Health on the Farm: A Manual of Rural Sanitation and Hygiene

by H. F. Harris

Artificial Respiration.—This is accomplished by the operator kneeling between the separated legs of the patient and placing his hands on the small of his back, the thumbs nearly meeting at the middle of the spine, and the other fingers spread out over the lower portion of the chest; the operator then sways his body downward and forward slowly, counting three during the movement, then quickly swinging backward releasing the pressure on the patient's chest; again count three and repeat the original movement. The pressure should be brought to bear from twelve to fourteen times a minute, and the movement should be kept up until the patient begins to show evidences of being restored, or until it is quite evident that life is extinct.

This system of artificial respiration was originated by Professor Schafer, as the head of a commission appointed by the British Government, and is now universally regarded as being by far the most satisfactory of all such methods.

In the accompanying figures are shown the positions assumed by the patient and operator while carrying on artificial respiration.

It should be remembered that the victims of accidents of this kind suffer considerably from lowering of the temperature of the body as a consequence of the long exposure to water, and we should, therefore, also direct our attention toward bringing about an immediate reaction by means of warm blankets and hot bottles, and by vigorous rubbing of the patient's body.

Danger from Wounds.—Wounds may be produced by a great variety of objects, but chiefly, of course, by cutting instruments. Where they are caused by duller objects, producing more or less tearing and bruising of the tissues, they are more apt to be followed by infection with disease-producing germs than where smoothly cut, and consequently require greater care in treatment. Germs sufficient to produce death may be introduced into the body by the most minute wound; it is for example well known that fatal consequences have resulted from the bites of various insects, and the writer has personally seen a case where a pin-prick was followed by lockjaw and death. Such facts teach us that we should be careful in avoiding wounds of all kinds, and, that after they have been received, they deserve attention, however insignificant they may appear to be.

Wounds resulting from objects more or less covered with dirt are particularly dangerous, since under such circumstances the germs of lockjaw are apt to be introduced into the body, and fatal consequences not uncommonly ensue. It is astonishing how frequently the disease just referred to follows where a barefooted child sticks a dirty splinter or a rusty nail into its foot, and it cannot be too strongly urged that it is the duty of the parent in such instances to call in a competent physician at once. The reason that injuries of this kind are so apt to be followed by lockjaw is that the germ that produces the disease lives practically everywhere in the earth—being especially common in the rich soil of gardens and other highly fertilized earths; and the germs are so minute that thousands of them might be present on the point of a pin without being visible to the naked eye. The bacilli of lockjaw do not grow at all where exposed freely to the oxygen of the air, and as a consequence of this fact we rarely see the disease that they produce developing after slight superficial wounds; much more commonly the malady results from a wound made by some penetrating object, such as a splinter of wood, a nail, or a pin.

The lesson that these facts teach is that where wounds are small and deep it is the part of wisdom to cut them open freely in order that they may be cleansed as far as is possible, and at the same time allow the air to obtain free access to their deepest portions; a wound of this kind should not be sewn up, but should be left open and allowed gradually to heal up.

The reason why lockjaw so frequently follows wounds from the premature explosion of fireworks is that the paper used in fire crackers, etc., often contains the germs of the disease and is driven deeply into the tissues. In view of the very considerable mortality that yearly occurs among the children of this country it seems incomprehensible that our legislatures—which commonly exhibit such an uncontrollable desire to regulate their neighbors in every possible way—should not long ago have placed the ban on fireworks of all kinds.

Treatment of Wounds.—The treatment of wounds necessarily depends to a considerable extent on their character and general severity: there are certain practices, however, that apply in all cases, and should, therefore, be resorted to wherever injuries of this kind occur. Where the wound is superficial the bleeding is as a rule trifling in character, and very quickly stops of its own accord. In other cases, particularly where deep, larger blood-vessels may be severed, and if they be of any considerable size, the hemorrhage will not cease until the subject becomes exceedingly weak, and in some instances the bleeding will go on until death results. Where bleeding is profuse, it may generally be assumed that one of the larger vessels has been cut, and under such circumstances it should be compressed until skilled assistance arrives. There is a popular but very erroneous impression that arteries can only be stopped by tying; as a matter of fact any one possesses sufficient strength in the fingers to pinch them enough to stop the hemorrhage. If possible, the operator should get his finger down into the wound, after which he can quickly discover the exact point where pressure stops the bleeding. One who is unaccustomed to surgical practices would, of course, hesitate at doing this, but it cannot be too strongly urged that a procedure of this character produces little or no pain after the finger is first introduced, and that no one should be deterred by foolish squeamishness from immediately doing that which in many instances can only save the life of the victim.

Where arteries are evidently bleeding—which may be inferred from the spurting character of the hemorrhage—a tight bandage above the seat of the wound, if on one of the extremities, will often be followed by a cessation of the bleeding, and where only small vessels are cut, a bandage tightly applied over the wound itself may accomplish a similar result. Under such circumstances the reader should be warned that it is not safe to leave a limb tightly bandaged in this way for any considerable length of time, as complete death of the part below may result. Where then a ligature is placed above or over a wound, it should be loosened cautiously every twenty or thirty minutes, and should be left off for a time. If the wounded artery begins to bleed, one should resort to local pressure upon it with the finger for five or ten minutes, after which the bandage may again be applied.