150 WOUNDS. 



and safety of a bandage (judiciously adapted^ 

 and properly applied) as much as the me- 

 dical efficacy of styptic applications. NA- 

 TURE in this business (as in most others) 

 is, in a great degree, adequate to her own 

 work ; ^nd will, by the very balsamic pro- 

 perty of the blood, do more in nine super- 

 ficial cases out of ten, than a long list of ill-f 

 formed unguents, reported to have effected 

 the most miraculous cures. In addition to 

 this circumstance it must be remembered, 

 that a speedy cure depends upon bringing 

 the edges of the wound into early contact, 

 which should (particularly if the case is 

 alarming) be immediately performed, by tak- 

 ing up the necessary stitches at proper dis- 

 tances (according to circumstances and dis-* 

 cretion) with such needles as the case may- 

 require ; an operation so very trifling, that 

 it may be most readily executed by any per-- 

 son not at all proficient in the practice, 

 should an emergency render such exertion 

 unavoidably necessary. Taking great care, 

 in large zvounds, not to draw the edges too 

 close to each other, and hazard the breaking 

 out of the stitches, or bringing on an inflam- 

 mation by an accumulation of confined mat-r 



