r 
 
 REESE LIBRARY 
 
 OF THE 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA. 
 
 Deceived , igo . 
 
 Accession No. -85524 . Class No. 
 
THE SOLDIER'S 
 
 FIRST AID HANDBOOK, 
 
 COMPRISING 
 
 A SERIES OF LECTURES 
 
 TO 
 
 MEMBERS OF THE HOSPITAL CORPS AND 
 COMPANY BEARERS. 
 
 BY 
 
 WILLIAM D. DIETZ, 
 
 Captain and Assistant Surgeon^ U. S. Army. 
 
 NEW YORK: 
 
 JOHN WILEY & SONS, 
 
 53 EAST TENTH STREET. 
 1891. 
 
'SSSg 
 
 COPYRIGHT, 1891, 
 
 BY 
 JOHN WILEY & SONS. 
 
 ROBERT DRUMMOND, FERRIS BROS., 
 
 Etectrotyper, Printers, 
 
 444 and 446 Pearl St. 326 Pearl Street, 
 
 New York. New York. 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 THIS manual consists in the main of a series of 
 lectures delivered to members of the Hospital 
 Corps and company bearers, and covering the 
 ground indicated in existing orders. Originality 
 is not claimed for it; it is believed, however, 
 that the subject-matter has been presented in 
 available form. The writer's aim has been to 
 supply an elementary " Soldier's Handbook," de- 
 void of technicalities, and limited in its scope to 
 the information required by the bearer who 
 renders " First Aid," only. It is hoped, more- 
 over, that the manual may contribute to facilitate 
 the work of the medical officer in the preparation 
 of his lectures to enlisted men, and, further, be of 
 use to line officers who, in command of detach- 
 ments, may have to meet emergencies in the 
 absence of the surgeon. 
 
 ALCATRAZ ISLAND, CALIFORNIA, December, 1890. 
 
 "85526 
 
TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
 
 PREFACE iii 
 
 PRELIMINARY REMARKS: The Organization and Duties of 
 
 the Hospital Corps and Company Bearers I 
 
 PART I. 
 
 THE HUMAN BODY. 
 
 THE SKELETON 2 
 
 The Skull 3 
 
 The Cranium 3 
 
 The Face 4 
 
 The Trunk 5 
 
 The Spinal Column 5 
 
 The Thorax 5 
 
 The Pelvis 6 
 
 The Limbs 6 
 
 The Upper Limbs 6 
 
 The Lower Limbs 7 
 
 The Joints 8 
 
 THE SOFT PARTS 9 
 
 The Muscles 9 
 
 Fatty Tissue 9 
 
 Connective Tissue 9 
 
 The Skin 9 
 
 The Organs of the Cranial and the Spinal Cavity 10 
 
 The Brain ... 10 
 
 The Spinal Cord II 
 
 The Cerebro-spinal Nerves n 
 
 v 
 
VI TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 The Organs of the Lesser Cavities of the Head 12 
 
 The Organs of the Chest 12 
 
 The Lungs ... 12, 13 
 
 The Heart I3i 14 
 
 The Organs of the Abdominal and Pelvic Cavities 15 
 
 The Stomach 15, 16 
 
 The Intestines 16 
 
 The Liver 16 
 
 The Pancreas 17 
 
 The Spleen 17 
 
 The Kidneys. 17 
 
 The Ureters 17 
 
 The Bladder 17 
 
 The Urethra 17 
 
 The Seminal Vesicles 17 
 
 The Peritoneum 18 
 
 Location of the Principal Blood-vessels , 18, 19, 20 
 
 PART II. 
 
 FIRST AID ON THE BATTLE-FIELD. 
 
 GENERAL MANAGEMENT OF MEN WOUNDED IN BATTLE. ... 21 
 
 The Position of the Wounded upon the Litter 22, 23 
 
 The Bearer's Equipment 24 
 
 The Use ot First Aid Packets 25, 26 
 
 FIRST AID TREATMENT OF HEMORRHAGE 26, 27 
 
 Capillary Hemorrhage 27 
 
 Venous Hemorrhage 28 
 
 Arterial Hemorrhage 28, 29 
 
 Hemorrhage from the Artery of the Neck 30 
 
 " " Artery of the Arm in its 
 
 Uppermost Portion 30 
 
 from the Artery of the Arm in its Lower 
 
 Portion 31 
 
 from the Arteries of the Forearm 31 
 
 " " " " " " Hand 31 
 
 " " " " " " Thigh 32 
 
 " " " " " Leg 32 
 
 " " " " " Foot 32 
 
TABLE OF CONTENTS. vii 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Internal Hemorrhage 32 
 
 Fainting 33 
 
 FIRST AID TREATMENT OF WOUNDS 33, 34 
 
 Contusions 34 
 
 Contused Wounds 34 
 
 Incised Wounds 35 
 
 Punctured Wounds 35, 36 
 
 Lacerated Wounds 36 
 
 Gunshot Wounds 36, 37 
 
 Shock 37,38 
 
 FIRST AID TREATMENT OF FRACTURES 38 
 
 Extemporary Splints 39 
 
 Fracture of the Upper Arm 39, 40 
 
 " " " Lower End of the Arm 40 
 
 F or earm 40 
 
 " " Finger 41 
 
 " " Thigh 41 
 
 " " " Knee-pan 41 
 
 " " Leg 41 
 
 " " " Spine 42 
 
 " " " Shoulder-blade, Hip-bone, or Rib 42 
 
 " "Collar-bone 42 
 
 " " Skull 42 
 
 " " Jaw 42 
 
 Compound Fractures 42 
 
 FIRST AID TREATMENT OF DISLOCATIONS 43 
 
 FIRST AID TREATMENT OF SPRAINS 43 
 
 PROCEDURES TO BE ADOPTED IN CASES OF SUSPENDED 
 
 ANIMATION 43, 44, 45 
 
 Artificial Respiration 44 
 
 Sylvester's Method 44, 45 
 
 PART III. 
 
 MANAGEMENT BY THE BEARER OF ORDINARY 
 ACCIDENT? AND EMERGENCIES. 
 
 GENERAL RULES TO BE OBSERVED IN CASES OF ACCIDENT. . 46 
 HEMORRHAGE, WOUNDS, FRACTURES. DISLOCATIONS, 
 
 SPRAINS. ( Vide Part II.) 46 
 
Vlll TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 CONDITIONS CAUSING Loss OF CONSCIOUSNESS 47 
 
 Fainting and Shock 48 
 
 Concussion of the Brain 48 
 
 Compression of the Brain 48 
 
 Apoplexy 48 
 
 Sunstroke 49 
 
 Heat Exhaustion 49 
 
 Intoxication , 50 
 
 Epileptic Seizures 50 
 
 Poisons 50, 51 
 
 ASPHYXIA 51 
 
 Drowning 51, 52, 53 
 
 Strangulation from Hanging 53 
 
 Suffocation with Gases 53 
 
 Suffocation from Foreign Bodies in the Windpipe or 
 
 Gullet 54 
 
 BURNS AND SCALDS 55 
 
 Slight Burns or Scalds 55 
 
 Burns or Scalds causing Blisters 55 
 
 Deep Burns or Scalds 56 
 
 Shock occurring as a Result 56 
 
 FREEZING 56 
 
 General Freezing 56 
 
 Frost-bites 56, 57 
 
 Chilblains 57 
 
 SORENESS OF THE FEET 57 
 
 HEMORRHAGE FROM THE NOSE, LUNGS, STOMACH, OR 
 
 BOWELS 58 
 
 Nose-bleed 58 
 
 Hemorrhage from the Lungs 58, 59 
 
 " " Stomach 59 
 
 " " " Bowels 59 
 
 POISONING 59- 70 
 
 General Measures and Remedies 60, 61 
 
 Emetics 61 
 
 Alkaline Antidotes 62 
 
 Acid Antidotes 62 
 
 Bland Liquids 62 
 
 Stimulants 63 
 
 Laudanum 63 
 
TABLE OF CONTENTS. IX 
 
 Forcible Administration of Remedies 63, 64 
 
 Poisoning from Unknown Substances 64 
 
 Corrosive Poisons 64 
 
 Sulphuric, nitric, and hydrochloric acids 65 
 
 Carbolic acid 65 
 
 Oxalic acid 65 
 
 Ammonia, soda, and potash 65 
 
 Corrosive sublimate 65, 66 
 
 Nitrate of silver 66 
 
 Phosphorus 66 
 
 Irritant Poisons 66 
 
 Arsenic 66, 67 
 
 Tartar emetic 67 
 
 Lead 67 
 
 Copper 68 
 
 Iodine 68 
 
 Irritant animal and vegetable substances 68 
 
 Tainted meat, tainted fish, toadstools 68 
 
 Neurotic Poisons ... 68 
 
 Opium 69 
 
 Chloral 69 
 
 Hydrocyanic acid 69 
 
 Irritant narcotics 70 
 
 Poisoned Wounds 70 
 
 Bites of venomous serpents 70 
 
 Bite of a mad dog TO, 71 
 
 Stings of tarantulas, etc 71 
 
 Rhus Poisoning 71 
 
 TABLE OF POISONS 71, 72, 73, 7^ 
 
 FOREIGN BODIES IN THE EYE, EAR, OR NOSE 74, 75, 76 
 
 Foreign Bodies in the Eye 74, 75 
 
 Foreign Bodies in the Ear 76 
 
 Foreign Bodies in the Nose 77 
 
 MISCELLANEOUS HINTS 77, 78 
 
 Constipation 77 
 
 Colic 77, 78 
 
 Cholera Morbus. 78 
 
 Diarrhoea 78 
 
 SIGNS OF DEATH 78, 79 
 
 BOOKS OF REFERENCE 81 
 
THE SOLDIER'S FIRST AID HANDBOOK. 
 
 PRELIMINARY REMARKS. 
 ORGANIZATION AND DUTIES or THE HOSPITAL 
 
 CORPS AND THE COMPANY BEARERS. 
 
 ACCORDING to the regulations governing the 
 United States Army, the Hospital Corps consists 
 of hospital stewards, acting hospital stewards, and 
 privates regularly enlisted for and attached to the 
 Medical Department, and performing all hospital 
 services in garrison and in the field. In time of 
 war, this corps renders the necessary ambulance 
 service under such officers of the Medical Depart- 
 ment and assistants as may be duly detailed. 
 
 Moreover, the regulations require that in each 
 company throughout the army four men, to be 
 known as company bearers, be designated for in- 
 struction in the duties of litter-men and the meth- 
 ods of rendering first aid to the disabled. During 
 an engagement, acting under orders of their com- 
 manding officers and supervision of their regimen- 
 tal surgeon, they render first aid to thejr wounded 
 
2 THE SOLDIER'S FIRST AID HANDBOOK. 
 
 comrades and carry them to the rear. Upon be- 
 ing relieved by members of the Hospital Corps, 
 they immediately join their companies. 
 
 Collectively, privates of the Hospital Corps 
 and the men designated from the companies will 
 herein be known, for the sake of brevity, as bear- 
 ers. 
 
 PART I. 
 
 THE HUMAN BODY. 
 
 In order that the bearer may be enabled intel- 
 ligently to afford first aid to the injured or to 
 care for the sick, he requires, first of all, a general 
 knowledge of the structure of the human body 
 and of the functions of the principal organs. 
 Armed with this knowledge, elementary though 
 it must be, he will frequently be in a position to 
 give untold relief to his stricken comrades, or 
 even, by the application of a few simple princi- 
 pies learned, to save a life that without his inter- 
 vention would have been lost. 
 
 The human body is composed of the skeleton 
 and the soft parts. 
 
 The Skeleton comprises the bony parts of the 
 system. It is the framework of the body, sup- 
 ports the soft parts, encloses the vital organs in 
 its cavities, and furnishes a system of levers acted 
 upon by the muscles, Bones may be classed as 
 
THE HUMAN BODY. 3 
 
 long, short, flat, or irregular, according to their 
 shape. The thigh-bone, for instance, js a long 
 bone; the bones of the wrist are of the short 
 variety ; the hip-bone is a flat bone, and the lower 
 jaw an irregular one. The skeleton may be divided 
 into skull, trunk, and limbs ; in the adult it is com- 
 posed of two hundred and thirty-two bones, in- 
 cluding the teeth. 
 
 The Skull consists of the cranium, which con- 
 tains the brain, and the face. 
 
 The Cranium is made up of the eight bones 
 which enclose the cranial cavity. The cranial 
 bones are : 
 
 One occipital bone, which is located at the back 
 and lower portion of the skull, and through a 
 large opening in which the brain and spinal cord 
 communicate ; 
 
 Tw parietal bones, forming by their union the 
 sides and roof of the skull ; 
 
 One frontal bone, whose vertical portion forms 
 the forehead, while its horizontal portion enters 
 into the formation of the roof of the cavities of 
 the eyes (the orbits) and of the nose ; 
 
 Two temporal bones, forming the temples and 
 containing the inner ear ; 
 
 One sphenoid bone, situated at the base of the 
 skull, and joining with all the other bones of the 
 cranium and some of the face ; and 
 
 One ethmoid bone, situated at the root of the 
 nose, and entering into the formation of the cavi- 
 ties of the skull, the eyes, and the nose. 
 
 The cranial bones are joined to their neighbors 
 
4 THE SOLDIER'S FIRST AID HANDBOOK. 
 
 by means of dovetailed, toothed, or bevelled 
 edges. The lines of junction are known as su- 
 tures (seams). 
 
 There are a number of openings in the cranial 
 bones through which blood-vessels and nervous 
 structures pass into or out of the cranial cavity. 
 
 The Face is formed of fourteen bones, viz.: 
 
 Two nasal bones, forming the bridge of the nose ; 
 
 Two superior maxillary bones (upper jaw-bones) ; 
 
 One inferior maxillary bone (lower jaw-bone) ; 
 
 Two malar (cheek) bones ; 
 
 Two palate bones ; 
 
 One vomer, forming a portion of the partition 
 of the nose ; 
 
 Two lachrymal bones, forming part of the inner 
 wall of the orbit or cavity of the eye ; and 
 
 Two turbinated bones, situated in the nasal 
 cavities. 
 
 Situated above the Adam's apple, and con- 
 nected by muscles to some of the bones of the 
 skull, is the hyoid bone, which may well be men- 
 tioned with them. 
 
 The bones of the face enter into the formation 
 of the cavities of the eye, nose, and mouth. 
 
 The teeth are sometimes classed as bones. 
 They are thirty-two in number in the adult, viz., 
 four cutters or incisors, two canine (so called on 
 account of their resemblance to a dog's teeth), 
 and ten grinders (four false molars, six true 
 molars) in each jaw. 
 
THE HUMAN BODY. 
 
 THE TRUNK. 
 
 The Trunk comprises the spinal column, the 
 thorax, and the pelvis. 
 
