What to Do for Powder Wounds

See a doctor.

Absolutely every wound of this character must be treated with anti-tetanic serum.

If doctor is not seen immediately, paint with iodine and anoint with vaseline; but the doctor must be seen.

“We never understood the dangers before, Miss Helpem. Now, what will we have in that parade?” spoke up the scout patrol leader.

“We need decide only about the float of the first-aiders,” said Miss Helpem. “Your scout-master will confer with you scouts as to the other part of the program.”

“Oh, yes,” rejoined the patrol leader; “but, Miss Helpem and Miss Shesa, have you thought out anything for our first-aiders’ float?”

“To confess the truth,” laughed the nurse, “I think Miss Shesa has no less than twenty ideas. Will you make a few suggestions to the boys?” turning to her.

“Miss Helpem has more ideas in a minute than I have in an hour,” began Shesa, “but she thought one of my ideas good. It seemed to me that you boys might fix up an improvised first-aid tent on your float, leaving it on the Village Green after the parade. In case any real accident occurred, Miss Helpem could have at hand everything she needed—for somebody might be foolish enough to get hurt. Then you could really do a little actual service by being at her call.”

“It sounds wonderfully important,” said the patrol leader.

“Only I do wish you boys had had some lessons in bandaging,” commented Miss Helpem. “But we’ll all do our best, anyway, and look forward with pleasure to those lessons.”

“Why couldn’t we have a little chap all bandaged up, with that toy cannon at his feet and a string of firecrackers and a toy pistol in his hands, with a printed card on him saying, ‘I used these toys on the Fourth,’ and another little perfectly well chap all dressed in bunting, carrying a flag and holding a horn, bearing a sign, ‘I didn’t’?” asked the patrol leader.

“That’s a Fine Idea”

“That’s a fine idea,” said Ibee Brave, “but where do we come in?”

“We? Oh, we—” the patrol leader answered so lamely that everybody laughed.

“I can tell you, boys, a good way to be better prepared for important work,” said Miss Helpem. “If you are willing to take two more lessons before the Fourth, I feel quite certain Miss Shesa will show you the simplest first-aid bandages. She has been taking a full course in first-aid at the hospital, you know. Then, on the float, you may adjust bandages to each other.”

“That’s awfully kind of Miss Shesa,” said the leader. “Will all you fellows come?”

Everybody said yes, and the class was dismissed.

“Say, I wonder what the girls are going to do,” exclaimed Tom Holden suddenly on the way home.

“That’s so! I wonder why we didn’t ask?” said another boy.

“I’ll try to find out,” said Ibee Brave.

CHAPTER XIII
A Sane Fourth of July

“SOAMI, what are the girls going to do in the parade—on your float, I mean?” asked Ibee, yawning sleepily, as he stretched out in a steamer chair near the hammock in which Soami rocked on the porch of the Brave family’s cottage.

“Just—as—though—I’d—tell—you,” yawned Soami in imitation of Ibee’s manner.

“Say, go on, tell me, won’t you?” said Ibee. “I’ll tell you a little about ours if you do.”

“Yum, yum,” sang Soami. “I might possibly tell you a little—you tell first.”

“Has Shesa anything to do with your plans?” asked Ibee.

“Oh, so she’s going to give you lessons in bandaging, too!” exclaimed Soami, realizing the next instant that she had given a secret away, but the “cat was out of the bag.”

Then Ibee began to laugh. “Caught you this time, Sister,” he teased. “Shesa wouldn’t give me a hint.”

“Anyhow, I think you were awful!” said Soami. “I’ll watch out for you after this.”

“Tell me more? Please do,” begged Ibee, but Soami had gone indoors where she felt safer.

··········

Shesa Brave taught the boys and girls so well that within the week they were quite familiar with the use of—

Triangular Bandages

Bandages cut in the form of triangles are the most useful first-aid bandages, for they are very readily adjusted, and may be applied to so many different uses; for instance:

To hold dressings (compresses) in place.

To support broken or fractured parts of the body (sling).

We will have on hand for our uses:

One large triangular bandage, made from a piece of unbleached muslin one yard square.

Cut the muslin across diagonally, as shown in “A.”

Two smaller triangular bandages, made by cutting a large triangular bandage across as in “B.”

Of course any piece of goods may be used for a bandage, even handkerchiefs or torn clothing; but we are speaking about the best kind of bandages to have ready for use.

