Treatment. — Incised Wounds. — In the case of incised wound or clean cut, if not large in extent, it will heal readily by the edges being brought together by means of some simple unirritating plaster, such as " adhesive plaster," or *' isinglass plaster," or goldbeater's skin. It may be advisable to bring the edges of a wound together with stitches. The most con- venient needle for this purpose is a glover's needle, and white silk is the best material for the sewing. If the wound has been inflicted by broken glass, etc., the surfaces should be carefully searched for any fragments or foreign bodies, before the edges are brought together. If the bleeding be profuse, the wound should be left exposed to the air for a while, or the ordinary means used to stop the bleeding. If the cut be a long one, there should be small intervals left between the strips of plaster, in order to allow blood or other fluids to escape. This strap- ping plaster need not be removed for three or four days, m MEDiCiNAL. unless there be pain and throbbing in the wound; in this case they should be loosened, or even removed, as these symptoms indicate inflammation. If it be necessary to remove the strap- ping before union has taken place, the wound should then be dressed with water and lint, covered with oil-silk or gutta- percha. ' Scalp Wounds. — Cuts on the scalp should be carefully cleansed from hair, which should also be removed for about half an inch around the wound. If small, the edges can be brought together with plaster. If the wound be large, it is better simply treated with cold water dressing. No stitches should be put in these wounds, unless they are very ragged and gaping, as they are prone to excite erysipelas in this part of the skin. Bruised, Contused, and Lacerated Wounds. — In consequence of the tearing or bruising of the edges of a lacerated wound, the vitality of those parts is more or less impaired; hence these wounds do not heal as readily as a clean cut. In treating a contused wound, the surface should first be carefully sponged clean of clotted blood, or foreign bodies of any kind, such as portions of clothing, small shot, etc. The simple water dressing, or wet lint, covered with oil-silk, is the most suitable for this kind of injury. If the soft parts be much torn, they may be bound down by a roller and water dressing applied. After a time, the surface of a wound of this kind becomes sluggish in its healing, and resembles an ulcer. It should then be treated with zinc ointment or yellow basilicon. Stabs, or Punctured Wounds — Require special treat- ment, varying with their depth, and the part in which they occur, A slight wound of this sort, not penetrating deeply, may be dressed with isinglass-plaster, adhesive-plaster, or gold- beater's skin. If, however, deeper, but not entering a cavity, the simple water dressing should be applied, and the part wounded be so placed that blood may escape freely. For this reason it is not advisable to endeavor to heal a punctured wound quickly. If the bleeding from the wound does not stop from the exposure to cold, the wound may be plugged with lint or soft linen, soaked in* tincture of perchloride of iron, diluted with an equal quantity of water, or with tincture of matico. The plugging may be allowed to remain in twelve hours.

AI-modernized reading of the original text

Treatment. — Incised Wounds. — In the case of incised wound or clean cut, if not large in extent, it will heal readily by the edges being brought together by means of some simple unirritating plaster, such as " adhesive plaster," or *' isinglass plaster," or goldbeater's skin. It may be advisable to bring the edges of a wound together with stitches. The most convenient needle for this purpose is a glover's needle, and white silk is the best material for the sewing. If the wound has been inflicted by broken glass, etc., the surfaces should be carefully searched for any fragments or foreign bodies, before the edges are brought together. If the bleeding be profuse, the wound should be left exposed to the air for a while, or the ordinary means used to stop the bleeding. If the cut be a long one, there should be small intervals left between the strips of plaster, in order to allow blood or other fluids to escape. This strapping plaster need not be removed for three or four days, unless there be pain and throbbing in the wound; in this case they should be loosened, or even removed, as these symptoms indicate inflammation. If it be necessary to remove the strapping before union has taken place, the wound should then be dressed with water and lint, covered with oil-silk or guttapercha. Scalp Wounds. — Cuts on the scalp should be carefully cleansed from hair, which should also be removed for about half an inch around the wound. If small, the edges can be brought together with plaster. If the wound be large, it is better simply treated with cold water dressing. No stitches should be put in these wounds, unless they are very ragged and gaping, as they are prone to excite erysipelas in this part of the skin. Bruised, Contused, and Lacerated Wounds. — In consequence of the tearing or bruising of the edges of a lacerated wound, the vitality of those parts is more or less impaired; hence these wounds do not heal as readily as a clean cut. In treating a contused wound, the surface should first be carefully sponged clean of clotted blood, or foreign bodies of any kind, such as portions of clothing, small shot, etc. The simple water dressing, or wet lint, covered with oil-silk, is the most suitable for this kind of injury. If the soft parts be much torn, they may be bound down by a roller and water dressing applied. After a time, the surface of a wound of this kind becomes sluggish in its healing, and resembles an ulcer. It should then be treated with zinc ointment or yellow basilicon. Stabs, or Punctured Wounds — Require special treatment, varying with their depth, and the part in which they occur, A slight wound of this sort, not penetrating deeply, may be dressed with isinglass-plaster, adhesive-plaster, or goldbeater's skin. If, however, deeper, but not entering a cavity, the simple water dressing should be applied, and the part wounded be so placed that blood may escape freely. For this reason it is not advisable to endeavor to heal a punctured wound quickly. If the bleeding from the wound does not stop from the exposure to cold, the wound may be plugged with lint or soft linen, soaked in tincture of perchloride of iron, diluted with an equal quantity of water, or with tincture of matico. The plugging may be allowed to remain in twelve hours.

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