378 



THE BLOOD AND ITS CIRCULATION 



gymnasium. Exercise in moderation is of undoubted value, be- 

 cause it sends the increased amount of blood to such parts of the 

 body where increased oxidation has been taking place as the result 

 of the exercise. The best forms of exercise are those which give 

 as many muscles as possible work — walking, out-of-door sports, any 

 exercise that is not violent. Exercise should not be attempted im- 

 mediately after eating, as this causes a withdrawal of blood from the 

 walls of glands of the digestive tract to the muscles of the body. 

 Neither should exercise be continued after becoming tired, as poisons 

 are then formed in the muscles, which cause the feeling we call 

 fatigue. Remember that extra work given to the heart by extreme 

 exercise may injure it, causing possible trouble with the valves. 



Treatment of Cuts and Bruises. — Blood which oozes slowly 

 from a cut will usually stop flowing by the natxiral means of the 



formation of a clot. A cut 

 or bruise should, however, be 

 washed in a weak solution of 

 carbolic acid or some other 

 antiseptic in order to prevent 

 bacteria from obtaining a foot- 

 hold on the exposed flesh. If 

 blood, issuing from a wound, 

 is bright red in color and 

 gushes in distinct pulsations, 

 then we know that an artery 

 has been severed. To prevent 

 the flow of blood, a tight band- 

 age must be tied between the 

 cut and the heart. A hand- 

 kerchief with a knot placed 

 over the artery may stop bleed- 

 ing if the cut is on one of 

 the limbs. If this does not 

 serve, then insert a stick in 

 the handkerchief and twist it 

 so as to make the pressure around the limb still greater. Thus 

 we may close the artery until the doctor is called, who may sew 

 up the injured blood vessel. 



stopping flow of blood from an artery by 

 applying a tight bandage (ligature) be- 

 tween the cut and the heart. 



