TREATMENT OF CUTS AND BRUISES 



175 



I 



Treatment of Cuts and Bruises. — Blood which oozes slowly 

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

 formation of a clot. A cut or bruise should, however, be washed 

 in a weak solution of lysol or some other antiseptic in order to 

 prevent bacteria from obtaining a foothold on the exposed flesh. 

 If blood, issuing from a wound, gushes in distinct pulsations, 

 we know that an artery has been severed. To prevent the flow 

 of blood, a tight bandage known as a tourniquet (toor'ni-ket) must 

 be tied between the cut and the heart if possible. A handker- 

 chief with a knot placed over 

 the artery may be used for 

 this purpose. If this does not 

 serve, insert a stick in the hand- 

 kerchief and twist it so as to 

 make the pressure around the 

 limb still greater. Thus we 

 may close the artery until a 

 doctor can come and sew up 

 the injured blood vessel. 



The Effect of Alcohol upon 

 the Blood. — Alcohol, when 

 taken habitually, causes several 

 very serious effects upon the 

 blood and blood vessels. The 

 bodily resistance against dis- 

 ease which is brought about 

 by the presence of specific '' antibodies " is greatly weakened in 

 those who use alcohol to excess. Drinking also has an injurious 

 effect upon the colorless corpuscles, as it lowers their ability to 

 fight disease germs. Place a drop of alcohol on a slide contain- 

 ing active amoebae, if j^ou wish to see the effect on a similar 

 type of organism. Alcohol acts on the nerve centers controlling 

 the heart and blood vessels. You all know the red face of the 

 habitual drinker. Alcohol may even, in cases of long and severe 

 drinking, cause changes to take place in the walls of the blood 

 vessels which may result in the breaking of the vessel or the forma- 

 tion of a blood clot in the vessel. Such an injury in the brain 

 causes ap'oplexy and often results in sudden death. 



Stopping flow of blood tiom di artery 

 by applying a tight bandage (tourniquet) 

 between the cut and the heart. 



