EMERGENCY TREATMENT 525 



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Absolute rest is then required. Careful rubbing of the sprained 

 joint often shortens the time needed for recovery and very often 

 prevents stiffness. 



Dislocation. When the bone of a joint is forced out of place 

 the ligaments are torn and the muscles are apt to be stretched and 

 irritated, and we say the bone is out of joint. A physician must 

 attend to putting the joint back in place, but meanwhile the patient 

 should be kept as quiet as possible. It is well to bind the injured 

 member close to the body, if the injury is of the shoulder or arm; 

 or to tie together the thighs, knees and ankles, if the injury is of the 

 lower extremity. 



Broken Bones. The two ends of the broken bone should be 

 brought together as soon as possible. The doctor should be called 

 at once, but in case the patient has to be carried a long distance 

 the ends of the bone might injure the flesh. It is best to bind 

 the limb close against the body if the injury is of the arm; or 

 to tie together the thighs, knees and ankles, if the injury is of 

 the leg. 



Drowning. When a person is taken out of the water in an ap- 

 parently drowned condition, there must be no loss of time in 

 attempting to restore breathing. The most practical method of arti- 

 ficial respiration is the one devised by Professor Schaefer, of Edin- 

 burgh University. The procedure is as follows: 



1. Turn the patient on his face. Loosen clothing that may 

 hinder breathing movements of the chest. Wipe out quickly, but 

 as thoroughly as possible, all froth and dirt that may be in the 

 mouth and throat. Force mouth open and pull tongue forward if 

 necessary. 



2. Turn patient's face to his right and rest his head upon his 

 bent left arm so that mouth and nostrils are free for air entrance. 



3. Then kneel astride, or on one side of the patient's body, fac- 

 ing his head. Place your hands spread out on the small of his back 

 with the thumbs parallel and close together pointing toward the 

 patient's head, spread the fingers out on each side of the body over 

 the lowest ribs, then lean forward and keeping the arms straight 

 allow the weight of your body to come on to your hands and so to 

 produce a slow steady pressure upon the patient's ribs. The object 