 The Spinal Column, or back-bone, consists of 
 twenty-four bones, known as vertebra, each of 
 which is formed of a body and of certain off- 
 shoots from that body. The body and its off- 
 shoots enclose a round opening. In the natural 
 arrangement in column of the vertebrae, these 
 openings form a long canal, the spinal canal, 
 which contains the spinal cord, and communi- 
 cates with the cranial cavity, or cavity of the 
 skull, through the large opening in the occipital 
 bone previously referred to. 
 
 The vertebrae are connected by tendon-like 
 substances permitting of a bending and a twist- 
 ing of the back-bone. They are divided into 
 
 Seven cervical, situated in the neck ; 
 
 Twelve dorsal, situated at the back of the 
 chest ; 
 
 Five lumbar, situated in the region of the loins. 
 
 The cervical vertebrae are the smallest, the 
 lumbar the largest. The vertebrae in general 
 resemble one another in shape, with the excep- 
 tion of the upper two cervical, which are modi- 
 fied to form joints for movements of the head. 
 
 The Thorax, or chest, is composed of the ster- 
 num, or breast-bone, and the ribs. 
 
 The sternum is a flat, narrow bone, situated in 
 the middle line in front of the chest, In shape it 
 
6 THE SOLDIER'S FIRST AID HANDBOOK. 
 
 somewhat resembles the old Roman sword ; it is 
 broad above and pointed below. 
 
 The ribs are twenty-four in number, twelve on 
 each side. 'They are elastic arches of bone, and 
 are joined behind to the dorsal vertebrae. In 
 front seven pairs are joined to the sternum by 
 means of the costal cartilages ; these are the true, 
 while the other five pair are the false ribs. In 
 front the upper three pair of false ribs are 
 attached by their cartilages to the cartilages of 
 the true ribs ; the lower two pair having the front 
 ends free are called floating ribs. Cartilage is 
 popularly known as gristle. 
 
 The Pelvis {pelvis, a basin) forms the lowest 
 portion of the trunk, and is composed of the two 
 hip-bones, the sacrum, and the coccyx. The hip- 
 bones are flat bones lying in front and on the 
 sides of the pelvis. On the outer side of each 
 hip-bone is a cup-shaped depression for the head 
 of the thigh-bone. The sacrum is situated at the 
 back of the pelvis, and is joined to the last ver- 
 tebrae and the hip-bones. The coccyx joins the 
 lower portion of the sacrum. 
 
 ^te pelvic cavity is continuous~with the abdom- 
 inal, which is formed by the five lumbar verte- 
 brae, and certain soft parts. 
 
 THE LIMBS. 
 
 The Limbs are divided into an upper and a lower 
 pair. 
 
 The Upper Limb consists of the shoulder, arm, 
 forearm, and hand. 
 
THE HUMAN BODY. ^ 
 
 The Shoulder consists of the clavicle, or collar- 
 bone, and the scapula, or shoulder-Hade. The 
 former is a bone shaped somewhat like the italic 
 letter/, and joins with the sternum and the scap- 
 ula. The scapula is a flat, triangular bone, which 
 articulates (joins) with the humerus to form the 
 shoulder-joint. 
 
 The arm consists of one long bone, the hum- 
 erus. 
 
 The fore-arm consists of two long bones, the 
 ulna and the radius, the former situated on the 
 little finger side of the arm and entering into the 
 formation of the elbow-joint, the latter situated 
 on the thumb side and forming a large part of 
 the wrist-joint. 
 
 The hand is composed of the carpus, or wrist 
 (formed of eight short bones), the metacarpus, or 
 part between the wrist and the fingers (five small 
 long bones), and the fingers (fourteen small long 
 bones, three to each finger, with the exception of 
 the thumb, which has two). 
 
 The Lower Limb consists of the thigh, the leg, 
 and the /<?<?/. 
 
 The thigh consists of one long bone, the femur, 
 or thigh-bone, whose upper end, called the head, 
 fits into the cup-shaped receptacle of the hip- 
 bone. 
 
 The leg consists of two long bones : the inner 
 and stronger one is called the tibia (shin-bone), 
 and the outer and weaker one \hzfibula. Their 
 lower ends form the ankles. 
 
8 THE SOLDIER'S FIRST AID HANDBOOK. 
 
 Between the thigh and leg, in front, is situated 
 \ht patett&i or knee-pan, a round, flat bone. 
 
 The foot consists of the tarsus, which corre- 
 sponds to the wrist, the metatarsus, and the toes. 
 The tarsus consists of seven short bones, the 
 largest of which is the os-calcis (heel-bone), to 
 which the prominent tendon of the back leg is 
 attached. The metatarsus and the toes are simi- 
 lar in structure to the metacarpus and the fingers, 
 and contain five and fourteen bones, respectively. 
 
 THE JOINTS. 
 
 The various bones of the body are held to- 
 gether at different parts of their surfaces, the con- 
 nections being known as joints or articulations. 
 Joints may be classed as immovable, slightly mova- 
 ble, and f ~reely movable. The joints of the cranial 
 bones, for example, are immovable, those of the 
 spine in general, slightly movable, the knee and 
 elbow are freely movable. The parts forming a 
 freely movable joint are the ends of the bones, the 
 cartilages, or gristly substances, covering these 
 ends, the ligaments, or bands which hold them to- 
 gether and form a capsule or sac around the joint, 
 and a synovial membrane lining the interior of 
 the joint and secreting a thick lubricating 
 fluid. Among the subdivisions of the movable 
 joint are the gliding-joint, as the one between 
 breast-bone and collar-bone, the hinge-joint, as 
 exemplified in the elbow and knee, and the ball 
 and socket joint, of which the shoulder-joint and 
 hip are types. 
 
THE HUMAN BODY. 
 
 THE SOFT PARTS. 
 
 The Muscles constitute the bulk of the soft 
 portions of the body. Their function is by con- 
 tracting to move the parts into which they are 
 inserted. They may be classed as voluntary or 
 involuntary, according as they are or are not 
 under control of the will. The muscles of the 
 arm are examples of the voluntary, those of the 
 bowels of involuntary, muscles. Contraction is 
 brought about by an impulse originating in the 
 brain and communicated to the muscle by means 
 of a nerve. Voluntary muscles, as a rule, origi- 
 nate from and are inserted into bone. The origin 
 is the more fixed end, the insertion the movable 
 point to which the muscular power is applied. 
 The origin, however, is absolutely fixed only in a 
 few muscles, such as those of the face, which 
 originate from bone and are inserted into mova- 
 ble skin ; in the greater number of cases the mus- 
 cle may be made to act from either end. 
 
 Fatty Tissue constitutes another of the soft 
 parts. It is widely distributed, imparting a ro- 
 tund fulness to the form, preventing a too rapid 
 dissipation of bodily heat, protecting the internal 
 organs against cold, and lessening the effects of 
 shock and pressure upon the external parts. 
 
 Connective Tissue is distributed throughout 
 the body for the purpose of holding in position 
 the component structures. 
 
 The Skin is the outermost covering of the 
 
IO THE SOLDIER S FIRST AID HANDBOOK. 
 
 body. It is the principal seat of the sense of 
 touch, and serves as a protection for the deeper 
 tissues. It is composed of an outer layer, the 
 scarf-skin, and an inner layer, the true skin. The 
 nails are a modification of the scarf-skin. Con- 
 nected with the true skin are the sweat-glands, 
 the hair -follicles, and glands secreting an oily 
 material. Imbedded in the true skin are innu- 
 merable small blood-vessels and fine nerves. The 
 skin is very absorbent. 
 
 Among the remaining soft parts are the blood- 
 vessels, the lymphatic vessels which carry nutri- 
 tive fluid from the intestines and elsewhere into 
 the circulation, the nerves, and a number of 
 organs which will be considered hereafter. 
 
 ORGANS OF THE CRANIAL AND THE 
 SPINAL CAVITY. 
 
 The cavity of the skull contains the brain, the 
 membranes covering it, and the nerves connected 
 with it. The lower and posterior part of the 
 brain joins with the spinal cord through the large 
 opening in the base of the skull. The nerves 
 arising directly from the brain are called cranial 
 nerves, and are twelve in number. They are 
 principally distributed to the region of the head. 
 The spinal canal contains the spinal cord, its mem- 
 branes, and the thirty-one pairs of so-called spinal 
 nerves given off at regular intervals at each side 
 of the column. 
 
 The Brain is endowed with a number of facul- 
 
THE HUMAN BODY. II 
 
 ties, among which may be mentioned the faculty 
 of perception, the intelligence, and the will. In 
 the brain originate the impulses governing volun- 
 tary motion. This organ also exercises control 
 over many of the bodily functions which need not 
 be specified here. 
 
 The Spinal Cord is a continuation of the brain. 
 It sends nerves to the muscles and integuments 
 (coverings) of the trunk and limbs. It acts as an 
 organ of communication between the brain and 
 the external parts, but has special functions of 
 its own in addition. 
 
 The brain and spinal cord together are known 
 as the cerebro-spinal axis, and a nerve originating 
 from this axis is called a cerebro-spinal nerve. 
 There are the nerves concerned with nutrition, 
 growth, etc., known as sympathetic nerves, whose 
 consideration, however, does not come within the 
 scope of this manual. 
 
 Cerebro-Spinal Nerves are a series of rounded 
 cords arising from the cerebro-spinal axis, and dis- 
 tributed to all portions of the body. As before 
 mentioned, those arising directly from the brain 
 are called cranial nerves, those arising from the 
 spinal cord, spinal nerves. It must be remem- 
 bered, however, that even the latter are ultimately 
 connected with the brain. 
 
 Nerves may be divided into sensory and motor, 
 or nerves of sensation and nerves of motion. The 
 former convey sensations to the brain, the latter 
 carry from brain to muscle the impulses under 
 which muscular contraction is produced. 
 
12 THE SOLDIER S FIRST AID HANDBOOK. 
 
 The cranial nerves include those of smell, sight, 
 hearing, taste, one nerve of touch, and several 
 motor nerves. 
 
 The spinal nerves give off both sensory and 
 motor branches. 
 
 THE ORGANS OF THE LESSER CAVI- 
 TIES OF THE HEAD. 
 
 The lesser cavities of the head are the orbits 
 containing the eyes, the nasal cavities, containing 
 the apparatus of smell, the cavity of the mouth, 
 containing the organ of taste, and the cavity of 
 the internal ear. 
 
 THE ORGANS OF THE THORACIC 
 CAVITY. 
 
 The thoracic cavity or chest is one of the large 
 cavities of the trunk, the other two being the ab- 
 dominal and the pelvic cavity. The chest is sepa- 
 rated from the belly by a muscular partition 
 called the diaphragm (midriff). 
 
 The heart and lungs occupy the larger portion 
 of the chest, which further contains a part of the 
 wind-pipe and gullet, the large blood-vessels, and 
 the pleura. 
 
 The Lungs are divided into a right and left 
 lung. The right has three lobes, the left two. 
 One layer of a membraneous sac called the pleura 
 covers each lung, the other layer lines the adja- 
 cent portion of the interior of the chest. 
 
THE HUMAN BODY. 13 
 
 The lungs are the main organs of respiration 
 or breathing. An adult breathes ordinarily about 
 twenty times a minute. On inspiration, fresh air 
 is drawn into the lungs, and is taken up by count- 
 less numbers of minute blood-vessels distributed 
 through their substance, the blood thus obtaining 
 the pure oxygen it needs. On expiration the 
 impure gases which the blood gives off are ex- 
 pelled. Air reaches the lungs through the mouth 
 or nosey the larynx, which projects in front of the 
 neck as the Adam's apple, the trachea, or wind- 
 pipe, and the bronchial tubes. The main bronchial 
 tubes are two in number, one for each lung. The 
 right tube subdivides into three, the left one into 
 two branches, to supply the five lobes. This sub- 
 division continues until the smallest tubes are 
 reduced in diameter to from one-fiftieth to one- 
 thirtieth of an inch. 
 
 The Heart lies behind the lower two-thirds of 
 the sternum, or breast-bone, and projects farther 
 into the left than into the right side of the chest. 
 It is five inches in length, three and one-half inches 
 in width at the broadest part, and two and one- 
 half inches in thickness. The widest portion is 
 uppermost ; the point, or apex, is downward, and 
 may be felt beating between the fifth and sixth 
 rib on the left side. By a vertical partition the 
 heart is divided into halves, called respectively 
 the right and the left; a horizontal partition 
 divides each half into two cavities, the upper ones 
 called the auricles, the lower the ventricles. The 
 auricle of each side opens into the ventricle of the 
 
14 THE SOLDIER'S FIRST AID HANDBOOK. 
 
 same side, the opening being guarded by a 
 valve. 
 
 From the left ventricle arises the main artery 
 of the body, the aorta. By an artery is meant a 
 vessel which carries blood away from the heart, 
 by a vein one which carries blood towards it. 
 Capillaries are the minute vessels intermediate 
 between the smallest arteries and the smallest 
 veins. The aorta gives off branches which divide 
 and subdivide until the capillaries are reached. 
 These unite to form small veins, which joining 
 together, form larger and larger vessels, these 
 finally opening into the right auricle. 
 
 The heart is mainly composed of muscle, and 
 may be regarded as a muscular force-pump. 
 When it contracts, it forces blood from the 
 ventricle successively into the aorta, the lesser ar- 
 teries, the capillaries, the veins, and into the right 
 auricle. This course of the blood constitutes the 
 systemic circulation, or the circulation through 
 the body at large. 
 
 The blood which left the left heart pure has in 
 its course taken up noxious gases, which must be 
 given off in the lungs in exchange for the oxy- 
 gen of the air. Hence the blood reaching the 
 right auricle passes into the right ventricle, and 
 is pumped through the lungs by a contraction 
 of the right ventricle. In the lungs it courses 
 through the pulmonary arteries, the pulmonary 
 capillaries, and the pulmonary veins, reaching the 
 left auricle and finally the left ventricle in a puri- 
 
THE HUMAN BODY. 15 
 
 fied condition. This is the pulmonary circula- 
 tion or circulation through the lungs. 
 
 When an artery of the systematic circulation is 
 cut, the blood issues in spirts, and is of a bright- 
 red color ; venous blood flows in a steady stream 
 and is dark red ; in capillary hemorrhage the 
 blood oozes out, and is of an intermediate shade. 
 
 When the finger is laid upon a superficial artery 
 a series of shocks is perceived known as the pulse, 
 and due to the contractions of the heart acting 
 upon the column of blood. The pulse-rate or- 
 dinarily in the adult is seventy ; that is to say, his 
 heart beats that number of times in a minute. 
 
 As connected in a measure with the subject of 
 circulation, it is to be noted that the normal tem- 
 perature of tJie human body as registered under the 
 tongue is ninety-eight and nine-tenths degrees 
 (98.9) F. 
 
 THE ORGANS OF THE ABDOMINAL 
 AND PELVIC CAVITIES. 
 