Note.—For triangular bandage for doll twenty-one inches high, cut a piece of soft muslin or lawn sixteen inches square. Cut across diagonally for one large triangular bandage. To make the small triangular bandage, cut across the remaining triangular piece.

Triangular bandages are used—

When the triangular bandage is repeatedly folded on itself it becomes the “cravat” bandage.

The triangular bandage, either unfolded or folded, may be used on any part of the body. The smaller triangles are used for the hands and feet and the jaw.

Note.—In the ready-made first-aid packets will be found a triangular bandage, on which are printed sketches of the manner in which the bandage is applied.

You may see how these bandages are used by looking at the picture (page 83) of Rose Mary, Mary Frances’ big dolly, which she bandaged so skilfully that all her friends felt certain that she had been taught by fairy teachers.

The Girls Appeared Ready for the Parade

If you practice putting these kinds of bandages on your dolls perhaps you will be able some day to help somebody who gets hurt, and seem yourself like a fairy to the person whose pain you helped.

The children became so enthusiastic in practising the various methods of bandaging that it grew to be quite a joke in their homes. Many times they waylaid the various members of their families, whom they wouldn’t let go until they were bandaged to look like heroes from the battlefield.

The boys tried in vain to find out what the girls’ class had planned for their Fourth of July “float.” They taxed their brains guessing, but no one was more surprised than they when the girls appeared ready for the parade, all dressed in nurses’ outfits, decorated with a red cross, each carrying a big doll, bandaged, head, hand, arm, foot, in first-aid triangular bandages. In the center of the group, Mike, the Brave family’s pet bulldog, was comfortably perched, swathed in bandages. Mike wore a large placard which read:

“See what fire crackers and toy pistols may do to you!”

He seemed to enjoy this particular Fourth, however, more than any other the Brave family could remember.

The boys did have three “real cases” for their first-aid hospital tent.

A very foolish youth, notwithstanding the Mayor’s warning, shot off blank cartridges from a revolver, frightening a horse nearby, which broke its halter and ran away, throwing the young man down so hard that he had to be taken to the first-aid tent with a broken arm.

Ibee Brave and Tom Holden happened to be near, and were very proud as they bore the sufferer to the improvised hospital.

They hadn’t noticed in their excitement that a little boy had been wounded with the powder from the shot, and felt mortified when two members of the girls’ class followed them into the tent with the little patient.

Miss Helpem sent for Doctor Quickenquack, who set the big boy’s broken arm and treated the little fellow’s powder wounds.

“The worst of it is, young man,” said the doctor to the big boy, as he set the arm, “that not all the punishment came to yourself. If these powder wounds become serious for that youngster, you will be blamed.”

“I didn’t realize, Doctor,” replied the young man. “I’ll never need any further lesson—after all this, and after I pay my fine.”

The other “case” was a lady who fainted when she saw the accident, and was quickly revived in the tent.

“I really believe that this is the best Fourth of July celebration our town has ever known, Doctor,” said the Mayor, complimenting Doctor Surecure upon the success of the day. “‘A sane Fourth’ as you said, will give more pleasure, if people will co-operate, than all the din of firecrackers and thunder of powder. I’m sure we owe you and your able first-aid classes our vote of thanks.”

“Miss Helpem deserves all the credit for the first-aid help,” replied the doctor.

“Indeed no, thank you, Doctor,” laughed Mary Frances Helpem, coming up at that moment. “To the boys and girls of the classes belongs that praise.”

CHAPTER XIV
Shesa, a Red Cross Nurse

“WHAT do you hear from your brother, Shesa?” asked Miss Bossem of Shesa Brave a few days later, as she was leaving the advanced class in first-aid.

The young girl looked troubled. “We haven’t heard a word for nearly five weeks,” she replied. “I have been thinking seriously of going to the front as a volunteer nurse, hoping I may be able to get news of Ima.”

“That seems like an excellent idea to me,” said the head nurse. “You, being a member of the American Red Cross Society, can manage very nicely, I think.”

So, within a week, Shesa Brave started for Mexico.

She was put on duty in an emergency hospital along the frontier. As the soldiers were brought in she scanned each face eagerly, but many a weary day passed before she had any tidings of Ima.

To every inquiry she sent out, the report came back, “Missing.”

A great fear came upon her that Ima had been killed. She couldn’t bear the thought that her big handsome brave brother had died without even a record of what had happened; but she worked industriously, nursing other people’s brothers and writing letters to the loved ones at home to relieve their anxiety.

