COMMON ACCIDENTS AND INJURIES 347 



forehead, and upper part of the nose. Other remedies are 

 to raise the arms high above the head, and to snuff up the 

 nostril a solution of alum or other astringent. 



497. When blood comes from the stomach or the lungs, 

 it is usually a serious symptom, and calls for medical 

 attendance. The patient should be kept quiet in bed, 

 and small bits of ice should be swallowed frequently. 



Broken Bones and Injuries to Joints. See pp. 55, 56, 

 in Chap. IV. 



498. Asphyxia, or Suffocation, may occur from various 

 causes, as strangulation, drowning, the breathing of cer- 

 tain gases, convulsions which close the throat, etc. The 

 immediate cause is always a lack of oxygen in the lungs, 

 and fresh air is always the remedy, though that alone is 

 not always a sufficient remedy. Artificial respiration is 

 sometimes necessary. (See 499.) Sometimes the heart 

 ceases to beat from an accumulation of venous blood in 

 the right side, because the unpurified blood will not circu- 

 late through the lungs. In such a case the physician 

 may draw a little blood from a vein, after the air pas- 

 sages have been opened and fresh air supplied, and so 

 start the circulation. 



The most common cause of asphyxia, except drowning, 

 is probably the breathing of poisonous gas from a choked 

 or defective coal stove, from burning charcoal, or from a 

 gas burner. Fresh air, if supplied in time, will always 

 restore, though the system may show symptoms of de- 

 rangement for days or weeks afterward. 



499. Apparent Drowning. Efforts to restore persons 

 apparently dead from drowning should be persevered in, 

 even though no signs of life appear for several hours. 

 Quickly remove all clothing from the upper part of the 

 body. Turn the patient 011 his face, with a large, hard 



