TREATMENT OF SICK MEN.
Bleeding.—Blood from the veins is dark and flows slowly; that from arteries is bright red and is thrown out in spurts.
To suppress bleeding from a vein, use cold water when slight; or place a moderately tight bandage below the wound.
If an artery, completely obstruct the artery by pressure at the bleeding point, or between it and the heart. Do this by means of the fingers, a pad and bandage, a plug, or a tourniquet. Make a knot in a handkerchief and place it at the proper spot over the course of the artery, then tie the handkerchief around the limb and by means of a stick twist it tight. In bleeding from hand, fore arm, or arm apply around arm near the shoulder; in bleeding of the foot, leg, or thigh apply around leg between knee and hip according to circumstances.
Chafing.—Chafing between the thighs may be alleviated by keeping the parts scrupulously clean, and powdered with fuller's earth, or a mixture of oxide of zinc and very finely powdered starch.
Colic.—Dose of castor-oil, hot applications to belly, and a teaspoonful of Squibb's mixture or ginger essence in water.
Cholera Morbus.—1 teaspoonful of paregoric, ¼ grain of morphine, or 1 teaspoonful of Squibb's mixture diluted may be given at once. Hot applications to belly. Stimulants in case of collapse.
Constipation.—A seidlitz powder, or a tablespoonful of Rochelle or Epsom Salts before breakfast; a teaspoonful of compound liquorice powder, or 2 or 3 compound cathartic pills, late at night.
Burns and Scalds.—Cover with vaseline or carron oil (equal parts of lime water and oil). If oil is not at hand, use flour or scraped potato. A tablespoonful of baking-soda to a teacupful of water soon relieves pain. Dress with lint or cotton-wool. Blisters should be carefully opened with a needle or scissors.
Diarrhœa.—Dose of castor-oil; if after oil has acted the diarrhœa persists, a teaspoonful of Squibb's mixture diluted; or a camphor and opium pill, to be repeated in an hour if necessary.
Drowning.—If the patient has stopped breathing, tight clothing is first loosened; the individual is then turned over on his face, a roll of clothing, a rolled blanket, etc., being placed under his stomach, his mouth and nose are cleared of sand, mud, or other substances collected therein, and pressure is made upon the spine and kept up until water ceases to flow from the mouth. The patient is then turned over on his back, and the roll placed under his shoulder-blades so as to raise the shoulders and extend the throat. The tongue, being drawn well forward, is either secured by a string or rubber band, passing around the base of the organ and the chin, fixed by thrusting a small stick or pencil across the top of it behind the molar teeth, or held by an assistant. Then, kneeling behind the patient's head, seize the arms above the elbows and draw them outwards and upwards until they are fully extended above the head. After a pause of about two seconds the arms are carried back to their original positions, the operator making firm pressure on the chest at the same time. This procedure is carried out at the rate of about fifteen times a minute. Whenever the arms are raised, the chest is expanded and air enters the lungs; when they are brought down and pressure is made upon the chest, the latter is compressed and the air is expelled. The natural movements of respiration are hence imitated. This should be kept up for hours if necessary, and until natural breathing returns, or the case has been given up as hopeless by competent authority. During this time warm and dry clothing should have been placed on the patient, a fire built, and warm articles of any kind used to restore the heat of the body. The body and limbs should be constantly rubbed towards the trunk. As soon as the patient is able to swallow a teaspoonful of hot liquor in a tablespoonful of water may be given every few minutes until the danger is over.
As soon as the patient begins to breathe of his own accord the artificial process should be timed to aid the natural respiration. Breathing may be stimulated by holding hartshorn to the nose, slapping the skin, or by dashing hot water on the chest.
After being restored the patient should be carefully carried in a recumbent position, put in a warm bed, and carefully watched for stoppage of breathing. If the patient has not stopped breathing when drawn out of the water, proceed as above, omitting artificial respiration except when the natural function begins to fail.
Emetics.—Gunpowder dissolved in water. One tablespoonful of mustard in a pint of water and then copious draughts of tepid water. Twenty grains of sulphate of zinc dissolved in water, to be followed by a cupful of tepid water, and repeated every three minutes until 3 or 4 doses have been given or vomiting has occurred.
Fainting.—Place patient on his back, head low, arms and feet may be elevated; loosen tight clothing; dash cold water in face; hold hartshorn to nostrils; a little whiskey and water when able to swallow.
Frost-bites.—Rub with snow or cold water.
Intoxication.—Pour water over head; give teaspoonful of ground mustard stirred up in a teacupful of lukewarm water; then, after vomiting has occurred, give a teaspoonful of aromatic spirits of ammonia in a teacupful of water, or a large draught of vinegar. If in danger of dying, general application of heat to body is imperative.
Heat Exhaustion resembles an ordinary fainting spell, and is similarly treated. Unlike sunstroke this condition presents a cool moist skin.
Sunstroke.—Its symptoms of warning are headache and oppression, followed after a time by loss of consciousness; breathing labored; skin intensely hot; perspiration absent; the bladder and bowels sometimes discharge involuntarily.
Convey immediately to a cool place; remove clothing; place in cold bath, or wrap with sheets soaked in cold water, and keep wet with ice-water if possible. If this cannot be done, sponge thoroughly and continually the head and body, lumps of ice being rubbed over the chest and placed over the large blood-vessels in the arm-pits and groins.
Discontinue application of cold when consciousness returns, to be renewed only in case temperature rises above normal (98.9° F.) or insensibility returns.
Sore Feet.—If the feet begin to chafe, rub the socks with common soap where they come in contact with sore places. By rubbing the feet with hard soap before the march you may escape having sore feet. The feet should be washed every night and thoroughly dried. Blisters should not be opened, but have a thread run through.