CHAPTER XVII. 



SURGICAL OBSERVATIONS.* 



WOUNDS-TO STOP BLEEDING— REMOVAL OF EXTRANEOUS MATTER 

 —CLOSURE OF A WOUND— BANDAGLNG— CLEAN CUTS— PUNCTURED 

 WOUNDS— BRUISES AND SPRAINS— WOUNDS OF JOINTS — FRAC- 

 TURES— BLOOD-LETTING. 



WOUNDS. 



All the wounds which can be inflicted may be classed un- 

 der the heads of incised^ punctured, and lacerated. 



An incised wound is one made by a cutting instrument, 

 such as a knife or piece of glass. 



Punctured wounds are those produced by sharp-pointed 

 bodies, such as pins or thorns. 



Lacerated wounds are those occasioned by blunt bodies, 

 as the teeth of a dog, tearing rather than cutting the flesh. 



1st. Arrest the bleeding, if profuse, and likely to endan- 

 ger life. 



2d. Clip away the wool for a few inches around the in- 

 jured part. 



3d. Remove dirt or other foreign body from the wound. 



TO STOP BLEEDING. 



Bleeding will, if no large arteries are divided, cease on 

 the free exposure of the surface for a few minutes to the air; 

 but when a large vessel has been cut, more determined 

 means must be had recourse to. Pressure on the bleeding 

 surface and its neighborhood will in many cases succeed, 

 but this or any other similar method is far inferior to that of 

 securing the open vessel by a thread. To accomplish this, 



» By Blacklock. 



