FLESH WOUNDS. 285 



Treatment. — In the general treatment of wounds, attention should 

 first be directed to cleansing the injured parts from all foreign bodies, as 

 far as possible, by allowing lukewarm water to fall in a stream over it 

 from the mouth of a vessel. It is good practice to add to the water one 

 per cent of carbolic acid. Or a wet sponge or piece of fine tow may be 

 pressed on some part above, from whence the water may gently trickle 

 over the wound; but the abraded surface itself should be touched as 

 little as possible. Fig. 1. Any large particles of gravel or dirt may 

 be carefully removed by the forcej)s. It is, however, a mistake to irritate 

 a wound by over-anxiety to cleanse it thoroughly. Nature will by her own 

 processes remove with less irritation than man can do any foreign matters 

 which may be so imbedded as not to come away by the simple washing 

 recommended. 



If there is any hemorrhage, it should be stopped at once, for which 

 jDurpose, in ordinary cases, the application of cold, styptics, or pressure is 

 generally sufficient. If the blood persists in oozing out and an artery is 

 not involved, the application of persulphate of iron will control it. There 

 is usually very little bleeding in lacerated wounds, sometimes great sore- 

 ness, and considerable inflammation; this should be treated with fomen- 

 tations of hot water on them, or form thickness of flannel or a soft bit 

 of rag, or lint, or a mild poultice may be applied with good effect: 



Linsed meal 2 parts 



Brewer's yeast 1 part 



Boiling water enough 



Always have poultices warm when put on. If, however, the hemor- 

 rhage be arterial, a ligature or acupressure will probably be necessary; the 

 latter is preferable, as it causes less suppuration. 



The best dressing for wounds which comply with the conditions re- 

 quired for direct union is collodion. It effectually excludes the air, and 

 direct union, or at least union by adhesion, is likely to occur. The ban- 

 dages which retain the dressing should not be removed for some days. 

 The dressing, of course, must not be applied until the bleeding has 

 ceased and the wound has been cleansed. It will be necessary to remove 

 the hair round the part, before the dressing is applied. 



For wounds capable of being healed by adhesion, lint steeped in blood 

 or in tincture of benzoin or collodion may be applied. Where collodion 

 is used, the hair about the part must be removed. 