While taking a walk one day in her hours off duty, Shesa wandered farther away from the hospital than usual. She was thinking of Ima. Before realizing it, she had lost her direction and found herself in a lovely little valley. The scenery along the border had been so uninteresting, with low cactus plants growing out of the sand, and scrub bushes stretching away in low irregular outline, that this spot came as a delightful surprise.

Spying a little cabin on the side of the mountain above the valley, she decided to inquire the way back, and, quickening her steps, reached it in a short time.

A slovenly woman appeared at the door. Five small children surrounded her, pulling at her skirts as they saw the stranger. The youngest set up a howl of disapproval as Shesa came nearer. In her arms the woman held a baby and in one hand a tin pan of maize or corn. A few chickens came scurrying around the corner of the house as the woman tapped a wooden paddle on the edge of the pan.

The woman stopped and eyed Shesa suspiciously as she came still nearer.

“Good afternoon,” said Shesa with a smile. “Do you speak English?”

“Howdy,” grunted the woman. “Yes. Hush up, will ye?” to the children, whose noises made conversation difficult.

“United States?” she asked as she looked Shesa’s uniform over.

“Yes, yes,” replied Shesa. “I’m a nurse.”

“Nuss?” said the woman. “Then ye’ll know what be ailing him. Come in.”

“Sister!” He Exclaimed

Shesa hesitated a moment before entering the low cabin which was scarcely more than a hut; but, being a brave girl, she thought, “If I am needed, I mustn’t hesitate. I’ll try to find out what’s wanted.”

“Tell me about your trouble,” she said kindly to the woman. “Is your husband ill?”

“Nope,” the woman shook her head, “he be all right. It’s a U. S. man we found up yonder,” pointing up the mountain road. “Been shot in arm. My man brought him home, but his arm gets worse all time. You know what to do?”

“I think I can help,” said Shesa, wishing with all her heart she had brought her emergency kit with her. “Let me see your patient.”

The woman led the way into the only bedroom in the cabin. On a rude wooden bed lay a young man, dressed in a much soiled khaki uniform. At the sound of Shesa’s voice, he started up. “Sister!” he exclaimed. “Why, this seems too good to be true! Oh, perhaps I’m dreaming. My arm pains so I guess I’m just ‘seeing things’ from fever.”

For one moment Shesa lost her self-control. Tears filled her eyes and she longed to throw her arms about Ima’s neck and cry to her heart’s content. “But I must not,” she chided herself. “I must do everything I can to help him.”

“It’s not a dream, Ima, dear,” she said as naturally as if they were in their faraway home. “You are ill and certainly do need me. Let me see your arm.”

The sight of his poor wounded arm made her feel sick, for it evidently had been neglected from the first.

“How did it happen?” Shesa asked, as she tore her apron into bandages and directed the woman to boil some water on the open fire which she had seen outside.

She saw that Ima wanted to talk, sick and weary as he was.

“I was taking a stroll alone one evening,” he explained, “not thinking of the least danger, for our camp lights were scarcely out of sight. Suddenly I heard the report of a gun, and felt an awful pain in my right arm. One of the bandits had evidently spotted me from ambush. I’d have been all right, but the fellow or an accomplice sprang upon me, and after a struggle knocked me senseless and took my emergency kit and everything else useful away from me. The settler who owns this cabin found me and brought me up here on his shoulders. His wife did what she could for my wound, but it became infected almost immediately, and I was too weak from loss of blood to walk back to camp, even with the man’s help. Besides, in some way, I had a sprained ankle.”

“Well, dear, you are going to be helped in every way soon, so don’t talk any more,” said Shesa, taking off some of the dirty rags which the woman had tied clumsily upon Ima’s ankle. She bathed the ankle in hot water and bound it firmly in a figure-of-eight bandage, which gave him the first ease from pain since the accident.

She replaced the outside layers of the dirty bandages on his wounded arm. “The wounds may bleed if I take the dressings off,” she decided wisely, “and I have no remedies here.”

“I wonder why the man didn’t go for help?” she thought.

Just at that moment Ima whispered, “I would have sent word to camp, but for some reason the settler seems afraid—of the bandits, maybe.”

“Well,” said Shesa, “you rest here, and we’ll soon have help.”

“But, Shesa, it will be dangerous for you to go,” said Ima. Then suddenly, “Why, how did you happen to come here, anyhow?”

“Never mind, dear, I’ll explain all that later,” replied Shesa.