 The abdominal cavity contains the following 
 organs : the stomach, the intestines or bowels, the 
 liver, the pancreas, the spleen, the kidneys, and the 
 peritoneum, or membrane covering the bowels. 
 It is separated from the cavity of the thorax by 
 the diaphragm. The pelvic cavity is continuous 
 with the abdominal, and contains the bladder and 
 its appendages, a portion of the generative appara- 
 tus, and the lower end of the bowels. 
 
 The Stomach is the principal organ of diges- 
 
16 THE SOLDIER'S FIRST AID HANDBOOK. 
 
 tion. It resembles a sack in shape, and is situated 
 immediately behind the anterior wall of the ab- 
 domen below the liver and the diaphragm. When 
 moderately full, its horizontal diameter measures 
 about twelve inches, its vertical about four. It 
 has two openings, one on the left side for the 
 gullet, or food passage connecting the stomach 
 with the mouth, and one on the right for the 
 bowel. The stomach secretes gastric juice, which 
 is one of the digestive fluids. 
 
 The Intestines are divided into the small and 
 large intestine. The small intestine, about twenty 
 feet in length, begins at the stomach and ends in 
 the large intestine. The large intestine is about 
 five feet in length, and extends from the small 
 intestine to the external opening of the bowels, 
 the anus. It lowest portion is called the rectum. 
 
 The Liver lies mainly upon the right side of 
 the abdominal cavity under the diaphragm. It is 
 composed of two lobes, a larger, the right lobe, 
 and a smaller, the left lobe. The main function 
 of the liver is to extract from the blood the sub- 
 stances forming bile ; besides this, it also brings 
 about certain changes in the constituents of the 
 circulatory fluid. The biliary substances are of 
 two classes, viz., such as are of further use in the 
 system, namely, in the process of digestion, and 
 those which have been extracted from the blood 
 as impurities, and are hence to be discharged 
 from the body as valueless. Bile is stored in the 
 gall-bladder, from which it is conducted into the 
 intestine through a tube, the bile-duct. 
 
THE HUMAN BODY. IJ 
 
 The Pancreas lies behind the stomach. It 
 secretes a fluid which assists in the process of 
 digestion. 
 
 Organs which, like the liver and pancreas, have 
 the faculty of extracting certain substances from 
 the blood and elaborating them into fluids des- 
 tined for various purposes, are called glands. The 
 fluids formed are called secretions, if they are to 
 be further utilized in the body, and excretions, if 
 they are impurities and destined to be cast off. 
 
 The Spleen lies on the left side of the abdominal 
 cavity, opposite the liver. Its functions are con- 
 cerned in the elaborations of the blood. 
 
 The Kidneys are the two glands lying one on 
 each side of the spinal column. They are about 
 four inches in length, and bean-shaped. Their 
 function is to separate from the blood certain sub- 
 stances, which, when dissolved in water likewise 
 withdrawn from the circulatory fluid, constitute 
 the urine. The daily quantity of this excretion 
 is from forty to sixty ounces (about a quart and 
 a quarter to two quarts). 
 
 The Ureters are the two tubes which conduct 
 the urine from the kidneys to the bladder. 
 
 The Bladder is situated in the pelvic cavity and 
 is a receptacle for the urine. 
 
 The Urethra is the tube which discharges the 
 urine from the bladder. For a part of its course 
 it runs through the male organ, the penis. 
 
 The Seminal Vesicles, or sacs containing the 
 seminal fluid, lie underneath the bladder. They 
 
1 8 THE SOLDIER'S FIRST AID HANDBOOK. 
 
 store the semen formed in the testicles, discharg- 
 ing it through small ducts into the urethra. 
 
 The Peritoneum is a membranous sac one layer 
 of which covers the abdominal organs and some 
 of the pelvic, while the other layer lines the in- 
 terior of the walls of the belly. It forms a num- 
 ber of ligaments, or bands, which hold the organs 
 in place, and secretes a lubricating fluid called 
 serum. 
 
 The abdominal and pelvic cavities together are 
 known popularly as the belly. 
 
 LOCATION OF THE PRINCIPAL 
 BLOOD-VESSELS. 
 
 One of the most important anatomical points 
 with which it is necessary that the bearer should 
 be familiar is the location of the large arteries. 
 Especially should he know where the vessels are 
 superficial, that is to say, almost immediately 
 under the skin. 
 
 The x Aorta is the main vessel of the systemic 
 circulation. It arises from the left ventricle, as- 
 cends for a short distance behind the breast-bone, 
 then forming its arch, reaches the spinal column, 
 and descends within the chest and abdomen, on 
 the left side of the spine, dividing at the level of 
 the fourth lumbar vertebra. The arch gives off 
 arteries whose branches supply the head and 
 upper limbs, while the descending portion fur- 
 nishes vessels to the trunk and its organs, and on 
 
THE HUMAN BODY. 19 
 
 dividing gives off a large artery to each of the 
 lower limbs. 
 
 The arterial trunks supplying the head ascend, 
 one on each side of the windpipe, and are super- 
 ficial along the edge of the diagonal muscles, 
 which are prominently seen when the head is 
 turned to one side or the other. They are known 
 as the carotids. 
 
 The arterial trunk supplying the upper limb 
 emerges from the chest over the first rib, and 
 passing under the middle of the collar-bone, runs 
 through the axilla or arm-pit, and along the inner 
 side of the arm between the two prominent mus- 
 cles, the biceps and the triceps. At the middle 
 of the front of the elbow it divides into two prin- 
 cipal branches for the fore-arm. It is superficial 
 in the hollow behind the collar-bone, at the apex 
 and outer side of the arm-pit, in the groove be- 
 tween the biceps and triceps, and in front of the 
 elbow. 
 
 The two principal branches for the fore-arm 
 pass down, one, the radial, on the thumb (outer) 
 side, and the other, the ulnar, on the little finger 
 (inner) side of the limb. In the palm they form 
 a loop, the palmar arch, which gives off branches 
 to the fingers. The radial is superficial through- 
 out its entire extent, and may be felt beating at 
 the outer side of the outer of the two tendons, 
 which are prominent in front of the middle of the 
 wrist. The radial artery at the wrist is generally 
 felt for the pulse. The ulnar is deeply situated for 
 the greater part of its course, but at the wrist it 
 
2O THE SOLDIER S FIRST AID HANDBOOK. 
 
 is superficial, and located about half an inch to 
 the inner side of the inner of the two prominent 
 tendons mentioned. 
 
 The arterial trunk supplying the lower limb 
 arises from the termination of the aorta near the 
 end of the back-bone, and passes out through the 
 groin to the front of the thigh at about two- 
 thirds the distance from the hip-bone to the 
 middle line of the body. Descending between 
 the muscles on the inner side of the thigh, it 
 reaches the middle of the hollow at the back of 
 the knee, subsequently dividing into three princi- 
 pal branches for the leg. It is superficial for 
 several inches from the groin down, and again in 
 the middle of the hollow of the knee. 
 
 The principal arterial branches for the leg are 
 three. One passes forward through the space be- 
 tween the tibia and fibula, and descends between 
 the muscles of the leg, becoming superficial in 
 front of the middle of the ankle joint. The other 
 two branches are deeply situated in the back of 
 the leg, one on each side, becoming superficial 
 behind the inner and outer ankle, respectively. 
 They supply the sides and sole of the foot, and 
 in the sole unite in a loop, the plantar arch, from 
 which branches are distributed to the toes. 
 
 The veins generally follow the course of the 
 arteries. There are a number of them, however, 
 which are not, so to speak, mated with arteries. 
 
FIRST AID ON THE BATTLE-FIELD. 21 
 
 PART II. 
 
 FIRST AID ON THE BATTLE-FIELD. 
 
 Besides carrying out instructions concerning 
 cases which the surgeon has already treated, the 
 bearer, independently, will frequently be called 
 upon to administer first aid to his disabled com- 
 rades. Especially is this the case in time of 
 war, and hence it is meet that the management 
 of those wounded in battle should be first con- 
 sidered. 
 
 GENERAL MANAGEMENT OF MEN 
 WOUNDED IN BATTLE. 
 
 In the absence of anything demanding prior 
 attention, the bearers on reaching a wounded 
 comrade should first of all contribute to his com- 
 fort by opening tight garments and removing en- 
 cumbering accoutrements. The rifle or carbine 
 should be unloaded, not discharged. While one 
 or two bearers are accomplishing these things, a 
 third administers water or necessary stimulant, 
 while a fourth busies himself with examining the 
 wound. In order to obtain a view of the injury, 
 it may be necessary to cut the investing clothes 
 along the seam, or to remove the garment. 
 When the latter is done, it is to be remembered 
 
22 THE SOLDIER'S FIRST AID HANDBOOK. 
 
 that the injured part is the last to be unclothed, 
 while it is the first to be clothed when the gar- 
 ment is replaced. The wound having received 
 proper attention, the severely injured patient is 
 carried from the field to the so-called dressing sta- 
 tion, distinguishable by the red-cross guidon or a 
 lantern. Here a complete examination is made 
 by the surgeon, food is given, and a classification 
 of cases effected, prior to their transfer, if neces- 
 sary, to the field hospital. 
 
 POSITION OF THE WOUNDED UPON 
 THE LITTER. 
 
 When a patient is carried upon a litter he 
 should be made as comfortable as possible, 
 strained and painful positions being avoided. For 
 the purpose of bolstering him up, pillows, blank- 
 ets, various available articles of clothing, knap- 
 sacks, bundles of hay, etc., may be used. Frac- 
 tured limbs must be securely steadied, either by 
 the application of temporary splints, etc., or by 
 being appropriately propped up. In hemorrhage 
 from the great cavities the body should be inclined 
 towards the bleeding wound. Unconsciousness re- 
 sulting from faintness requires that the head should 
 be kept low, but when it is due to a blow upon the 
 skull, the head should be raised. An extemporary 
 pillow with side cushions may be made by folding 
 a blanket or overcoat to the desired width, roll- 
 ing it from both ends, and after proper adjust- 
 
POSITION OF WOUNDED UPON LITTER. 23 
 
 ment, securing it in position by a bandage, hand- 
 kerchief, or neck-tie. It is especially useful in 
 wounds of the head and face. Gaping wounds of 
 the front of the neck require that the head be well 
 raised and bent forward upon the chest. Penetrat- 
 ing wounds involving the lung frequently cause 
 great distress in breathing, which the bearers must 
 seek to remedy by tucking a folded blanket, over- 
 coat, blouse, under the raised chest. In penetrating 
 wounds of the abdomen, in general, the patient is 
 placed upon his back if the wound is in front, 
 and upon the injured side if lateral. In both 
 cases the legs should be drawn up, and in the 
 first instance the shoulders raised. A horizontal 
 slash across the belly requires the sitting pos- 
 ture, a vertical one the recumbent. In wounds 
 of the upper arm the patient is laid upon his 
 back, the injured extremity evenly and comfort- 
 ably supported, and resting alongside the body. 
 In injuries of the fore-arm, wrist, or hand the 
 wounded member is best laid across the chest or 
 abdomen, with the elbow propped up, and the 
 arm, if practicable, bound to the body. In inju- 
 ries of the lower extremities the patient is laid 
 upon his back and the member securely propped ; 
 in case of fracture of one limb, the other limb 
 should be utilized as a splint, the wounded one 
 being tied to it. Improvised splints may be ap- 
 plied if the patient is to be transported for a long 
 * distance. 
 
24 THE SOLDIER'S FIRST AID HANDBOOK. 
 
 LIMITATION OF THE DUTIES OF 
 BEARERS. 
 
 The bearers should be careful never to exceed 
 their duties by endeavoring to afford treatment 
 that had better be applied by the surgeon, but 
 should strive to place the wounded man under 
 that officer's care as soon as practicable. 
 
 THE BEARER'S EQUIPMENT. 
 
 Pursuant to regulations, each member of the 
 Hospital Corps and each company bearer in the 
 field or in time of war, carries upon his person a 
 canteen of water, a knife of approved pattern, and 
 a simple package of dressings ; one-fourth of the 
 hospital privates carry the so-called medicine-cases, 
 containing portable drugs, dressings, restoratives, 
 anaesthetics, and a few simple instruments. 
 
 The package of dressings carried by all bear- 
 ers, and one similar to which is in certain foreign 
 armies issued to every soldier, is known as " Es- 
 marctis First Help for Wounds." It is a flat 
 packet about four inches by three in dimension, 
 and contains, in a water-proof wrapper, two anti- 
 septic compresses of sublimated gauze in oiled 
 paper, one antiseptic bandage of sublimated cam- 
 bric, one Esmarch's triangular bandage with its 
 mode of application illustrated upon itself, and 
 two safety-pins. Printed directions upon the 
 wrapper read as follows; 
 
THE USE OF FIRST AID PACKETS. 2$ 
 
 " Place one of the compresses on the wound, 
 removing the oiled paper. In case of large 
 wounds open the compress and cover the whole 
 wound. Apply the antiseptic bandage over the 
 compress. Then use the triangular bandage as 
 shown by illustrations on the same." 
 
 In order that he may be able to properly 
 dress such injuries as he is called upon to attend, 
 the bearer must be provided with appliances to 
 check hemorrhage, exert pressure upon parts, re- 
 tain them in their proper position, or protect 
 them against dirt. Such articles include lint, 
 compresses, roller and triangular bandages, splints, 
 and either tourniquets or elastic bandages. 
 
 Lint is shredded or scraped linen used to cover 
 wounds and to arrest slight bleeding. It is either 
 applied dry, or moistened with water, oil, vinegar, 
 antiseptic fluids, etc. Patent lint is a manufac- 
 tured substitute furnished in sheets. Allied to 
 lint are styptic cotton, which coagulates or clots 
 blood, absorbent cotton, antiseptic cotton, etc. 
 
 A compress is a piece of linen or muslin folded 
 upon itself several times, retaining the lint in 
 place and serving as a pad to exert pressure. 
 
 Roller bandages consist of rolled strips of certain 
 materials of various lengths and breadths, and are 
 applied over the so-called first pieces of surgical 
 dressing which are in immediate contact with the 
 wound. They are generally made of linen, flan- 
 nel, or gauze. A roller bandage should be applied 
 with regularity, so that the pressure exerted may 
 be uniform. It should be neither too tight nor 
 
26 THE SOLDIER'S FIRST AID HANDBOOK. 
 
 too loose, and when employed upon an extremity, 
 should be made to ascend the limb. 
 
 The triangular bandage is not only useful as a 
 retentive dressing, but also as a sling. Further- 
 more, it may be employed in the form of the 
 knotted cloth, or of the Spanish windlass, to be 
 described hereafter. 
 
 Splints are made of wood, paste-board, leather, 
 wire, felt, straw, or other material, and are used to 
 keep fractured limbs in a fixed position. They 
 may be improvised from a number of articles 
 available on the battle-field, such as rifles, carbines, 
 scabbards, side-arms, rolled blankets, pickets, 
 shingles, sticks, twigs, straw mats, etc. Impro- 
 vised splints should be well padded to conform 
 with the curves of the limb. Splints are kept in 
 place by triangular or roller bandages, straps, 
 cords, etc. Under Fractures, they will be referred 
 to more fully. 
 
