250 Local Injuries. 



met with in injuries to the knees, for which the treatment 

 of wounds already given is applicable. It is often a wise 

 precaution to place a suitable splint at the back of the 

 knee to prevent movement, during which rapid progress 

 is made in the more serious cases, and even simple ones 

 are much benefited, as in lying the wounds are opened 

 and further damage is done. Extreme cases terminate 

 in enlargement and stiffening of the joint. 



Wounds of Arteries and Veins. — These are not 

 of very frequent occurrence as independent accidents, 

 being nearly always associated with incised wounds. 

 Bleeding from an artery is known by the bright scarlet 

 colour, and the pulsating or spurting stream, while that 

 from a vein is smaller, continuous, having less force, and 

 the colour is a dark or Modena red. Hemorrhage is 

 arrested in various ways. Styptics, as tannic acid, contract 

 the artery and coagulate the blood. The latter also 

 forms a natural plug to the open vessel. Cotton wool, 

 German tinder, &c, are effective ; the hot iron, nitrate 

 of silver, &c, are of the best. Bleeding from an artery 

 is always serious, therefore professional help should be 

 obtained as soon as possible, as a surgical operation may 

 be required. 



A simple method of arresting haemorrhage in a limb 

 consists of passing a soft rope, towel, or even a handker- 

 chief, round and above the wound and tying to form a 

 loose loop. A stick is then passed through about half 

 way, forming two convenient handles for twisting the 

 ligature thus formed, the result being pressure and arrest 

 to the flow of blood. 



