FIRST AID TO THE INJURED 335 



are generally deep, sometimes even carbonizing the 

 bones, especially those of the fingers. They heal quickly, 

 however ordinarily in from 3 to 6 weeks. 



WOUNDS 



Before being used on a wound, all instruments, band- 

 ages, etc., should be sterilized by heating in steam or 

 boiling water or by baking or by treating with a germ- 

 destroying solution. The water used in washing a 

 wound should first be boiled, in fact nothing unsterilized 

 should be permitted to come in contact with the wounded 

 surface. The germs entering a wound from the skin of the 

 patient or from the object that produced the wound may 

 be removed by thoroughly washing with sterilized water, 

 and the sterilized dressings will prevent further infection. 



The first treatment of a wound includes checking the 

 bleeding; the removal of all foreign matter and a 

 thorough washing; drawing the lips of the wound to- 

 gether or gently straightening bruised or torn flesh; 

 applying several layers of sterilized gauze, with absorb- 

 ent cotton next the wound if it is likely to bleed or 

 discharge, and holding all in place with a suitable 

 bandage. Sterilized adhesive strips are sometimes nec- 

 essary to hold the wound together. 



FRACTURES 



The signs of fracture are: (1) Loss of power in the 

 limb, or part, injured. (2) Pain and swelling at the 

 seat of the injury. (3) Distortion of the injured limb 

 it will be longer or shorter than the other or will lie 

 in some unnatural position. By gentle pulling, the limb 

 may be brought back to its natural shape, but on being 

 released will immediately return to the distorted posi- 

 tion. (4) On gently moving the limb, a grating sensation 

 (crepitation) may be felt where the ends of the broken 

 bone rub against each other. (5) If near the surface, 

 the break may be felt from the outside. A fracture 

 should be handled with extreme gentleness; rough usage 

 may do much harm. 