 The tourniquet and the elastic bandage are used 
 to exert pressure upon blood-vessels. They will 
 be further considered under hemorrhages. 
 
 It will be noticed that the Esmarctis package 
 contains articles subserving the purposes of all 
 the above appliances, splints excepted. 
 
 FIRST AID TREATMENT OF HEM- 
 ORRHAGE. 
 
 Upon the field of battle the casualties claiming 
 the attention of the bearer will mainly be wounds. 
 Hemorrhage or bleeding always accompanies these 
 
TREATMENT OF HEMORRHAGE. 2^ 
 
 injuries, and as a necessary preliminary to an in- 
 telligent management of them a knowledge of 
 its first aid treatment is essential. Serious hem- 
 orrhage is an accident, in the treatment of which 
 the application or omission of a few simple pro- 
 cedures, easily learned, easily remembered, and 
 readily applied, will often make the difference of 
 life and death to the sufferer. 
 
 The mechanism of the circulation and the loca- 
 tion of the principal arteries have already been 
 considered. 
 
 Hemorrhage, as stated, is of three kinds, viz., 
 in the order of gravity, capillary, venous, and 
 arterial. 
 
 CAPILLARY HEMORRHAGE. 
 
 Capillary Hemorrhage, alone, attends every 
 minor cut. The blood oozes out and is of a color 
 intermediate in shade between that of arterial and 
 venous blood. The flow is generally inconsider- 
 able, and ordinarily is soon arrested by the expo- 
 sure of the cut to the air. Elevation of the parts 
 and pressure upon them may effect the same re- 
 sult, or cold, hot, astringent, or styptic (blood- 
 clotting) applications may be employed. Vinegar, 
 alum, and tannin are astringents ; Monsel's solu- 
 tion is a styptic. Hot applications, such as a 
 folded cloth soaked in as hot water as the hand 
 will tolerate and lightly wrung out, are of especial 
 use in oozing frprn large surface. 
 
28 THE SOLDIER'S FIRST AID HANDBOOK. 
 
 VENOUS HEMORRHAGE. 
 
 Venous Hemorrhage occurs as a steady flow, 
 the blood being of a dark shade of red. Gen- 
 erally it is readily controlled when slight, even 
 by the simple application of cold, or when severer, 
 by the employment of pressure above and below 
 the wound in the vessel. This pressure may be 
 made by applying the fingers or a dry pad of 
 cloth firmly bound down by a bandage, or in some 
 cases both. 
 
 ARTERIAL HEMORRHAGE. 
 
 Arterial Hemorrhage occurs in jets, their num- 
 ber corresponding to the number of heart-beats in 
 the same time. The blood is bright red. When 
 the largest arteries are wounded, the resulting 
 hemorrhage, if unchecked, soon causes death on 
 account of the great amount of blood lost. In 
 injuries of this kind, all that the bearer will be 
 able to do will be to thrust his finger or some 
 other plug deeply into the wound and to endeavor 
 by firm pressure to arrest the flow. It is rarely 
 that he will succeed in his purpose. 
 
 As arteries carry the blood away from the heart, 
 the general rule to be observed in the management 
 of arterial hemorrhage is to completely obstruct the 
 artery by pressure at the bleeding point or between 
 it and the heart. 
 
 Pressure may be applied by the fingers, pad or. 
 plug and bandage, knotted cloth or handkerchief, 
 
TREATMENT OF ARTERIAL HEMORRHAGE. 2Q 
 
 Spanish windlass, tourniquet, the elastic bandage, 
 or by flexion (bending) of an extremity so that 
 the vessel is compressed between the members. 
 
 The finger is applicable in all cases ; the pad and 
 bandage may be employed in bleeding from quite 
 small branches. The plug consists of a packing 
 of lint, cotton (styptic or otherwise), old muslin or 
 linen, etc., thrust into a wound and firmly bound 
 down by a bandage. In using the knotted hand- 
 kerchief , the knot is placed at the proper spot over 
 the course of the artery, and the two ends of the 
 handkerchief are then passed around the limb and 
 firmly tied. The Spanish windlass and the tour- 
 niquet are modifications of the knotted handker- 
 chief. The windlass consists of a cloth into 
 which a stone or other hard round body has been 
 folded. The stone being placed at the proper 
 spot over the course of the artery, the ends of the 
 cloth are brought around the limb and loosely tied. 
 A stick is slipped under and twisted, until the 
 tightened cloth, through the stone in it, causes 
 just enough pressure upon the vessel to stop the 
 bleeding. In order to avoid pinching of the skin 
 under the stick, a pad of some kind may, if avail- 
 able, be interposed. The field tourniquet consists 
 of a pad, which takes the place of the knot in the 
 handkerchief, and a strap and buckle to hold the 
 pad in its position over the artery. The screw 
 tourniquet, in addition, is furnished with two plates, 
 through one of which works a screw. When the 
 instrument has been adjusted the turning of the 
 screw tightens the strap and increases the pressure 
 
3o THE SOLDIER'S FIRST AID HANDBOOK. 
 
 exerted by the pad upon the artery. Sometimes 
 the pad is wanting, when its place may be rilled by 
 a roller. The elastic bandage is a roll of rubber 
 band about three inches wide. It causes consider- 
 able pressure by virtue of its elasticity. It is ap- 
 plied at a point immediately above the wound, and 
 is made to spirally ascend the member. The in- 
 fluence of flexion of a limb upon the arterial 
 flow in the vessels below the joint can be seen by 
 noting the cessation of the radial pulse when the 
 forearm is forcibly bent upon the arm. Flexion 
 may be combined with the use of the knotted 
 cloth. 
 
 In cases of hemorrhage controlled by the tour- 
 niquet, windlass, elastic bandage, or knotted hand- 
 kerchief, the surgeon's services should be procured 
 as soon as practicable, otherwise the continuous 
 pressure exerted will work injury by shutting off 
 the circulation from the limb below. 
 
 For Hemorrhage from the Artery of the 
 Neck, pressure with the fingers is alone indicated. 
 It is applied by pushing the finger deeply into the 
 neck in a backward and inward direction at the 
 anterior border of the prominent neck muscle. 
 
 For Hemorrhage from the Artery of the Arm 
 in its Uppermost Portion, downward pressure is 
 applied behind the middle of the collar-bone. 
 Naturally this pressure will first be made by the 
 thumb, which may be moved towards the breast- 
 bone or towards the shoulder if it fails to strike 
 the artery at once. If necessary, the thumb may 
 be cautiously replaced by a finger-shaped, nicely 
 
TREATMENT OF ARTERIAL HEMORRHAGE. 31 
 
 rounded stone or stick, or a rifle cartridge, etc., 
 the skin being protected as soon as practicable by 
 an interposed pad of lint, linen, or bandage. 
 
 For Hemorrhage from the Artery of the 
 Arm in its Lower Portion, pressure by the thumb 
 is made above the wound and upon the vessel's 
 course (i.e., along the inner side of the arm, and 
 in the line of division between the two prominent 
 muscles), the arm being grasped between the 
 thumb and fingers of the bearer's hand. Subse- 
 quently a piece of cloth tied into a knot as big as 
 a fist may be pushed well up into the armpit, and 
 the arm brought down and bound against the side 
 of the chest ; or the Spanish windlass, tourniquet, 
 or elastic bandage may be applied. 
 
 For Hemorrhage from Arteries of the Fore- 
 arm, pressure by the fingers on the artery of the 
 arm, made as above detailed, is the first measure to 
 be adopted. A knotted handkerchief, the knot 
 placed over the middle of the joint, is then tightly 
 tied around the limb, and the fore-arm bent so as to 
 press forcibly against the knot. The main blood- 
 vessel situated in the middle line over the elbow 
 will then become occluded. Instead of the knotted 
 handkerchief, the elastic bandage may be used. 
 It is applied above the wound, and its successive 
 turns are made to ascend the arm. 
 
 For Hemorrhage from the Arteries of the 
 Hand, pressure is made with the fingers upon the 
 bleeding spot, or with both thumbs on the arteries 
 on each side of the prominent wrist tendons, 
 together with elevation of the part. Again the 
 
32 THE SOLDIER'S FIRST AID HANDBOOK. 
 
 bandage and pad may be employed, or, if necessary, 
 the measures detailed in the preceding paragraph. 
 
 For Hemorrhage from the Arteries of the 
 Thigh, pressure by the thumbs, the ringers grasp- 
 ing each side of the limb, is the first measure to 
 adopt. This pressure is made over the course of 
 the artery and above the wound. The vessel makes 
 its appearance in the groin at about two-thirds the 
 distance from the hip-bone to the central line, 'and 
 is superficial for several inches below this. Pres- 
 sure may further be made by means of a padded 
 stick, a Spanish windlass, a tourniquet, the elastic 
 bandage, or by the knotted handkerchief com- 
 bined with flexion of the thigh on the belly, and 
 of the leg on the thigh. 
 
 For Hemorrhage from the Arteries of the 
 Leg, pressure should be applied over the course of 
 the large blood-vessel, which is superficial in the 
 hollow behind the knee-joint. This pressure may 
 be made by means of the elastic bandage, or by 
 the knotted handkerchief combined with flexion 
 of the leg on the thigh and of the thigh on the 
 abdomen. 
 
 For Hemorrhage from Arteries of the Foot, 
 the bandage and pad maybe applied, or the above 
 measure may be employed. 
 
 Internal Hemorrhage, by which is understood 
 any bleeding in the great cavities of the trunk in 
 which the blood accumulates internally, may be 
 suspected when, after injury, liable to ^ use it, 
 symptoms of faintness from loss of blood come on 
 (vide Fainting). // is to be treated by rest in the 
 
INTERNAL HEMORRHAGE AND FAINTING, 33 
 
 recumbent position, the head lying lowest \ and cold 
 applications externally. 
 
 Fainting is one of the results of copious hemor- 
 rhage. If it occurs as the result of excessive 
 hemorrhage, the bleeding should first of all be 
 controlled. The patient should be laid on his 
 back, with his head low ; his arms and feet may 
 be elevated. Tight clothing should be loosened 
 and cold water sprinkled upon the face. The 
 application of warmth to the body, the holding of 
 hartshorn to the nostrils, and the careful adminis- 
 tration of stimulants (when the patient is able to 
 swallow) may be necessary. 
 
 It must be borne in mind that with the advent 
 of a fainting spell and its attendant weakening of 
 the heart's action a cessation of hemorrhage often 
 takes place naturally ; hence measures are to be 
 adopted to prevent a recurrence of the bleeding 
 when reaction comes on. 
 
 In fainting from internal hemorrhage the treat- 
 ment outlined above will in the main be applicable, 
 stimulants, if given at all, being administered with 
 extreme caution. 
 
 It may here be mentioned that fainting is due to 
 numerous causes besides hemorrhage. Debility in 
 general, fright, and nervous impression of various 
 kinds may produce it. 
 
 FIRST AID TREATMENT OF WOUNDS. 
 
 A Wound is any breach in the soft tissues of the 
 body caused by violence. Upon the battle-field 
 
34 THE SOLDIER'S FIRST AID HANDBOOK. 
 
 the following forms of this class of injury will 
 present themselves, viz., the contused, the incised, 
 the punctured, the lacerated, and the gunshot 
 wound. Contusions, though not properly wounds, 
 may advantageously be considered with them. 
 
 Contusions, or bruises, are caused by blunt, 
 heavy instruments. On the battle-field they re- 
 sult from falls, blows with the butt of a gun, the 
 passage of a wagon or piece over a portion of the 
 body, etc. Ordinarily, they are not of serious 
 nature ; but complicated with injuries of internal 
 organs or fractures, their import is much graver. 
 Simple contusions are treated with applications 
 of cold water or of laudanum. Hot, wet applica- 
 tions are of use where "the pain has ceased; they 
 favor the absorption of the blood which has 
 escaped into the tissues. If the bruise is com- 
 plicated by fracture, the latter should be attended 
 to in a manner to be described hereafter. If the 
 patient is unconscious from a blow on the head, 
 the bearers should not try to bring him to his 
 senses by shaking him, but should sprinkle cold 
 water upon his face and chest for that purpose, 
 and place him under care of the surgeon without 
 delay. 
 
 A Contused Wound is a bruised one, and as 
 far as its management in general is concerned, it 
 may be considered as a species of contusion. 
 Ordinarily, a moist, cold dressing of lint with a 
 compress and bandage suffices. Should hemor- 
 rhage exist, not controllable by the pressure of 
 the dressing, the elastic bandage, windlass, tour- 
 
FIRST AID TREATMENT OF WOUNDS. 35 
 
 niquet, etc., should be employed. The complica- 
 tions of the contused wound are those of the con- 
 tusion. 
 
 When the word lint is employed herein in con- 
 nection with the dressing of wounds, either the 
 picked, shredded, or sheeted article, or its cotton 
 substitutes, are to be understood. Preferably, 
 all dressings should be antiseptic. The antiseptic 
 compress of the Esmarch's package serves the 
 purpose both of lint and ordinary compress. 
 
 An Incised Wound is a cut such, for instance, 
 as is made by the sabre. Hemorrhage may be 
 slight, in which case a dressing of lint and a com- 
 press, covered by a roller or triangular bandage, 
 snugly applied, will check it. Should it be severe, 
 recourse, in addition, must be had to the elastic 
 bandage or other appliance of its class ; or pres- 
 sure with the fingers, as in wounds of the carotid 
 artery, may have to be employed. Patients with 
 vertical cuts of the walls of the belly should be 
 carried lying on their backs, those with horizon- 
 tal cuts are to be transported seated. Incised 
 wounds of the belly are occasionally followed 
 by protrusion of the bowels. If not injured or 
 soiled, gentle efforts should be made to return 
 the intestines. If this is unsuccessful, they should 
 be covered and protected by a clean cloth while 
 the patient is conveyed to the dressing station. 
 
 A Punctured Wound is made by a stabbing 
 weapon, such as a bayonet. Generally there is 
 but little hemorrhage, and the ordinary dressing 
 is sufficient for the purposes of exerting pressure. 
 
36 THE SOLDIER'S FIRST AID HANDBOOK. 
 
 Fragments of the weapon left in the wound should 
 not be removed by the bearer, but by the sur- 
 geon. If the lungs have been injured, which in 
 some cases may be suspected from the location of 
 the wound, and the coughing up of blood, etc., 
 the patient is neither to be conveyed in a wagon 
 nor allowed to walk to the dressing station, but 
 must be carried thither on a stretcher. 
 
