502 HEALTH AND DISEASE 



dilated and ulcerated, and break, from the same cause. Sloughing ulcers of 

 the bowels, stomach, and other organs may lay open the blood-vessels and 

 lead to serious or even fatal extravasation. 



The accidental causes of hemorrhage are wounds and blows, the former 

 resulting from cuts, stabs, and lacerations of the flesh. 



Symptoms. — Hemorrhage from the surface of the body is obvious, but 

 internal bleeding is not always so. When it takes place into the lungs it 

 may be evidenced by its escape from the nostrils; but when the escape is 

 into the chest or belly, or other closed cavities, the outward indications of 

 its occurrence must be sought for in certain manifestations of disordered 

 function and physical signs. Of these the more suspicious are a pale or 

 blanched appearance of the membranes lining the mouth, the nostrils, and 

 the eyelids. The pupils of the eyes become dilated, and the eye itself 

 presents a bright, glassy appearance. The breathing is deep and sighing, 

 the extremities become cold, and patches of cold sweat appear on the body. 

 The upper lip is raised from time to time, and if the head be elevated by 

 placing the hand under the jaw, the animal staggers. 



As the blood drains away, and supply to the brain fails, the muscles 

 twitch and quiver and finally undergo general relaxation, when the body 

 staggers and falls. Death from loss of blood is preceded by convulsions. 



Treatment. — The course to be adopted in dealing with hemorrhage 

 will depend upon the organ aflfected, and in external bleeding in some 

 measure as to whether the flow is from an artery or a vein, or from smaller 

 and less important vessels. If an artery be laid open through an external 

 wound, the blood flows from it in jerks corresponding to the beating of the 

 heart, and it is, besides, of a bright scarlet hue. If it proceeds from a vein, 

 it passes from the wound in a continuous stream, and the colour is dark red 

 or purple. 



Where veins and arteries are divided at the same time these two colours 

 are blended together, giving a colour intermediate between the two, or 

 a light and dark streakiness, to the stream. If the vessel from which the 

 blood escapes is of considerable size, and can be made accessible, the bleed- 

 ing may be arrested by ligature, i.e. by tying it round tightly with a piece 

 of clean carbolized silk or string. If it is an artery, the ligature should be 

 applied to that side of the opening in the vessel nearest the heart, from 

 which direction the blood is coming. If it be a vein, that side farthest 

 from the heart will be selected. Pressure on the bleeding part, by means of 

 the finger or a bandage, may sufiice to stop the flow. Where the blood 

 proceeds from a number of small vessels, a little cotton-wool applied to the 

 broken surface will sometimes have the desired efi"ect. Should it not do so, 

 the part nvAv he freely irrigated with cold water, or dressed with a solution 



