First Aid 481 



injury connected with the bruise, like the breaking of a bone or 

 the rupture of the soft internal parts, a physician should be con- 

 sulted at once. 



Sprains. Sprains are bruised muscles, ligaments, and nerves 

 about the joints. They occur when joints are turned too far or 

 in the wrong direction, and are most common in the ankles and 

 wrists. They often cause severe pain and swelling of the joints. 

 Rest, and the application of very hot or very cold water, arnica 

 or witch hazel, are usually sufficient treatment for an ordinary 

 sprain. Severe cases should be treated by a physician. 



Strains. Strains are injuries to muscles, resulting usually 

 from efforts to lift too heavy loads. They are most common in 

 the muscles of the back and shoulders and in the tendons of the 

 ankles and of the wrists. They cause stiffness, lameness, and 

 sometimes swelling of the parts affected, together with some pain. 

 Rest, and the application of alcohol and water, or of a linament, 

 soon afford relief. 



Dislocation. A dislocation is a displacement of a bone at a 

 joint. When the head of a bone slips out of its socket, the 

 result is a dislocation. It occurs most frequently in the shoulder, 

 but may occur in the hip, the jaw or the ringers. It is usually 

 the result of a blow or a fall. Efforts to reduce dislocations, 

 except in the case of the fingers, should not usually be attempted 

 by an untrained person. A dislocated finger may be readily 

 replaced by pulling the end straight out away from the hand. 

 In other cases, unless the attendant has received training in the 

 methods that should be used, a doctor should be summoned. 

 In the meantime, until the doctor's arrival, the sufferer should 

 be placed in a comfortable position, and cloths soaked in very 

 hot or very cold water should be applied to the injured parts. 



Fractures. When a bone in the body is broken, the injury 

 is called a fracture. The majority of fractures happen to the 

 bones of the arms and legs. They may be simple or compound. 

 In a simple fracture the skin has not been pierced by the edges 

 of the broken bone. In cases where the skin has been pierced 

 the fracture is said to be compound. The latter is more dangerous, 

 because germs gain entrance into the wound through the break in 