 A Lacerated Wound is one in which the parts 
 have been torn. The ragged stump left when a 
 portion of the hand has been wrenched off by a 
 premature explosion is an example. The wound 
 should be cleansed and foreign bodies removed 
 by a gentle stream of water from a sponge ; the 
 parts should be restored to their natural positions 
 as far as possible, and a cool, wet cloth, or one 
 moistened with laudanum or alcohol, is then to be 
 applied and covered with the bandage. If hem- 
 orrhage is severe, the tourniquet or other means 
 for arresting it may have to be employed. If the 
 injury is great and the patient is suffering from 
 shock, stimulants may be called for. Extensive 
 lacerations should ribt be treated with cold appli- 
 cations ; where hot ones are not available, dry 
 dressing or cloths moistened with alcohol or laud- 
 anum are preferable. 
 
 Gunshot Wounds are produced by missiles 
 projected from weapons loaded with explosive 
 material. These missiles include bullets, gun- 
 shot, shrapnel, shells, grape and canister shot, 
 etc. Gunshot wounds involving merely the skin 
 and muscles are trivial, but such as are compli- 
 
FIRST AID TREATn. 37 
 
 cated with injury to the intertill organs or with 
 fractures, are among the gravest of the casualties 
 of war. The amount of bleeding attending these 
 cases is variable. The management of gunshot 
 wounds depends upon whether they are simple 
 flesh wounds, or are complicated with hemorrhage 
 01 fracture. Flesh wounds, after thorough cleans- 
 ing, are dressed with lint, compress, and bandage. 
 Hemorrhage, if serious, requires the tourniquet, 
 or othei means of this class, to control it, while 
 fractures are to be treated in a manner to be 
 described hereafter. Frequently, when a portion 
 of a limb has been torn off by a fragment of a 
 shell, there is little or no bleeding from the 
 arteries, because the wrenching force has twisted 
 the arterial coats in such a manner as to close the 
 vessels. They are not so firmly closed, however, 
 but what a jar may start the hemorrhage ; hence, 
 as a safeguard, the tourniquet is loosely adjusted 
 over the course of the main artery of the limb. 
 Gunshot wounds generally have an opening of 
 entry and one of exit ; in case the projectile fails 
 to emerge, the latter, of course, is absent. Bearers 
 should not try to remove imbedded projectiles. 
 
 Theyfrj/ aid package of Esmarch will be found 
 to be available as a first dressing for all classes of 
 wounds. 
 
 Shock is a form of collapse accompanying 
 severe injuries. Fright, despondency, hunger, 
 thirst, and debility favor its development, while 
 loss of blood aggravates it. The symptoms are 
 those of utter prostration. The skin is pale, cold, 
 
38 THE SOLDIER'S FIRST AID HANDBOOK. 
 
 and clammy; the breathing shallow, the pulse 
 feeble; the eyes are dull, the eyelids drooping, 
 and the pupils dilated. The patient's mind wan- 
 ders, and unconsciousness sometimes comes on. 
 Well-marked shock is a serious condition, and 
 demands prompt measures. The patient is to be 
 laid down, head low, and covered with blankets, 
 all hemorrhage having been checked. Hot appli- 
 cations (hot bottles, hot plates, etc.) should be 
 made to the whole body, and especially to the 
 region of the heart and the pit of the stomach, 
 care being taken that the heated articles are not 
 laid directly upon the bare skin. Hot drinks 
 should be given, or a teaspoonful of brandy in a 
 tablespoonful of water administered every ten 
 minutes for several hours. When, however, there 
 is suspicion of internal hemorrhage, liquor had bet- 
 ter be omitted, unless given with extreme caution. 
 
 FIRST AID TREATMENT OF FRAC- 
 TURES. 
 
 Fracture. When a bone is broken a fracture 
 is said to have taken place. Fractures may be 
 classed as simple and compound: in the former 
 the skin is not broken, in the latter it is. A com- 
 pound fracture is a very much graver injury than 
 a simple one. That a bone has been broken can 
 be recognized by the occurrence of pain, by the 
 faulty position of the limb, by its bending where 
 it ought not to, and by the so-called crepitus, or 
 grating sound or sensation, produced by motion 
 
FIRST AID TREATMENT OF FRACTURES. 39 
 
 at the seat of injury. Pain is usually not marked 
 when the limb is quiescent, but the patient's efforts 
 to move it, or unskilful handling thereof, cause 
 acute suffering. It is the duty of the bearers to 
 support the affected limbs by means of splints, 
 and to keep the fracture immovable. A rectifica- 
 tion of the faulty position of the fragments of the 
 bones is not to be attempted by them, unless 
 excessive pain calls for such a measure. To effect 
 it, one man grasps the limb above the fracture 
 and the other below, both pulling in opposite 
 directions until the proper shape is restored. Care 
 must be exercised not to increase the damage 
 already done. 
 
 Extemporary Splints, made from a variety of 
 material available on the battle-field, are utilized 
 by the bearer in putting-up fractured limbs for the 
 time being. The articles from which they are 
 improvised comprise rifles, side-arms, coats, capes, 
 knapsacks, straw-mats, rolls of straw, boards, 
 pickets, sticks, bark, laths, switches, rushes, 
 leather straps, telegraph wire, strips of tin, and 
 many others. Temporary splints may be applied 
 directly to the limb or over the clothing, accord- 
 ing to circumstances. Their mode of application 
 will be shown in the consideration of the follow- 
 ing fractures: 
 
 Fractures of the Upper Arm may be put up 
 with a bayonet and scabbard, one on each side, 
 or with bundles of straw lined with soft material. 
 Again, thin pieces of board may be applied to 
 the inside and outside of the limb, and, if neces- 
 
40 THE SOLDIER'S FIRST AID HANDBOOK. 
 
 sary, to the front and rear also. In all cases the 
 splints are firmly held together with triangular or 
 other bandages, and the fore-arm is flexed and 
 carried in a sling. The simplest method is to 
 utilize the chest as a splint. The elbow is drawn 
 down to the side of the body, a layer of cotton or 
 linen cloth being interposed. The whole "upper 
 arm is then to be bound to the chest, the fore- 
 arm being carried in a sling, the hand a little 
 higher than the elbow. 
 
 Fracture at the Lower End of the Arm. 
 This may be put up with a rectangular inside splint 
 in order that more support be afforded than can 
 be given by the straight splint. The rectangular 
 splint may be improvised from telegraph-wire, and 
 should be well padded. 
 
 The outside of one of the blades of the ordi- 
 nary straight scissors should be provided with a file 
 edge, by which a notch may be cut in the wire to 
 weaken it and cause it to break readily. 
 
 Fracture of the Fore-arm is put up with two 
 light splints ; shingles are well adapted for the 
 purpose. The fore-arm being flexed and the 
 thumb turned upwards, the splints, well padded 
 and long enough to extend beyond the fingers, 
 are applied to the front and rear of the limb, and 
 firmly bound on ; the hand is carried in a sling 
 and raised slightly higher than the elbow. 
 
 Whenever a sling is required for the fore-arm, 
 one may be conveniently made by turning up the 
 bottom of the blouse, passing it over the limb, 
 
FIRST AID TREATMENT OF FRACTURES. 4! 
 
 and pinning it to the breast of the garment. If 
 necessary, the side seam may be slit up. 
 
 Fracture of the Finger may be put up with a 
 light splint reaching from wrist to finger-tip, the 
 finger being straightened out. 
 
 Fracture of the Thigh may be put up with a 
 splint placed on the outer side of the limb and 
 extending from axilla to foot. For this purpose 
 a rifle may be used, with the butt placed in the 
 armpit and the hammer pointing towards the 
 ground. The weapon is secured by a bandage 
 passing around the foot and another passing 
 around the trunk, each being made to encircle the 
 splint. A soldier's overcoat is then adjusted so 
 as to constitute a pad on one side of the limb, 
 and passing under it, to form a stiff roll on the 
 other, the whole being fastened by straps, band- 
 ages, handkerchiefs, etc. 
 
 Fracture of the Knee-Pan may be put up 
 with a straight splint extending from hip to 
 heel on the outer side of the limb. A picket may 
 be used, if available. 
 
 In fractures of the lower extremity, in general, 
 the limb should not be held absolutely straight, 
 but slight bending at the knee should be allowed. 
 
 In Fracture of the Leg the limb may be care- 
 fully drawn down and placed in a natural posi- 
 tion. An overcoat or cape should then be passed 
 under it and made to form a stiff roll on each 
 side. A piece of board, a pair of bayonets, or a 
 sword, etc., is then laid along the limb over the 
 coat and secured by bandages, straps, etc., or the 
 
42 THE SOLDIER'S FIRST AID HANDBOOK. 
 
 other leg may be utilized as a splint to which the 
 injured one is bound. 
 
 Fractures of the Spine is difficult to detect. 
 When suspected, the patient should be laid upon 
 his back, and left for the surgeon's examination. 
 He is not to be disturbed more than is absolutely 
 necessary. 
 
 Fractures of the Shoulder-Blade, Hip-Bone, 
 or Ribs are frequently hard to make out ; the 
 first two are rare. First-aid treatment consists in 
 placing the sufferer in a comfortable position and 
 securing rest and coolness. 
 
 In Fracture of the Collar-Bone the patient 
 should be laid flat on his back without pillow, 
 the arm bound to the side and the fore-arm se- 
 cured in a sling made of the turned-up bottom of 
 the blouse pinned to the breast of the garment. 
 
 Fracture of the Skull calls for the recumbent 
 posture and cold applications to the head. Fur- 
 ther than attending to these requirements and to 
 the comfort of the patient, the bearer will do 
 nothing. 
 
 In Fracture of the Jaw the mouth is to be 
 closed and a bandage applied to keep the teeth 
 together. 
 
 Compound Fractures, after the wound has 
 been dressed, are to be put up in like manner as 
 the simple forms, care being taken that the frag- 
 ments cause no further damage to the soft tissues. 
 
IN CASES OF SUSPENDED ANIMATION. 43 
 
 FIRST AID TREATMENT OF DISLO- 
 CATIONS. 
 
 Dislocations consist in the displacement of the 
 articular extremities (joint ends) of bones from 
 their sockets. The bearer, as a rule, should not 
 attempt their reduction, but should place the limb 
 in a comfortable position, and after applying cold 
 dressings, secure it by bandages. 
 
 In the service, dislocations are often caused by 
 men being thrown from horses, caissons, etc. 
 
 FIRST AID TREATMENT OF SPRAINS. 
 
 A Sprain is caused by the overstraining of 
 the muscles and ligaments covering a joint, the 
 force exerted stopping short of that required to 
 produce a dislocation. The wrist and ankle are 
 joints most frequently affected by this class of 
 injury. Severe sprains sometimes present them- 
 selves on the field of battle. Their treatment re- 
 sembles that of contusions ; cold dressings and, if 
 necessary, splints are applied ; later, hot applica- 
 tions should be employed to produce absorption. 
 
 PROCEDURES TO BE ADOPTED IN 
 
 CASES OF SUSPENDED 
 
 ANIMATION. 
 
 Often, as a result of the shock of severe injuries, 
 profuse bleeding, or various forms of obstruction 
 
44 THE SOLDIER'S FIRST AID HANDBOOK. 
 
 to breathing, a trance-like condition known as 
 suspended animation arises, characterized by cessa- 
 tion of respiration, and an all but complete fail- 
 ure of the heart's action. In order to avert death 
 in a case of this kind, the bearer, in addition to 
 the measures applicable in fainting and shock, 
 will employ what is termed artificial respiration. 
 
 By Artificial Respiration is meant a procedure 
 in which, by alternate compression and expansion 
 of the chest, the lungs are made to imitate the 
 natural action of breathing. There are several 
 methods of artificial respiration, the best known 
 among which are Silvester's, Marshall Hall's, and 
 Howard's, the first being the simplest, and readily 
 carried out by one man. It will be more advan- 
 tageous for the bearer to confine himself to one 
 of them, learning it thoroughly, than to endeavor 
 to master them all. Silvester's method is hence 
 selected for the purpose of description. It may 
 be occasionally necessary to employ artificial res- 
 piration for hours ; it is discontinued when nat- 
 ural breathing recommences, or the case is finally 
 given up as hopeless. 
 
 In Silvester's method the patient is laid upon 
 his back, with the arms stretched out along the 
 side of the body, and a firm roll of some kind 
 (clothing, blanket, etc.) placed under the shoulder- 
 blades for the purpose of raising the shoulders 
 and extending the throat. The tongue, which 
 has a natural tendency to fall back and obstruct 
 the wind-pipe, is drawn forward and secured, 
 either by a string, etc., passed around its base and 
 
IN CASES OF SUSPENDED ANIMATION. 45 
 
 the chin, or in various other ways that may sug- 
 gest themselves. Kneeling behind the patient's 
 head, the bearer seizes the arms above the 
 elbows, and draws 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 bearer 
 making firm pressure upon 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 air is expelled. The natural 
 movements of respiration are hence imitated. 
 
 PART III. 
 
 MANAGEMENT BY THE BEARER OF ORDINARY 
 ACCIDENTS AND EMERGENCIES. 
 
 IN the preceding pages the scope of the duties 
 of the bearer on the field of battle have been out- 
 lined ; but besides ministering to the needs of 
 those wounded in combat he should furthermore 
 be able to afford first aid in the accidents and 
 emergencies of ordinary garrison life, and to take 
 care of minor cases when the surgeon's services 
 are not available. 
 
46 THE SOLDIER'S FIRST AID HANDBOOK. 
 
 GENERAL RULES TO BE OBSERVED 
 IN CASES OF ACCIDENT. 
 
 Should the bearer happen to be present at the 
 scene of an accident at which his services are 
 called upon, he should first of all request by- 
 standers, who may have crowded around, to press 
 back in order that breathing-space and room for 
 manipulation be obtained. If he needs assistance, 
 he will ask for as few helpers as he can get along 
 with. The patient is placed in a comfortable 
 position upon his back, tight clothing loosened, 
 and the nature and extent of his injuries are de- 
 termined. The examination completed, word is 
 s.ent to the surgeon and the hospital steward, the 
 character of the injury being stated for their guid- 
 ance in the matter of instruments and appliances 
 necessary. In the mean time the bearer will adopt 
 such first-aid measures as the situation may call 
 for, being careful to observe the limitations of his 
 functions. 
 
 HEMORRHAGE, WOUNDS, FRAC- 
 TURES, DISLOCATIONS, 
 SPRAINS. 
 
 These accidents having already received con- 
 sideration in Part II., need not be discussed here. 
 
ORDINARY ACCIDENTS AND EMERGENCIES. 47 
 
 CONDITIONS CAUSING LOSS OF CON- 
 SCIOUSNESS. 
 
