BLEEDING 



767 



BLEEDING HEART 



BLEEDING, or HEMORRHAGE , hem' o ray j, 

 is the escape of blood from the body, or from 

 one part of the body into another. In pop- 

 ular use the term sometimes signifies a more 

 sudden and severe flow of blood than ordinary 

 bleeding, but there is no real distinction. 

 Bleeding may be caused by a cut or tear in 

 a vein or artery, or it may be the result of 

 bruising a new surface or a mucous membrane. 



Under abnormal conditions blood may also 

 escape into the lungs, the stomach and other 

 cavities and remain concealed for a considerable 

 length of time. This is called internal bleeding. 



Arterial Bleeding. This may be recognized 

 by the fresh red color of the blood and by the 

 way it issues from the wound that is, in jets 

 or spurts. The cutting of a large artery some- 

 times results fatally with the first gush of 

 blood, and in other cases the shock is suffi- 

 cient to cause unconsciousness. Fainting, in 

 which the supply of blood to the brain is 

 greatly diminished and the blood pressure re- 

 duced, favors the formation of a blood clot, 

 one of the best possible checks to bleeding (see 

 BLOOD, subhead Clotting). In case of a super- 

 ficial wound, too, the cut usually closes quickly 

 by the formation of a clot, but where no such 

 clot is formed artificial methods must be used 

 to arrest the flow of blood. In many cases this 

 can be done by applying clean hot water or 

 clean ice water to the wound, or by using direct 

 pressure with a small piece of clean cotton. If 

 the bleeding seems to be excessive, place one 

 or both thumbs over the place from which the 

 blood issues, and press firmly. This will check 

 bleeding until a better remedy can be em- 

 ployed. Wounds about the face and neck can 

 be treated especially well with thumb pressure. 



In case of serious cuts it is best to tie a 

 handkerchief or a strip of strong cloth loosely 

 around the limb above the cut, and to slip a 

 short stick into the loop; by twisting the stick 

 sufficient pressure is secured to check the bleed- 

 ing. This device has become known as a 

 tourniquet. A tourniquet should not be left 

 twisted for more than a half hour at a time, as 

 it may cause congestion. In many cases a 

 blood clot will have formed by the time the 

 doctor has arrived. Tying the artery, that is, 

 applying a ligature to each end of the cut 

 vessel, is a reliable method of stopping hemor- 

 rhage. 



Venous Bleeding. A hemorrhage frdm the 

 veins is ordinarily less dangerous than arterial 

 bleeding. It may be recognized by the dark 

 red color of the blood and the even flow. Pres- 



sure over the wound is usually enough to stop 

 the flow, but in extreme cases a ligature or 

 other method may be necessary. 



Other Forms. All forms of bleeding, if they 

 continue, cause death. A serious hemorrhage 

 demands the attention of a physician. Some 

 persons, known among physicians as bleeders, 

 have a natural tendency to bleed. The blood 

 clots with difficulty, and a slight wound may 

 cause death. The normal person, however, 

 need not fear death from this cause. Internal 

 hemorrhage should have immediate medical 

 attention. Chiefly in young children hemor- 

 rhages sometimes occur through the skin. The 

 only remedy in severe cases seems to be the 

 transfusion of blood from some other person, 

 and this is not a certain cure. Bleeding of the 

 nose may sometimes be stopped by applying 

 cold water to the back of the neck, forehead 

 and bridge of the nose. W.A.E. 



BLEEDING HEART, a hardy, late spring 

 flower, rich with home associations and mem- 

 ories of old-fashioned gardens. The flowers are 

 irregularly heart-shaped, deep rosy red, with 

 the inner petals white. The structure of stem 



BLEEDING HEART 



and flower is so delicate that it seems the little 

 rosy blossoms are dripping toward the ground. 

 With its wealth of fresh foliage and interesting 

 flowers, the bleeding heart makes an attractive 

 border. This plant was brought from Japan 

 and introduced into England about 1850, after 

 which it spread to all home gardens and is now 

 a favorite everywhere. It is easily cultivated, 



