CHAPTER V. 



WOUNDS, SPRAINS, BRUISES, ABRASIONS, AND ABSCESSES. 



"WOUNDS AND THEIR TREATMENT. 



Wounds are classed as: Incised wounds^ or cuts; lacerated 

 tvoimds, or tears; and punctured tvomids, or holes. 



A dressing is a local, periodically repeated treatment, pro- 

 ducing a continued action, and often following the performance 

 of an operation. It is the application upon the surface of the 

 wound of healing substances, which, in some cases, are mechan- 

 ically held in place by bandages, stitches, etc. 



Before applying a dressing the wound should be thoroughly 

 cleansed and freed from blood, pus, the remains of previous 

 dressing, and, in a word, of any foreign or other substances 

 capable of becoming sources of irritation. This is best done 

 with water, but the effect is frequently greatly improved by 

 combining with it some of the antiseptics, such as carbolic acid, 

 creolin, bichloride of mercury, etc. 



Antiseptics are remedies which prevent putrefaction, or 

 rotting, and their combinations with water are called solutions. 

 The solution may be applied by carefully passing a saturated 

 ball of oakum over the surface of the wound, or it may be used 

 more freely in larger ablutions (washings). Crusts or scabs, if 

 present, may be removed with the scissors or scraped away with 

 the knife, but the finger nails must never be used for such a 

 purpose, for the practice is both filthy and dangerous. The 

 wound is to be handled only when necessary; all needless 

 handling irritates. If the wound is deep, it should be cleansed 

 by syringing. 



The essential condition of cleanliness applies not only to the 

 Avound but also to the materials used for dressings, and soiled 

 cloths or bandages and dirty oakum must be rigorously re- 

 jected; everything coming in contact with a wound must be 

 absolutely clean, hands as well as instruments and dressings. 

 In the treatment of all wounds cleanliness is of more impor- 

 tance than medication, but the two in combination, when 

 thoroughly and intelligently carried out, will leave no room for 



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