136 THE HOME, FARM AND BUSINESS CYCLOPAEDIA. 



Another excellent way of arresting the bleeding is to cause the arms to 

 be raised above the head, and kept so for a few minutes, which will usually 

 have the desired effect. In the event of these remedies proving ineffectual, 

 and it being evident that the bleeding is dangerous, the nostrils must be 

 plugged with pieces of linen rag made into stoppers of oval shape, about 

 one inch in the long diameter and half an inch in the transverse, sufficient 

 linen being left hanging in order to withdraw them when necessary. The 

 great thing to determine in cases where the bleeding is not the result of 

 accident is whether it be a disease, or Nature's mode of assisting the re- 

 moval of one ; and this, of course, can only be arrived at by a knowledge 

 of the child's state of health at the time. 



CUTS. 



With regard to the bleeding caused by a cut from a knife, or something 

 similarly sharp, if it be only slight, after being bathed with cold water, 

 the edges or sides of the wound should be brought together, and bound 

 with narrow strips of arnica plaster, if this is to be had ; but if not, a sim- 

 ple band of linen, smeared with the white of an egg, will be the best sub- 

 stitute. If the band becomes tight, and causes pain owing to the swelling, 

 don't remove the bandage, but insert the blade of a pair of scissors under- 

 neath the binding on the opposite side to the wound, and cut the linen 

 across. Where it is necessary to remove the strapping on account of there 

 being pain and throbbing, the part affected should be soaked in warm 

 water, and a soft, warm poultice applied. When the wound does not show 

 signs of inflammation, and the discharge is good, that is to say, resembling 

 cream in consistence and custard in colour, the bandage may be put on 

 again ; but when the edges are inflamed, or pale and flabby, arid the dis- 

 charge thin and objectionable in its odour, a single strap of adhesive plaster 

 should be used to keep the edges together, and this should be covered with 

 a warm poultice. 



When a mishap of this kind occurs, it is either a vein or an artery that 

 is cut. In the former case the blood is dark-coloured, and will flow in a 

 steady stream, which can usually be stopped by the application of cold 

 water or ice, and by exposing the wound to the open air. In the latter the 

 blood is bright-red, and flows in jets, when, if the bleeding is excessive, a . 

 strong bandage should be tied around the limb, just above the wound, and 

 between it and the heart, and compressed sufficiently tight (by means of a 

 tick inserted underneath and twisted) until the circulation be stopped. 