 Loss of Consciousness occurs under a variety 
 of circumstances, the conditions causing it being 
 at times readily discernible, at others difficult to 
 discover. It may be due to fainting, shock, con- 
 cussion, compression, apoplexy, or other disorder 
 of the brain, sunstroke, heat-exhaustion, intoxica- 
 tion, epilepsy, poison, or a number of other trou- 
 bles. It is not to be presumed that the bearer will 
 be able to make what the surgeon calls a differen- 
 tial diagnosis between the various conditions pro- 
 ducing unconsciousness, that is to say, to ascertain 
 absolutely whether insensibility results from this, 
 that, or the other cause. Professional study is 
 necessary for such purpose ; it is not within the 
 scope of the bearer's duties. He will mainly have 
 to rely on what he may learn from the patient's 
 associates, and on circumstances which the intelli- 
 gent layman may reasonably be expected to ob- 
 serve. When the bearer is in doubt as to the 
 origin of unconsciousness, as he may well be in 
 many cases, he must rely upon general principles. 
 In all instances he must try to speedily obtain the 
 surgeon's services. Pending the latter's arrival, 
 he should lay the patient upon his back, with his 
 head slightly elevated, and loosen tight clothing. 
 If there be pallor, clamminess of surface, shallow 
 breathing, and weakness of pulse, heat should be 
 applied to the body, hartshorn held to the nose, 
 
48 THE SOLDIER'S FIRST AID HANDBOOK. 
 
 and hot drinks given as soon as the patient is able 
 to swallow. If the skin feels excessively hot, cold 
 applications should be made to the head and body, 
 and cold drinks given when consciousness returns. 
 
 Fainting and Shock have already received at- 
 tention in a preceding chapter. 
 
 Concussion of the Brain or stunning is caused 
 mainly by blows or falls upon the head. It is 
 accompanied by feeble pulse and vomiting, pallor, 
 depression, incoherence of language, and partial 
 or complete insensibility. The proper plan of 
 treatment is to lay the patient upon his back, 
 loosen tight clothing, and secure quiet and fresh 
 air. Heat should be applied if the skin becomes 
 cold and clammy. Stimulants had better be 
 avoided. 
 
 Compression of the Brain is due either to 
 pressure exerted upon the organ by a fragment 
 of a broken skull-bone, or by blood which has es- 
 caped into the cranial cavity from a vessel rup- 
 tured as a result of external violence. The symp- 
 toms are insensibility, slow pulse, snoring, breath- 
 ing, paralysis, muscular twitching or convulsions, 
 and dilatation of one or both pupils. The recum- 
 bent position should be secured for the patient, 
 and cold applications made to his head ; beyond 
 this the bearer will attempt nothing without med- 
 ical advice. 
 
 Apoplexy is due to the rupture of a diseased 
 blood-vessel in the brain without external violence. 
 Usually the patient's face is flushed, and may be 
 drawn to one side. The loss of consciousness 
 
ORDINARY ACCIDENTS AND EMERGENCIES. 49 
 
 may be gradual, or insensibility may come on sud- 
 denly. The pulse is slow, the breathing snoring. 
 The bearer will adopt the same measures as in 
 compression of the brain. 
 
 Sunstroke is due to overheating of the body, 
 Associated with an inability of the skin to perform 
 Its proper functions on account of the influences 
 of a close atmosphere. Its symptoms of warn- 
 ing are headache and oppression. These after a 
 time are followed by loss of consciousness. The 
 breathing is labored, the skin intensely hot, perspi- 
 ration absent ; the bladder and bowels sometimes 
 discharge involuntarily. The great aim in treat- 
 ing this most serious condition is to reduce the 
 bodily temperature as soon as possible. The patient 
 should be immediately conveyed to a cool, airy 
 place, and on removal of his clothing placed in a 
 cold bath, or wrapped in a wet-pack, that is to say, 
 in sheets soaked in water, and which in this case 
 are kept wet by repeated applications of cold or 
 iced water. If these methods are impracticable, 
 cold must be employed in some other way, as by 
 thorough and continued sponging of the body 
 and head, lumps of ice being rubbed over the 
 chest and placed over the large blood-vessels in 
 the armpits and groins. If consciousness returns, 
 the application of cold should be discontinued, 
 to be renewed only if the temperature again rises 
 above normal, or insensibility comes on once more. 
 
 Heat Exhaustion is a prostration of the sys- 
 tem due to excessive heat, but is not accompanied 
 by loss of the transpiratory function of the skin. 
 
50 THE SOLDIER'S FIRST AID HANDBOOK. 
 
 It resembles the ordinary fainting spell, and is to 
 be similarly treated, the patient being removed to 
 a cool, airy spot. Unlike sunstroke, this condition 
 presents a moist, cool skin. 
 
 Intoxication in its fully developed symptoms 
 somewhat resembles apoplexy. When the bearer 
 is certain that the case is one of drunkenness, 
 an emetic composed of a teaspoonful of ground 
 mustard stirred up in a teacupful of lukewarm 
 water may be given. This is to be followed by a 
 teaspoonful of aromatic spirits of ammonia in a 
 similar quantity of water, or a large draught of 
 vinegar, after vomiting has occurred. If the 
 patient be, as is called, dead-drunk, and in danger 
 of dying from the collapsing effects of the liquor, 
 the general application of heat to the body is 
 imperative. Emetics should not be employed if 
 the bearer is not absolutely certain of the nature 
 of the case, as in apoplexy they would create ir- 
 reparable damage. In cases of doubt the precau- 
 tions necessary in apoplexy should be adopted. 
 
 Epileptic Seizures, in the main, should be 
 treated like fainting spells. No attempt should 
 be made to violently prevent the spasmodic move- 
 ments : they should simply be controlled. To 
 forestall biting of the tongue, a folded towel or 
 some other available article should be thrust be. 
 tween the teeth, not in such a manner, however, 
 as to interfere with breathing. After the seizure 
 is over, rest in the recumbent posture is necessary. 
 
 Poisons, such as opium and chloral, produce 
 insensibility when taken in overdose. If the 
 
ORDINARY ACCIDENTS AND EMERGENCIES. $1 
 
 bearer knows that these drugs have been used, he 
 will adopt the first-aid measure to be hereafter 
 detailed as applicable in cases of poisoning ; often, 
 however, the cause of the patient's unconscious- 
 ness will be unknown to him. In all cases, how- 
 ever, he will lose no time in communicating with 
 the surgeon. 
 
 ASPHYXIA. 
 
 Asphyxia is a term applied to all accidental 
 conditions in which life is in danger on account of 
 any obstruction whatsoever to respiration. The 
 conditions mentioned include suffocation from 
 drowning, strangulation, noxious gases, foreign 
 bodies in windpipe or gullet, etc. 
 
 In Drowning, if the patient hass topped breath- 
 ing, tight clothing is first of all loosened, the in- 
 dividual 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 }i^ld by an assistant, These pro- 
 
52 THE SOLDIER'S FIRST AID HANDBOOK. 
 
 cedures accomplished, Silvester's method of arti- 
 ficial respiration should be practised in the manner 
 indicated on page 44. It should be kept up for 
 hours if necessary, and until natural breathing re- 
 turns, or the case has been given up as hopeless 
 by competent authority. 
 
 While the bearer has been busied with the 
 drowned man, bystanders have, by his direction, 
 been sent to obtain warm and dry coverings to 
 replace the wet clothes of the patient. A fire 
 should be built by others, by which water, bricks, 
 stones or pieces of metal may be heated, and 
 blankets, coverings, clothes, thoroughly warmed. 
 An assistant, without interfering with the process 
 of artificial respiration, pulls off the wet clothes, 
 replaces them by warm coverings, applies heat to 
 the body in the shape of hot bottles, hot bricks, 
 or hot stones, properly covered, or even the hot 
 sand of the beach. The body and limbs should 
 be constantly rubbed towards the heart. 
 
 As soon as the patient is able to swallow, a tea- 
 spoonful 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 upon 
 the chest. 
 
 As a rule, the drowned man should never be 
 removed during the employment of methods for 
 
ORDINARY ACCIDENTS AND EMERGENCIES. $3 
 
 his resuscitation. After he has been, so to speak, 
 brought back to life, he should be cautiously car- 
 ried away in the 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, the procedure is similar 
 to that employed in the preceding case, artificial 
 respiration, however, being omitted except when 
 the natural function begins to fail. 
 
 Strangulation from Hanging, etc., is treated 
 by removal of the obstruction, stimulating natural 
 breathing, and, if necessary, by performing arti- 
 ficial respiration. 
 
 In Suffocation with Gases the patient is first of 
 all to be carried into a pure atmosphere. Breath- 
 ing is to be stimulated by sprinkling the face with 
 cold water, tickling the throat and nostrils with a 
 feather, the application to the nose of ammonia, 
 etc. If necessary, artificial respiration may be 
 employed. 
 
 Caution is necessary in the rescue of these pa- 
 tients from their dangerous surroundings, and the 
 bearer should take adequate measures to protect 
 himself. In entering a room filled with illumin- 
 ating gas he should be careful to carry no light. 
 When the patient is to be hauled up from a well or 
 vault, the gas in it may, in a measure, be dissi- 
 pated by throwing down a few buckets of water. 
 A cloth, veil, or like covering worn over the head 
 will prove of some value to the rescuer in keep- 
 ing the gas out of his lungs, 
 
54 THE SOLDIER'S FIRST AID HANDBOOK. 
 
 Suffocation from Foreign Bodies in the 
 Windpipe or Gullet is to be treated by a prompt 
 removal of the obstruction, and, if necessary, the 
 subsequent employment of artificial respiration. 
 Substances clogging the windpipe cause a good 
 deal of coughing : those obstructing the gullet in- 
 terfere with swallowing, but do not give rise to 
 cough. If the foreign body can be reached, it 
 should be pulled out by the fingers, a bent hair- 
 pin, a pair of blunt-pointed scissors, etc. Some- 
 times blowing forcibly into the ear causes a reflex 
 cough, which is sufficient to dislodge the body. 
 Foreign bodies in the windpipe are generally 
 coughed up ; if not, the case will require the sur- 
 geon's services. Coughing may be aided by blows 
 on the back, and a quick compression of the chest 
 by the hands. Inversion (turning upside down) 
 of the body may dislodge the substance. When 
 breathing is not interfered with and the foreign 
 body is not accessible, the bearer will limit him- 
 self to causing the patient to lie down, and mak 
 ing him as comfortable as possible pending the 
 surgeon's arrival. 
 
 In connection with the above, and as coming 
 within the scope of the bearer's duties to carry 
 out a line of simple treatment in absence of the 
 surgeon, it may here be mentioned that after a 
 foreign body has been swallowed, and particularly 
 if it be one with sharp points, a generous solid 
 diet, including a liberal allowance of vegetables, 
 should be given, in order that the substance may 
 
ORDINARY ACCIDENTS AND EMERGENCIES. 55 
 
 thus be imbedded in the solid waste of the intesti- 
 nal canal. No purgative should be administered. 
 
 BURNS AND SCALDS. 
 
 In Burns and Scalds the first thing to do is 
 of course to remove the cause. Should clothing 
 have caught fire, the individual is to be thrown 
 down on the ground and deluged with water or 
 rolled in an available rug, blanket, or coat. Great 
 damage arises from the inhalation of flames, hence 
 in wrapping up a patient, the bearer should first 
 cover the upper part of the body. When cloth- 
 ing is removed before dressing the injury, adher- 
 ent portions should be carefully cut out of the 
 garment and left. The dressings required and 
 the further treatment necessary are given in the 
 following paragraphs. 
 
 Slight Burns or Scalds are best treated with 
 cold applications. Involving an extremity, the 
 limb may be entirely immersed in water. A so- 
 lution of bicarbonate of soda (baking-soda), com- 
 posed of a heaped tablespoonful of this substance 
 to a teacupful of water, soon relieves pain ; the 
 soda may also be used in bulk, slightly moistened. 
 White of egg, carron-oil (lime-water and linseed- 
 oil mixed in equal parts), and lather applied with 
 a shaving-brush are also useful. 
 
 In Burns and Scalds causing Blisters the 
 latter are to be carefully opened with needle or 
 scissors. Applications of cold water, fresh leaves, 
 thinly sliced or grated potatoes, white of egg, or 
 
56 THE SOLDIER'S FIRST AID HANDBOOK. 
 
 carron-oil will be found of value, the great object 
 of these dressings being to exclude air. Sub- 
 stances which crust or cake should be avoided. 
 
 Deep Burns or Scalds may first be treated 
 with a water dressing, preferably. The surgeon 
 should be called upon for a further management 
 of the case. 
 
 Shock occurring as a Result of an extensive 
 Burn or Scald should be treated in a similar 
 manner to shock in general. 
 
 FREEZING. 
 
 In cases of Freezing, a warning symptom of 
 danger is an uncontrollable desire to lie down and 
 sleep, which the. sufferer's companions should do 
 their best to prevent. On reaching a place of 
 shelter and treatment, the sufferer must be gently 
 handled, as otherwise parts of the body such as 
 fingers, toes, the ears, are liable to be broken off. 
 He must never be brought immediately into a 
 warm apartment, but efforts at bringing him to 
 must be made in a cold room. The clothes must 
 be cut off, if necessary. The patient must be 
 rubbed all over with cold water, snow, or put in 
 cold wet sheets, until he becomes limber enough 
 to justify removal to a cold bed. Artificial respi- 
 ration is now to be employed, if called for, and 
 warm drinks (not stimulants) are given as soon as 
 he is able to swallow. 
 
 Frost-Bites, that is to say, local freezing of 
 exposed portions of the body, are to be similarly 
 
ORDINARY ACCIDENTS AND EMERGENCIES. 5/ 
 
 treated as to friction with cold water and snow. 
 The same cautions obtain as to sudden exposure 
 to warmth. Very often a person afflicted with 
 frost-bite is unaware of his trouble, as the affected 
 part has utterly lost all feeling. A passer-by will 
 recognize the dangerous condition of the organ, 
 supposing it is the ear or nose, by the blanched, 
 waxy appearance it presents. Prompt measures 
 should be taken immediately to prevent total loss 
 of the member. 
 
 Chilblains are due to a chilling of the circula- 
 tion of certain parts, particularly the toes. They 
 are attended with a good deal of discomfort in 
 the way of itching and smarting, especially mani- 
 fested after the patient has gone to bed. A good 
 plan to avert these symptoms is to generally keep 
 the affected parts away from the fire, and to bath 
 them in cold water or rub them with snow before 
 retiring. Stimulating ointment may then be ap- 
 plied, as, for instance, the compound ointment of 
 resin. 
 
 SORENESS OF THE FEET. 
 
 Soreness of the Feet, in those unaccustomed 
 to marching, may be avoided by soaping or greas- 
 ing the feet thoroughly before setting out. The 
 march made, they should be washed or wiped 
 clean and dry. The feet may be rendered tough 
 by soaking them in strong tepid solutions of alum 
 or tannin. 
 
 The German Fussstreupulver 
 
58 THE SOLDIER'S FIRST AID HANDBOOK. 
 
 preventive of sore feet. Sifted in shoes and stock- 
 ings, it keeps the feet dry, prevents chafing, and 
 heals sore spots. It is composed mainly of soap- 
 stone, to which starch and salicylic acid have been 
 added (87 parts soapstone, 10 starch, 3 salicylic 
 acid, by weight). 
 
