AND PHYSIOLOGY. 



229 



of these affections, which seem to be diseases of the heart, are 

 merely sympathetic, and the difficulty lies in other organs. 



405. Avoidance of sudden Efforts. — 2. But those per- 

 sons who have a tendency to diseases of the heart, sympa- 

 thetic or organic, should be on their guard against sudden 

 exertions, and, to as great an extent as possible, avoid mental 

 anxiety and alarms. Heart diseases are most common late in 

 life, at or about sixty years of age. 



406. Principal Danger from Wounds. — Treatment of 

 Wounds of Arteries— 3. The principal danger to be feared 

 from these organs results from wounds. If these are in the 

 arteries, they require prompt attention, but if in the veins, 

 they need scarcely ever excite fear. If an artery be wounded 

 — which can always be known by the escape of blood in jets, 

 and not a steady stream— r-the wound should be either closed, 

 or the artery pressed upon between the wound and the heart 

 with so much force as to stop the flow of blood through it. 

 In case of any such arterial wound it will always be well to 

 tie a bandage as tight as possible immediately over the wound, 

 and then compress the artery as already mentioned. If the 

 wound be on the hand or forearm, the brachial artery may be 

 found and compressed just above the inner angle of the elbow. 

 Or if it is desirable to compress the artery still higher up, the 

 axillary artery may be found in the armpit, where by pressing 

 outwards, nearly all the blood flowing to the arm may be 

 checked. 



407. Method of Checking the Blood to the lower Ex- 

 tremities .—4. If it is desired to check the flow of blood to the 

 lower extremity, the popliteal artery lies directly against the 

 femur upon the backside of the knee-jomt, where a compres- 

 sion of it may be effected with great advantage. Nearer the 

 heart (in the groin) the femoral artery is found, where it 



405. What should those persons predisposed to these diseases especially be on their 

 guard against? At what time of life are Heart diseases the most frequent? 406. How 

 can we distinguish between the wound of a vein arid that of an artery ? How may ar- 

 terial hemorrhage be most readily checked in the upper extremities ? 407. How may if 

 be checked in the lower extremities ? 



