66 WOUNDS AND BRUISES. 



water (at u, temperature of not less than 110° T.) begin quicker, last longer, 

 and are more energetic than those induced by the use of cold water, ine 

 continued effect of which is to paralyse the tissues. The application of 

 lukewarm water encourages bleeding. loco-u i 



For the arrest of bleeding, the application of warm water (12U to l^b a.) 

 or cold water (or ice) is preferable to that of styptics ; because the use of 

 styptics more or less irritates wounded surfaces to which they are applied. 

 The employment of water in any of the forms just mentioned is free from 

 this objection. It is obvious that irritation interferes with the healing of 

 wounds. 



Pressure on the seat of injury by means of one or more fingers, or by a 

 hard pad and a properly arranged bandage will generally cause a clot to 

 quickly form in a divided blood-vessel, and will thus stop the bleeding. 

 The far too common practice of trying to arrest haemorrhage in a limb by 

 applying a tight bandage, handkerchief, or other form of tourniquet above 

 the wound is wrong surgery ; because such an appliance would induce more 

 or less intense venous congestion, which, if long continued, might be 

 followed by death of the part (gangrene), and would have little or no effect 

 in producing the desired clot. We should here bear in mind that the walls 

 of the veins are much thinner and weaker than those of the arteries, and 

 are consequently much more sensitive to pressure, which, in the case under 

 consideration, should be local, not general. The great use of a tourniquet 

 is to prevent bleeding during a surgical operation. 



In wound treatment, pressure is a 'most powerful and beneficial agency. 

 It favours union by maintaining accurate coaptation, and prevents extrava- 

 sation of blood and its products. When such extravasation has occurred, 

 pressure is the quickest, least painful, and the most successful agency in 

 promoting absorption. In all cases, pressure should be evenly distributed 

 (as for instance, by means' of cotton wadding, page 44), and should in no 

 way interfere with the circulation or drainage of the part. 