 Blisters should be punctured at the lowest 
 point, and the fluid allowed to drain. 
 
 BLEEDING FROM THE NOSE, LUNGS, 
 STOMACH, OR BOWELS. 
 
 Nose-Bleed is often salutary, being a natural 
 method of relief in rush of blood to the head. 
 Occasions may arise, however, when it is so co- 
 pious as to create alarm and necessitate the sur- 
 geon's services. In this emergency the bearer 
 should, pending the latter's arrival, endeavor to 
 check the flow by causing the patient to snuff up 
 vinegar, or, in default of this, a solution of alum 
 and salt, or by plugging the nostrils with styptic 
 or other form of cotton. Pressure should like- 
 wise be exerted upon both facial arteries: this 
 may be accomplished by pushing the fingers 
 firmly against the lower jaw-bone, on each side, 
 immediately in front of the lower part of the mus- 
 cles, which are prominently visible at the angles 
 of the jaws when the latter are firmly clinched. 
 
 Hemorrhage from the Lungs proper is rarely 
 copious. The blood is coughed up, and is usually 
 bright red and frothy from contained air-bubbles. 
 When this form of bleeding occurs, the patient 
 
ORDINARY ACCIDENTS AND EMERGENCIES. 59 
 
 should be put to bed, and bolstered up in a sit- 
 ting position. Cold drinks should be given, and 
 if the patient is not too weak, cold applications 
 are to be made to the chest. Salt and vinegar are 
 popularly supposed to be efficacious in checking 
 pulmonary hemorrhage, and may be given in the 
 following doses every fifteen minutes: vinegar, 
 one teaspoonful; salt, about a quarter of a tea- 
 spoonful. 
 
 In Hemorrhage from the Stomach the blood 
 is vomited up, and presents a characteristic ap- 
 pearance of coffee-grounds, from having been 
 acted upon by the digestive fluids. Mixed with 
 food, it may be difficult to recognize. The first- 
 aid treatment in these cases calls for rest in bed, 
 cold drinks, or bits of ice, vinegar in teaspoonful 
 doses, and cold applications to the belly. 
 
 In Hemorrhage from the Bowels the patient 
 should be put to bed, injections of ice-water 
 given, and cold applications applied to the belly. 
 
 POISONING. 
 
 By the term poison is meant any substance what- 
 soever which, taken into the system in small quan- 
 tities, is capable of producing noxious or deadly 
 effects. 
 
 Poisons may be classed as corrosive, irritant, 
 and neurotic. Corrosive poisons burn the parts 
 with which they come in contact ; irritant poisons 
 cause intense inflammation of such parts ; neurotic 
 
60 THE SOLDIER'S FIRST AID HANDBOOK. 
 
 poisons manifest their action chiefly through the 
 nervous system. 
 
 An antidote is a remedy counteracting the 
 effects of a poison, either by uniting with it and 
 forming a harmless compound, or by exerting an 
 action upon the system which is opposed to and 
 neutralizes that of the poison. The former, 
 mainly, will concern the layman. The general 
 principles to be remembered in all cases of poison- 
 ing are, that the poison is to be neutralized and 
 removed as soon as possible ; that any irritant or 
 caustic action it may have is to be counteracted 
 by demulcent (bland, soothing) fluids ; that if col- 
 lapse or unconsciousness threaten, proper meas- 
 ures are to be adopted to combat the tendency ; 
 and that artificial respiration is to be employed if 
 necessary. 
 
 It is impracticable within the limits of this 
 manual to detail the first-aid treatment of each 
 and every case of poisoning that may occur. The 
 above rules, however, should be firmly fixed in 
 the mind of the bearer. Should he be unac- 
 quainted with the antidote to be applied in any 
 given case, he should not lose confidence, but do 
 his best in carrying out the other measures indi- 
 cated. 
 
 To illustrate the general measures mentioned, 
 the treatment in the case of certain common poi- 
 sons will be detailed in full. Such procedures only 
 will be given, however, as the layman may be ex- 
 pected safely to employ. The administration of 
 such antidotes as are themselves powerful poisons 
 
ORDINARY ACCIDENTS, ETC. POISONING. 6l 
 
 will not be advised ; it should be left to the 
 surgeon. 
 
 It should not be forgotten that when poisoning 
 has occurred the surgeon's services should be pro- 
 cured as soon as possible. 
 
 General Measures and Remedies. Under the 
 head of the various poisons, certain remedies and 
 measures of general application will be constantly 
 referred to; in order to avoid the necessity of de- 
 tailing them in full each time, it will be well to 
 consider them before taking up the subject of the 
 individual poisons. The topics in question in- 
 clude the use of emetics, certain antidotes, bland 
 liquids, stimulants, and laudanum. 
 
 Emetics. Vomiting may be produced by tick- 
 ling the throat with a feather or the finger, or by 
 administering warm water, solution of salt, mus- 
 tard, sulphate of zinc, ipecac and water. 
 
 Tickling the throat with a feather or the finger 
 will frequently bring on vomiting. When an 
 emetic has. already been given, this procedure 
 will hasten its action. 
 
 Warm water is to be given in as large quan- 
 tities as a pint at a time, repeated at intervals of 
 a minute or so. 
 
 Salt may be given in as strong solution as can 
 be made with water, a teacupful of the brine be- 
 ing administered every miniite or two. 
 
 Mustard is given with water in the proportion 
 of one tablespoonful to the pint of fluid. Copious 
 draughts of tepid water assist the emetic action. 
 
62 THE SOLDIER'S FIRST AID HANDBOOK. 
 
 The mustard, moreover, exercises a stimulating 
 influence on the system. 
 
 Sulphate of Zinc (white vitriol) is a valuable 
 emetic. It is given in twenty-grain doses (as 
 much as may be heaped on a silver quarter), 
 dissolved in water. This dose should be followed 
 by a cup of tepid water, and repeated every three 
 minutes until four doses have been given, or vom- 
 iting has occurred. 
 
 Ipecac is given with water in the proportion of 
 a teaspoonful of the powder or a tablespoonful of 
 the syrup to a pint of fluid. 
 
 Alkaline Antidotes are employed to form 
 compounds, harmless, or comparatively so, with 
 acids in cases of acid-poisoning. They include 
 ammonia diluted (a tablespoonful to two teacup- 
 fuls of water), lime-water, solution of baking-soda, 
 bicarbonate of potash, or soap and either or several 
 of the following articles mixed with water, viz : 
 chalk, whiting, whitewash, tooth-powder, plaster 
 from the walls, wood ashes, etc. In preparing the 
 mixture, no time should be lost in endeavors to 
 make a perfectly uniform one. A little grit will 
 do no harm. 
 
 Acid Antidotes are employed to form harm- 
 less or comparatively harmless compounds with 
 acids in cases of poisoning with the latter. Those 
 which the bearer should especially remember are 
 vinegar and lemon-juice. 
 
 Bland Liquids are employed to soothe the 
 membranes which have been irritated or corroded 
 by the action of a poison. They include beaten 
 
ORDINARY ACCIDENTS, ETC. POISONING. 63 
 
 eggs, oil, milk, condensed milk, gruel, barley- 
 water, arrow-root, flour and water, starch decoc- 
 tion, mucilage, etc. 
 
 Stimulants may be necessary in cases of threat- 
 ening collapse or unconsciousness. They include 
 liquors, wine, tea, coffee, and dilute ammonia (tea- 
 spoonful to a teacupful of water). Tea and coffee 
 are furthermore valuable as being antidotes to 
 several poisons, on account of the tannin they 
 contain. In preparing them no time should be 
 lost in settling or straining. Whiskey may be 
 given in teaspoonful doses, with tea or coffee, or 
 as a toddy. Stimulants may be given by the 
 bowel. 
 
 Laudanum may be given in a dose of twenty- 
 five drops in case of severe pain. This dose may 
 be repeated in thirty minutes if the pain persists 
 and drowsiness has not been caused. 
 
 Forcible Administration of Remedies. It 
 may sometimes happen that the patient through 
 perverseness or fright will refuse to open his 
 mouth and swallow the remedies tendered, or he 
 may be prevented by unconsciousness from so do- 
 ing. In either case he should be laid upon his 
 back, and the bearer should insert both thumbs 
 into his (the patient's) mouth, between the cheeks 
 and the teeth and along the line of the edges of 
 the latter, slipping the tips of the thumbs into the 
 space behind the last tooth on either side. The 
 jaws can then be readily separated, the bearer 
 running no risk of having his fingers bitten. The 
 handle of a strong spoon, a stick, a paper-cutter, 
 
64 THE SOLDIER'S FIRST AID HANDBOOK. 
 
 or other available article should then by a second 
 bearer be thrust well back upon the tongue, and 
 used as a tongue-depressor. The fluids required 
 may thus be poured down the patient's throat 
 without trouble, provided the tongue be suffi- 
 ciently depressed. 
 
 In Poisoning from Unknown Substances the 
 stomach should be cleared by vomiting, incited 
 again and again. Subsequently bland and sooth- 
 ing drinks may be given. Pain may be relieved 
 by laudanum, in doses as prescribed on page 63. 
 
 Collapse, if it occur, is to be treated like col- 
 lapse in general. The patient is to be put to bed, 
 warmth applied in the form of hot bottles, bricks, or 
 stupes, and stimulants and hot drinks (tea, coffee) 
 are to be administered. A teaspoonful of whiskey 
 may be given every ten minutes, either in hot 
 water, or in hot tea or coffee. 
 
 Corrosive Poisons include the mineral acids 
 sulphuric (oil of vitriol), nitric, and hydrochloric 
 (muriatic); oxalic acid, carbolic acid ; the alkalies 
 ammonia, soda, and potash ; corrosive sublimate, 
 nitrate of silver (lunar caustic), phosphorus, and 
 various salts of different metals. 
 
 The action of the mineral acids and the alkalies 
 is especially rapid and violent, and when they have 
 been taken undiluted, little is to be confidently 
 expected to result from the treatment adopted. 
 
 In all cases of poisoning by corrosives, it is to be 
 understood, without further specifying, that rest 
 is to be secured, and stimulants administered, if 
 necessary ; that collapse is to be treated as indi- 
 
ORDINARY ACCIDENTS, ETC. POISONING. 6$ 
 
 cated in the preceding paragraph ; and that pain is 
 to be relieved in the manner detailed on page 63. 
 
 Sulphuric, nitric, and hydrochloric acids are 
 neutralized by alkalies. The alkaline antidotes 
 mentioned on page 62 are all useful in cases of 
 poisoning with these substances, and should be 
 freely administered. 
 
 After neutralization, vomiting should be pro- 
 duced, and bland and soothing drinks subsequently 
 given. 
 
 Carbolic acid, in cases of poisoning by it, calls 
 for repeated emetic draughts and large quantities 
 of demulcent drinks. 
 
 Oxalic acid is to be neutralized by lime, as with 
 soda, ammonia, or potash salts it forms com- 
 pounds which themselves are poisonous. Chalk, 
 lime, whitening or whitewash, stirred up in water, 
 or lime-water itself, may be plentifully adminis- 
 tered. Magnesia also may be used. After thor- 
 ough neutralization, vomiting should be brought 
 on, and soothing drinks given. 
 
 Ammonia, soda, and potash, the Alkalies, are 
 to be neutralized by dilute acids. Vinegar is to 
 be given in as large quantities as a pint at a time, 
 if possible. Lemon-juice may be of value in minor 
 cases. After thorough neutralization, vomiting 
 should be excited, and demulcent drinks, espe- 
 cially olive-oil, subsequently administered. 
 
 Lye, a preparation containing alkalies, and am- 
 monia liniment are sometimes a source of alkali- 
 poisoning. 
 
 Corrosive sublimate is both neutralized by 
 
66 THE SOLDIER'S FIRST AID HANDBOOK, 
 
 white of egg (raw) in large quantities, or tannin, 
 conveniently given in the form of strong tea. 
 Vomiting should be produced as soon as possible, 
 and eggs and milk subsequently administered. 
 
 Nitrate of silver, lunar caustic, is to be neutral- 
 ized by common salt, given in solution and in 
 quantities large enough to produce vomiting at 
 the same time. Mustard or ipecac may be also 
 used as emetics. Subsequently bland drinks 
 should be administered. 
 
 Phosphorus. Poisoning by phosphorus is to 
 be treated by the administration of calcined mag- 
 nesia and water, followed first by an emetic and 
 later by demulcent drinks. No oils or fats are to 
 be given, as they facilitate the absorption of the 
 poison. 
 
 Irritant Poisons may be classed as metallic, 
 vegetable, and animal. Examples of metallic irri- 
 tants are arsenic, certain antimony, lead, and zinc 
 salts, iodine ; of vegetable, croton-oil, the essen- 
 tial oils, gamboge, etc. ; of animal, cantharides 
 (Spanish fly). 
 
 In all cases of irritant poisoning it is to be un- 
 derstood that rest is to be secured, and stimulants, 
 when necessary, are to be administered, that col- 
 lapse is to be treated and pain relieved, according 
 to the principles already laid down. 
 
 Arsenic. In poisoning by arsenic or any of its 
 preparations ( Paris green, etc.) vomiting should 
 first of all be induced. Demulcent drinks are to 
 be freely administered, as they dilute the poison, 
 protect the stomach, and facilitate vomiting. Dia- 
 
ORDINARY ACCIDENTS, ETC. POISONING. 67 
 
 lyzed iron in repeated ounce doses (two table- 
 spoonfuls) is to be given as an antidote, each dose 
 being followed by a teacupful of brine. In de- 
 fault of dialyzed iron, equal parts of the sulphate 
 of iron (green vitriol) and carbonate of soda may 
 be dissolved in separate cups of hot water, mixed 
 and administered. Large quantities of calcined 
 magnesia in water may be used if the iron prepara- 
 tions are not obtainable. After thorough neutral- 
 ization of the poison, final vomiting should be in- 
 duced, a dose of castor-oil given, and soothing 
 drinks administered. 
 
 Tartar emetic is to be neutralized by tannin 
 administered in the form of the powder itself, 
 strong tea, nut-galls, or powdered oak-bark. One 
 of the prominent symptoms of poisoning by tartar 
 emetic is vomiting ; this should be assisted by co- 
 pious draughts of tepid water or demulcent drinks. 
 A teaspoonful of tannin in water, strong green 
 tea, or half a dozen nut-galls, powdered in water, 
 etc., may then be given as an antidote. After 
 the poison has been neutralized and the stomach 
 thoroughly cleared out, demulcent drinks should 
 be administered. 
 
