304 



Life and Health 



Bleeding from an artery is a dangerous matter in pro- 

 portion to the size of the vessel, and may speedily cause 

 the loss of life itself. When an artery is bleeding always 

 remember to make deep pressure between the wound and the 

 heart. In all such cases send for the doctor. 



Do not be afraid to act at once. A resolute grip in the 

 right place with firm fingers will do well enough, until a 

 twisted handkerchief, stout cord, shoestring, suspender, or 

 an improvised tourniquet 1 is ready 

 to take its place. If the flow of 

 blood does not stop, change the pres- 

 sure until the right spot is found. 



474. Where and how to apply Pres- 

 sure. The principal places in which 

 to apply pressure when arteries are 

 injured and bleeding should always 

 be kept in mind. 



If in the finger, grasp it with the 

 thumb and forefinger and pinch it 



1 A tourniquet is a bandage, handkerchief, 

 or strap of webbing into the middle of which 

 a stone, a potato, a small block of wood, or 

 any hard, smooth body is tied. The band is 

 tied loosely about the limb, the hard body is 

 held over the artery to be constricted, and 

 a stick is inserted beneath the band on the 

 opposite side of the limb and used to twist the band in such a way that 

 the limb is tightly constricted thereby, and the hard body thus made to 

 compress the artery. 



The entire circumference of the limb may be constricted by any sort of 

 elastic band or rubber tube, or any other strong elastic material passed 

 around the limb several times on a stretch, drawn tight and tied in a knot. 

 In this way bleeding may be stopped at once from the largest arteries. 

 The longer and softer the tube the better. It requires no skill and but 

 little knowledge of anatomy to apply it efficiently. ALEXANDER B. 

 JOHNSON, Surgeon to Roosevelt Hospital, New York City. 



FIG. 161. Dotted Line 

 showing the Course of 

 the Brachial Artery. 



