CHAPTER VIII 

 BLEEDING, WOUNDS, AND DISEASE GERMS 



133. Bleeding. When a person loses much blood, he 

 feels weak and faint, and if one half the blood is lost, he 

 dies. So bleeding is dangerous to life. We have seen 

 how the blood clots and stops bleeding. When a large 

 artery is cut, the force of the blood drives the clot out as 

 fast as it forms, and so there is great danger of bleeding 

 to death. Blood from a cut artery spurts out ; blood from 

 a cut vein only flows out, and does not spurt. So bleeding 

 from an artery is far more dangerous than from a vein. 



134. How. to stop bleeding. Every one should know 

 how to stop bleeding. When dangerous bleeding occurs, 

 just squeeze the sides of the wound tightly together with 

 your hands. This is a sure and safe way of stopping any 

 bleeding until some one comes who can help you. But 

 sometimes a cut must be held for hours before enough 

 clot is formed to stop bleeding. So while you are holding 

 the cut you can get a handkerchief or any piece of cloth 

 ready so as to tie it tightly over the cut, or just above it. 

 Then a stick may be put under the handkerchief and 

 twisted tightly, so as to close the bleeding artery. There 

 is one important thing to remember : keep everything as 

 clean as possible, and put no earth or cobwebs, or any 

 other dirty thing upon the cut, for there is great danger 

 of poisoning the wound by it. If bleeding comes from 

 the arm or leg, very much less blood will go to the limb if 



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