be con- tinued, but the second and subse- quent ones should be applied on top of the first one, so as to avoid disturb- ance of the wound and exposure of it to the air. To be continued