WOUNDS. 169 



that wounds of a jagged description are more favorable to the 

 clotting of the blood, as well as to the retraction of the 

 divided vessels, than are simple incisions. The rapidity of 

 the stream will inform us whether any vessels of importance 

 are wounded. Should it come from arteries, the colour will 

 be a bright scarlet ; the vital fluid will stream, will jet forth, 

 and will by its magnitude indicate the importance of the 

 divided vessels ; on the other hand, should veins furnish the 

 blood, it will be of a dark colour, and flow in an uninter- 

 rupted and comparatively a tardy stream. When the 

 current is arterial, and of a fulness to excite apprehension, 

 should we not be able to apply a compress in an eff'ectual 

 manner, we must lose no time either in searing the mouth 

 of the bleeding vessel, or in seizing it with a pair of forceps, 

 and securing it by ligature. Now, however, that we have to 

 add torsion to our list of means for the suppression of 

 hemorrhage, we may prefer seizing the artery with the 

 torsion-forceps, iind give it the requisite number of twists to 

 ensure its closure. For the arrest of bleeding during an opera- 

 tion: 1. An assistant may also compress the arterial trunk. 

 2. A tourniquet may likewise be applied. 3. By compression 

 of the bleeding vessels themselves after the operation the 

 hemorrhage may be stopped. 4. By hgature ; and the small 

 round thread ligature is the best ; it should be tied tightly. 

 (Liston^s Introductory Lecture in the ^ Lancet^ for June 1, 

 1844.) 



In the selection of means much must be left to the prac- 

 titioner : unless I were writing on some particular case, it is 

 impossible for me to give any other than general rules of 

 guidance. The limbs admit of compress, though the thigh, 

 hock, shoulder, and knee, are awkward parts (from the 

 motion they possess) to bandage with eff*ect. In all cases 

 the heated budding-iron is a ready remedy for bleeding ; and 

 (when the skin is not concerned) not so painful as people 

 might imagine. Though in most cases, where I could get 

 at the bleeding vessel, I preferred the ligature, cutting but 

 one end off", and leaving the other hanging out of the wound 

 between the sutures. 



