It is not worth while to give an emetic
on account of the swallowing oi non-poison-
ons indigestible solids. Nor is it best to
give, on their account, an immediate dose
of purgative medicine. Let the person eat
rather heartily of soft food, as mush, pud-
ding, tapioca, etc. ; and the next day, if the
bowels are not free, he may take a moderate
dose of castor-oil. While, however, such
things, in a majority of cases, do no con-
siderable harm, exceptions to this do occur.
On the whole, it is well to use our senses of
touch, taste, and sight carefully, knowing
what is in the mouth always before we swal-
low it. Among other things, when eating
canned vegetables, fruit, etc., take care not
to swallow bits of soldering metal, such as
now and then become loosened in the can.
As these contain lead, they may produce
lead poisoning. This has been known to
happen .
Wounds. — These may be either Bruised,
Crushed, Cut, Lacerated (torn), Penetrating ,
or Poisoned wounds.
Bruises are familiar to everybody. If
the blow or fall has been of such moderate
violence as to injure only the surface of the
head, body, or limbs, it is not a serious
matter. Some blood will be forced out of
the small vessels ; swelling and discolor-
ation will follow. It will be first red, then
almost black and blue, and at last dull yel-
low or yellowish-brown. This is tlio history
545
82
THE FAMILY DOCTOR
of a "black eye," or of a bruise of any
other part. Early use of a soothing appli-
cation will do the most good. There is
nothing better for this than cocoa butter, or
" camphor ice." Arnica has a reputation
for bruises far beyond its desert. When a
bruised part becomes painful, a cloth wet
with lead-water and laudanum will be suit-
able. Later, bathing with soap -liniment
will hasten the absorption and disappear-
ance of the blood-deposit which causes the
discoloration.
Crushed wounds are much more serious,
often endangering life. Such, affecting the
PRESSURE ON
ARTERY OF AKM.
SPANISH WINDLASS.
head, will cause fracture of the skull. • Fall-
ing on the chest, ribs may be broken ; or,
worse, the heart or lungs may be so pressed
as to kill at once or shortly. When a limb
is crushed in a railroad accident, it may be
wholly or partly severed from the body.
We might expect great bleeding in such
cases ; but it does not occur ; the arteries
are paralyzed, and bleed little or none, even
when torn across. The immediate danger
then is from shock, going down into fatal
collapse. When this is recovered from, the
injured limb must be dealt with according
to the methods of surgery. Amputation is
546
often called for ; the damage being loo
great for the limb to be possibly saved.
Shock constitutes the greatest immediate
danger in all crushing injuries. Afterwards,
there may be inflammation (or perhaps
mortification) of internal organs involved ;
lungs, liver, stomach, kidneys, peritoneum,
etc. Such cases will require perfect rest in
bed, with treatment which can only be
judged of by an experienced practitioner of
medicine or surgery. Tetanus (lockjaw)
occasionally follows a crushing injury.
C2Lt wounds are dangerous at first
through bleedifig. Bruised, crushed, and
Page 222
Presented as published in 1901. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
AI-modernized reading of the original text
It is not worth while to give an emetic on account of the swallowing oi non-poisonons indigestible solids. Nor is it best to give, on their account, an immediate dose of purgative medicine. Let the person eat rather heartily of soft food, as mush, pudding, tapioca, etc. ; and the next day, if the bowels are not free, he may take a moderate dose of castor-oil. While, however, such things, in a majority of cases, do no considerable harm, exceptions to this do occur. On the whole, it is well to use our senses of touch, taste, and sight carefully, knowing what is in the mouth always before we swallow it. Among other things, when eating canned vegetables, fruit, etc., take care not to swallow bits of soldering metal, such as now and then become loosened in the can. As these contain lead, they may produce lead poisoning. This has been known to happen .
Wounds. — These may be either Bruised, Crushed, Cut, Lacerated (torn), Penetrating , or Poisoned wounds.
Bruises are familiar to everybody. If the blow or fall has been of such moderate violence as to injure only the surface of the head, body, or limbs, it is not a serious matter. Some blood will be forced out of the small vessels ; swelling and discoloration will follow. It will be first red, then almost black and blue, and at last dull yellow or yellowish-brown. This is the history
of a "black eye," or of a bruise of any other part. Early use of a soothing application will do the most good. There is nothing better for this than cocoa butter, or " camphor ice." Arnica has a reputation for bruises far beyond its desert. When a bruised part becomes painful, a cloth wet with lead-water and laudanum will be suitable. Later, bathing with soap -liniment will hasten the absorption and disappearance of the blood-deposit which causes the discoloration.
Crushed wounds are much more serious, often endangering life. Such, affecting the
[illustration: Pressure on artery of arm]
SPANISH WINDLASS.
head, will cause fracture of the skull. • Falling on the chest, ribs may be broken ; or, worse, the heart or lungs may be so pressed as to kill at once or shortly. When a limb is crushed in a railroad accident, it may be wholly or partly severed from the body. We might expect great bleeding in such cases ; but it does not occur ; the arteries are paralyzed, and bleed little or none, even when torn across. The immediate danger then is from shock, going down into fatal collapse. When this is recovered from, the injured limb must be dealt with according to the methods of surgery. Amputation is
often called for ; the damage being loo great for the limb to be possibly saved.
Shock constitutes the greatest immediate danger in all crushing injuries. Afterwards, there may be inflammation (or perhaps mortification) of internal organs involved ; lungs, liver, stomach, kidneys, peritoneum, etc. Such cases will require perfect rest in bed, with treatment which can only be judged of by an experienced practitioner of medicine or surgery. Tetanus (lockjaw) occasionally follows a crushing injury.
C2Lt wounds are dangerous at first through bleeding. Bruised, crushed, and