“But I want to hear now,” insisted Ima, his eyes bright with fever. So to satisfy him, Shesa briefly related the story of her little walk.

“Now,” she added “since the emergency hospital is so near, you need not worry until I come back?”

He promised to try not to worry, and fell into a dozy sleep within a few minutes.

CHAPTER XV
A Telegram from Mexico

SHESA hurried along by the path she thought she had taken to reach the cabin, but after walking ten minutes, found herself going in the wrong direction.

“How dreadful!” she exclaimed, “when I am in such a hurry!”

She looked about her. “It is nearing sunset,” she whispered, looking at the sky. “Oh, I wish I knew the way!”

Just at that moment a noise in the underbrush startled her. Although very brave, she was dreadfully afraid of snakes, even harmless ones, but she laughed when she saw a tiny prairie dog scamper out of the bushes, stand on his hind feet and look about him with blinking eyes.

“How foolish I am!” she thought, but shuddered again as she heard someone stepping up behind her.

“I beg pardon,” said a gentlemanly voice—and turning, you can imagine how relieved Shesa was to see a United States soldier standing with his hat in his hand.

“Oh,” she cried happily, “I’m so thankful to see you. Will you help me find my way to the emergency hospital?” Then she stopped and laughed. “I must apologize for speaking this way,” she said, “but you will understand my excitement when I explain all that has happened to me this afternoon.”

The soldier quickly led the way as she talked.

They soon arrived at the emergency hospital, and after Shesa’s explanation, the doctors took her in a field ambulance up to the cabin, the soldier showing the way.

Within two hours, Private Brave lay on a clean white cot, with clean dressings on his arm and comforting broth in his stomach.

Will You Help Me Find My Way to the Emergency Hospital?”

“Oh, Doctor! Can’t it it be Saved?”

“I feel a hundred per cent better already,” he said to Shesa as she kissed him good-night. “In the morning I’ll be well.”

But in the morning the doctors shook their heads. “I’m afraid that arm will have to be amputated,” said the chief surgeon.

“Oh, Doctor!” exclaimed Shesa, “can’t it be saved?”

“If it is saved,” said the doctor gruffly, not liking to show how sorry he was for the pretty nurse, “it will be saved for a dead man. A neglected infected wound, even small, may mean gangrene. This is a large, badly neglected infected wound!”

Shesa bit her lips and held back the tears, saying, “Of course, if it’s to save his life, Doctor—” Then she went out to telegraph to her family.

The telegram read:

Ima found, wounded. Will bring home soon as possible.

Shesa.

“Oh, how I hope all comes out right,” she thought.

··········

CHAPTER XVI
Private Brave’s Adventures

THREE weeks later, a soldier with one arm and his very attentive sister were looked upon with much interest by the other passengers on a steamer going to New York.

Ima stood the journey well, but when they arrived at the station, Shesa decided to take him direct to the Dolls’ Hospital to rest instead of home, where he would be under a good deal of excitement.

So it was in the Dolls’ Hospital that the Brave family came together again, rejoicing in the escape of their soldier. Even Mike, the dog, was allowed to come, and no one greeted him with more joy than did their family pet.

A Soldier and His Very Attentive Sister

Private Brave didn’t mend as well as the doctors and nurses had hoped. Within a week after his arrival at the hospital, an abscess developed on his left forearm, which caused everyone to worry, and another operation was all that saved poor Private Brave from losing his only remaining arm.

The assistant nurse dressed and bandaged this abscess with—

Roller Bandages
(See [Reference List])

Roller bandages are usually made of long straight pieces of gauze. This material “gives” to the form of the arm much better than muslin. Never put a bandage on wet, for it shrinks and is too tight when dry.

You will be interested in seeing a picture on page 99 of how a roller bandage is applied to an arm or leg.

This picture shows one of Mary Frances’ big dolls bandaged in roller bandages.

The two-and-a-half-inch wide roller bandage four or six yards long is the size most used for grown-up people, although narrower ones are needed for fingers.

On the doll’s body inch-wide bandages were used, and the ends were sewed in place. To prevent slipping, strips of adhesive plaster were placed over the folds of the edges.

Under the assistant nurse’s kind care, Private Brave soon grew better and was able to take an interest in the other patients.

He begged to be allowed to visit the boys’ ward, where he wouldn’t be so lonely.

There was great excitement among the boys in the ward, none of whom were very ill, when a real soldier came to visit them.

They coaxed him to tell them about his adventures.

They liked best the story about how he lost his arm, and this one about the stolen baby: