278 THE FARMER'S AND 



linen, and pass a bandage round the chest. The patient 

 is to be confined to his bed, kept on very low diet, and to 

 be bled and purged, in order to prevent inflammation. If 

 the latter comes on, reduce it by copious and frequent 

 bleedings. 



Should it be occasioned by a bullet, extract it, and any 

 pieces of cloth, etc., that may be lodged in it, if possible, 

 and cover the wound with a piece of linen smeared with 

 some simple ointment, taking care that it is not drawn 

 into the chest. If a portion of the lung protrudes, return 

 it without any delay, but as gently as possible. 



WOUNDS OF THE BELLY. 



Close the wound by strips of sticking-plaster, and 

 stitches passed through the skin, about half an inch from 

 its edges, and cover the whole with a soft compress, se- 

 cured by a bandage. Any inflammation that may arise 

 is to be reduced by bleeding, purging, and a blister over 

 the whole belly. 



Should any part of the bowels come out at the wound, 

 if clean and uninjured, return it as quickly as possible ; 

 if covered with dirt, clots of blood, etc., wash it carefully 

 in warm water previous to so doing. If the gut is wound- 

 ed, and only cut partly through, draw the two edges of it 

 together by a stitch, and return it ; if completely divided, 

 connect the edges by four stitches at equal distances, and 

 replace it in the belly, always leaving the end of the lig- 

 ature project from the external wound, which must be 

 closed by sticking-plaster. In five or six days, if the 

 threads are loose, withdraw them gently and carefully 



OF FRACTURES. 



The signs by which fractures may be known, having 

 been already pointed out with sufficient minuteness, it 



