The arm is covered by spirals and reverses till the armpit is reached. Before bandaging the shoulder the armpit is protected by cotton wool or a double fold of soft blanket; the roller is then carried in front of and over the shoulder, across the back to the opposite axilla, where also some wool should be placed, then across the chest to the top of the shoulder again, and under the armpit to the front (see fig. 16). These figures of 8 are repeated as often as necessary to complete the covering. The bandage is applied in this method for dressings; but when pressure is needed the first turn may be carried at once to the root of the neck, and each succeeding turn made to overlap below the last, until the point of the shoulder is gained, as in fig. 37, p. [55]. These are called the spica for the shoulder.
Wound of the Palmar arch.—Bleeding from this wound can usually be stopped by pressure on the bleeding point, when this fails an attempt should be made to tie the vessel at the wound, and if this be impracticable the arteries of the forearm must be deligated.
For compression the following is necessary:—
Apparatus.—1. Petit’s tourniquet.
2. Straight wooden splint.
3. Rollers 2 inches wide, and ¾ inch wide for fingers.
4. Pad and cotton wool.
5. Lint.
6. A slip of a wine cork.
7. Scissors and needle and thread.