Volume 3

Virtue's Household physician : a twentieth century medica a practical description in plain language of all the diseases of men, women and children with the latest discoveries in medicine and most approved methods of treatment / by a corps of eminent specialists, practising physicians and surgeons ; Herbert Buffum [and others].

Date:
[1905]
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0)

Credit: Virtue's Household physician : a twentieth century medica a practical description in plain language of all the diseases of men, women and children with the latest discoveries in medicine and most approved methods of treatment / by a corps of eminent specialists, practising physicians and surgeons ; Herbert Buffum [and others]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    a curved needle is threaded, and, the lips of the wound being brought together, is introduced through the right lip, and then, being directed across the wound, is pushed through the left lip, from within out- ward. It is now cut off, and tied in a bow. These stitches should be at least an inch from each other. These needles and sutures are, of course, to be boiled or otherwise rendered aseptic before using, as well as the hands of the one doing the sewing. Needles and thread come all ready put up in glass tubes, having been first sterilized, and kept in alcohol or in a vacuum for any length of time perfectly germ- free. The first plasters and dressings should remain on the parts at least three or four days, unless very great pain, bleeding, or some other bad symptom, should call for their removal. Useful Rules for Examining and Dressing Wounds. Never give the patient more pain from the mode of handling and dressing the wound than is necessary for his present good or future safety. Never distress him by probing, squeezing, etc., to find things that will be of no use when learned. Make all examinations as soon after the accident as possible; for before inflammation and swelling take place, the probe or finger in- flicts much less pain. In changing the dressing of a wound, let all the fresh ones be ready before the removing of the old. The sponge, warm water, adhesive plaster, lint, ointment, lotions, bandages, etc., should all be at hand, and not have to be looked after when the wound is exposed. Put the patient in the most easy position, that he may not be needlessly fatigued during the dressing. If the bandage, plaster, and other dressings, have become hard, and glued together, and to the skin, by blood or matter, soften them with warm boiled water, which is to be pressed out of a sponge,—a basin being held below the part to catch the water as it falls from the dressing. The strips of adhesive plaster are to be removed by pulling gently at one end, and then the other, — each to be drawn toivards the wound, so as not to pull its lips apart. In large wounds, take off one, or at most, two strips of pi xster at a time. Cleanse, wipe dry, and again support this part of the wound with new strips of plaster, before any more are taken off. This will prevent the wound being torn open by the weight of its parts. If the wound be large and deep, its sides should be supported by an assistant while changing the dressings. If there are several wounds, dress but one at a time, that there may be no needless exposure to the air. Pay the utmost attention to cleanliness, asepsis and dryness.