 Lead. Lead-poisoning is usually caused by 
 the sugar of lead, which is to be neutralized by 
 sulphuric acid in some form, or the soluble sul- 
 phates. A teaspoonful of dilute sulphuric or 
 aromatic sulphuric acid and an ounce of Epsom 
 salts in water may be administered as an antidote. 
 Vomiting is to be produced, and bland drinks 
 
68 THE SOLDIER'S FIRST AID HANDBOOK. 
 
 should be administered, together with a purgative 
 to clear the bowels. 
 
 Copper. Poisoning by copper salts is to be 
 treated by producing vomiting and administering 
 flour water, white of eggs, and milk, in large quan- 
 tities, both as antidotes and demulcents. 
 
 Iodine in the form of the tincture, taken in- 
 ternally, is to be neutralized by starch and water. 
 
 Irritant vegetable and animal substances. 
 In poisoning by these substances, which include 
 croton-oil, essential oils, cantharides, etc., free 
 vomiting should be induced, and demulcent drinks 
 given in copious quantities. 
 
 Poisoning by tainted meat, tainted fish, or 
 toadstools, etc., is to be treated by inducing free 
 vomiting, administering demulcent drinks, and 
 giving a purgative to clear the bowels. 
 
 Neurotic Poisons manifest their action mainly 
 through the nervous system ; some of them, how- 
 ever, have a local irritant action in addition. The 
 former are narcotics, simply ; the latter, irritant 
 narcotics. The best known among narcotics are 
 opium, chloral, and hydrocyanic (prussic) acid, but 
 aconite, nux vomica, belladonna, digitalis, tobacco, 
 etc., may also be cited as irritant narcotics. 
 
 In connection with vegetable poisons of the 
 neurotic class, it should be remembered that the 
 particular substances which camse poisoning are 
 such as form comparatively harmless compounds 
 with tannin : hence the efficacy of strong hot tea 
 or coffee in these cases, not only as a stimulant, 
 but as an antidote, should be borne in mind. 
 
ORDINARY ACCIDENTS, ETC. POISONING. 69 
 
 Opium. Opium is a narcotic. Opium-poison- 
 ing may be caused either by the solid opium, mor- 
 phine, laudanum, or the thousand and one pain- 
 killing preparations of the drug. 
 
 When poisoning has occurred the stomach is to 
 be promptly and repeatedly emptied by an active 
 emetic (mustard, assisted in its action by tickling 
 the throat with a feather). Tannin and strong hot 
 tea is then to be liberally given. The narcotic 
 effect of the drug must be vigorously combated. 
 The patient should be roused by flapping him 
 with a wet towel, spanking him with a brush or 
 slipper, walking him about, pinching him, shout- 
 ing at him, etc. Ammonia may be applied to the 
 nostrils, and a pint of hot tea or coffee injected 
 into the bowels. His head may be frequently 
 douched by pouring cold water from a height, the 
 patient being dried off at intervals. Artificial 
 respiration should be employed when the breath- 
 ing falls below eight a minute ; it may be contin- 
 ued for hours. Warmth is to be applied if the 
 bodily temperature fails. 
 
 Chloral calls for much the same treatment as 
 epium. 
 
 Hydrocyanic Acid, or prussic acid is so rapid 
 in its action and so readily absorbed, that there is 
 no time for the employment of emetics. The 
 bearer will have to confine himself to counteract- 
 ing the paralyzing effects of the drug by cold 
 douches, applications of ammonia to the nostrils, 
 stimulant injections into the bowels, and artificial 
 respiration. 
 
70 THE SOLDIER'S FIRST AID HANDBOOK. 
 
 Irritant Narcotics. In poisoning from aconite, 
 belladonna, atropine, nux vomica, strychnine, digi- 
 talis, tobacco, hemlock, Jamestown weed, etc., the 
 stomach is to be promptly and repeatedly emptied 
 by an emetic. Tannin, hot tea, coffee, and stim- 
 ulants are then to be administered, warmth ap- 
 plied, if necessary, and artificial respiration prac- 
 tised, if called for. The powerful antidotes are 
 not safe in the hands of the bearer, and should be 
 administered only by the surgeon. 
 
 By Poisoned Wounds are meant such as have 
 been poisoned by the instrument or agent inflict- 
 ing them. They include the bites inflicted by 
 certain animals and insects, dissection wounds, 
 etc. 
 
 The bite of a venomous serpent is to be 
 treated by preventing absorption of the poison, 
 destroying or removing it, and combating symp- 
 toms of collapse. Absorption is prevented by 
 tying a cord tightly around the limb immediately 
 above the wound. The poison may be removed 
 by forcibly sucking the wound, provided the lips 
 are not chapped or sore ; it may be destroyed by 
 burning the wound with gunpowder poured in it 
 and touched off by a live coal, etc., or by cauteriz- 
 ing with ammonia, caustic, acid. To combat the 
 constitutional symptoms of the poison, rest should 
 be secured and alcoholic stimulants given in large 
 doses until intoxication is produced, which should 
 be kept up until arrival of the surgeon. 
 
 The bite of a mad dog or other rabid ani- 
 mal requires treatment similar in principle to that 
 
ORDINARY EMERGENCIES POISONED WOUNDS. 7 1 
 
 detailed above. Alcoholic stimulants, however, 
 are not necessary. 
 
 The stings of tarantulas, centipedes, in- 
 sects, etc., are to be treated with cold applica- 
 tions. Hartshorn applied to the part will neu- 
 tralize the poison. 
 
 Rhus Poisoning. Poison-ivy, poison-oak, and 
 poison-sumach often produce an eruption of the 
 skin attended with a good deal of redness, itching, 
 swelling, and even blistering. 
 
 Weak alkaline solutions, lime-water, applied on 
 lint, are useful. Laudanum maybe used to re- 
 lieve pain. 
 
 TABLE OF POISONS. 
 
 NAME. FIRST-AID TREATMENT. 
 
 Induce vomiting repeatedly, 
 Give bland and soothing 
 drinks, 
 
 UNKNOWN i Relieve pain, 
 
 Stimulate in case of collapse, 
 Employ artificial respiration 
 if necessary. 
 
 CORROSIVES. 
 
 {Give alkaline antidotes, 
 Induce vomiting, 
 Give bland liquids, 
 Stimulate if necessary, 
 Secure rest, 
 Relieve pain. 
 
 Give mixture of water and 
 chalk, magnesia, lime, or 
 whitewash, or lime-water, 
 
 Give no alkalies, 
 
 Oxalic., 
 
 Induce vomiting, 
 Give soothing drinks, 
 Stimulate, if necessary, 
 Secure rest, 
 Relieve pain f 
 
72 THE SOLDIER'S FIRST AID HANDBOOK. 
 
 Alkalies : 
 
 Ammori a, 
 
 Soda, 
 
 Potash, 
 
 Lye, 
 
 Hartshorn liniment, 
 
 Corrosive sublimate. 
 
 Nitrate of silver (lunar caustic). 
 
 NAME. FIRST AID TREA TMENT. 
 
 CORROSIVES. 
 
 Give acid antidotes, especially 
 
 vinegar, 
 
 Induce vomiting, 
 Give bland liquids (e.g., sweet 
 
 oil), 
 
 Secure rest, 
 
 Stimulate, if necessary, 
 Relieve pain. 
 
 Give whites of egg (raw), or 
 tannin (solution, strong 
 tea, coffee), 
 
 Induce vomiting, 
 
 Give eggs and milk, 
 
 Give a dose of castor-oil, 
 
 Secure rest, 
 
 Relieve pain. 
 
 Give solution of salt in large 
 quantities, as antidote 
 and emetic, 
 
 Giye soothing drinks. 
 
 Give calcined magnesia in 
 
 water, 
 Phosphorus j Induce vomiting, 
 
 Give bland liquids (no oils of 
 fats). 
 
 IRRITANT POISONS. 
 
 Induce vomiting at once, 
 Give the "antidote for arsen- 
 ical poisoning" on hand 
 in dispensary, 
 Dialyzed iron, or 
 Calcined magnesia, 
 Induce vomiting after each 
 
 dose of the antidote, 
 Give a dose of castor-oil, 
 Soothing drinks, 
 Stimulate, if necessary, 
 Relieve pain, 
 Secure rest. 
 Give tannin (as solution, 
 
 strong tea, coffee), 
 Encourage vomiting, by large 
 draughts of tepid water, 
 or bland liquids, 
 Give soothing drinks, 
 A dose of castor oil, and 
 Stimulants, if necessary. 
 
 Arsenic, ) 
 Paris green. ] 
 
 Tartar emetic. 
 
TABLE OF 
 
 NAME. FIRST < 
 
 IRRITANT POISONS. 
 
 Give Epsom salts, in water, 
 
 Lead preparations (sugar of ) 
 lead, etc.) f 
 
 Essential oils, 
 Croton oil, 
 Cantharides 
 
 (Spanish fly). 
 Tainted meat, ) 
 Tainted fish, V 
 Toadstools. ) 
 
 Induce vomiting, 
 Give soothing drinks, 
 Dose of castor-oil. 
 Induce vomiting, 
 Give flour and water, 
 
 Copper preparations -i White of eggs (raw), or 
 
 Milk in copious quantities, 
 Dose of castor-oil. 
 
 T j. j Give starch and water, 
 
 ne } Induce vomiting. 
 
 (Induce free vomiting, 
 Give bland drinks in copious 
 quantities, 
 Relieve pain. 
 ( Induce free vomiting, 
 
 < Give bland liquids, 
 
 ( Castor-oil (a dose). 
 
 NEUROTIC POISONS. 
 
 Induce vomiting by giving 
 mustard-water and tick- 
 ling throat, 
 Give tannin (solution, strong 
 
 tea, coffee), 
 Keep patient aroused, 
 Employ artificial respiration, 
 Apply warmth, 
 L Stimulate, 
 f Induce vomiting, 
 
 JKeep patient aroused, 
 Employ artificial respiration, 
 j Apply warmth, 
 L Stimulate. 
 
 {Apply ammonia to nostril, 
 Employ stimulant injections 
 into bowel, 
 Artificial respiration. 
 
 IRRITANT NARCOTICS. 
 
 Induce vomiting, 
 
 Give tannin (solution, hot tea, 
 
 coffee), 
 Stimulants, 
 
 Apply warmth to body, 
 Artificial respiration, 
 Secure rest, 
 Relieve pain. 
 
 otics : 1 
 
 ium, 
 
 ndanum, f 
 
 >rphine. J 
 
 Narcotics : 
 Opium, 
 Laudanum 
 Morphi 
 
 Cyanides. 
 
 Aconite (monk's-hood), 
 
 Belladonna (nightshade), 
 
 Atropine, 
 
 Nux vomica, 
 
 Strychnine, 
 
 Hemlock, 
 
 Jamestown weed, etc. 
 
74 THE SOLDIER'S FIRST AID HANDBOOK. 
 
 NAME. FIRST AID TREATMENT. 
 
 POISONED WOUNDS. 
 
 Tie cord tightly around limb 
 
 above wound, 
 Cauterize wound with acid, 
 
 ammonia, live coal, 
 
 Bites of venomous serpents. . , 
 
 Touch off gunpowder in 
 
 wound, 
 Suck wound if lips are not 
 
 chapped or teeth hollow, 
 Cut out the part bitten, 
 Produce intoxication. 
 
 Treat as above, with the ex-, 
 
 Bites of rabid animals -J ception of producing in< 
 
 toxication. 
 
 f Apply ammonia, 
 
 Stings of tarantulas, centi- ) ) Employ cold applications, 
 pedes, insects. 'I Stimulate, if depression is 
 
 caused. 
 
 FOREIGN BODIES IN THE EYE, EAR, 
 OR NOSE. 
 
 Foreign Bodies in the Eye, such as cinders, 
 sand, chips of metal, etc., may be removed in 
 various ways. Frequently the eye relieves itself 
 of the irritating substance by washing it out with 
 a copious flow of tears. 
 
 Should this natural method of dislodgement 
 fail, and the foreign body is seen on the globe of 
 the eye, it may be brushed away with a camel's- 
 hair pencil or the corner of a handkerchief; if 
 partly imbedded, it should be lifted out with the 
 point of a lancet or scalpel, the instrument being 
 applied on the flat and used with extreme 
 caution. 
 
 Again, the upper eyelid may be seized by the 
 lashes and drawn down over the lower one. 
 When it is released, its under surface is swept by 
 
FOREIGN BODIES IN THE EYE, EAR, OR NOSE. 75 
 
 the lower eyelashes, and if the foreign body is 
 within reach, it will probably be caught, as on a 
 brush. 
 
 Another method of removing a foreign body 
 from the under surface of the upper eyelid is as 
 follows : 
 
 The upper eyelid being drawn down, a probe, 
 slender pencil, toothpick, or match is placed 
 firmly against it, parallel to its edge, and close to 
 the margin of the orbit. The upper lashes are 
 then seized by the disengaged hand, the patient 
 is instructed to look downwards, and the lid is 
 then gently folded backward over the probe or 
 its substitute. The foreign body is then to be 
 brushed away with a camel's-hair pencil, or the 
 corner of a handkerchief, or, if imbedded, care- 
 fully removed with the flat surface of a blunt- 
 edged scalpel, lancet, or pen-knife. 
 
 The under surface of the lower eyelid is very 
 readily examined. 
 
 After removal of a foreign body the irritation 
 caused by it may be soothed by instilling a few 
 drops of olive- or castor-oil, and, if necessary, by 
 cold applications. 
 
 It must be borne in mind that often after re- 
 moval of a foreign body a sensation remains as if 
 it were still present. 
 
 When caustic substances like lime, ammonia, 
 and acids have entered the eye, the organ should 
 be promptly deluged with water. Lime and am- 
 monia are then to be neutralized by diluted vine- 
 gar or lemon-juige (teaspoonful to teacupful of 
 
76 THE SOLDIER'S FIRST AID HANDBOOK. 
 
 water), and acids by weak solutions of bicarbonate 
 of soda. 
 
 Foreign Bodies in the Ear. Insects in the 
 ear may be dislodged by holding the head with 
 the affected ear upward and filling the canal with 
 warm oil, glycerine, or salt and water. The in- 
 sect will in short time drown and float to the 
 surface of the fluid, when it may easily be re- 
 moved. 
 
 Wax is to be softened by oil dropped into the 
 canal, which is then to be plugged with a pledget 
 of cotton; after a number of hours the pledget 
 may be removed, and the canal syringed out with 
 warm water until the wax is discharged. 
 
 Bodies within easy reach may be removed by 
 the forceps or a hair-pin. 
 
 If the foreign body is not accessible, the ear 
 should be carefully syringed. 
 
 In syringing the ear, the method to be pur- 
 sued is as follows : 
 
 The patient or an assistant holds a cup or ves- 
 sel under the ear to catch the fluid. The bearer 
 seizes the lobe of the ear and draws it upward, 
 outward, and backward, in order to straighten out 
 the canal. The point of the ear syringe is directed 
 successively to every side of the foreign body, 
 care being taken not to use too much force in de- 
 livering the stream of warm water. 
 
 Instead of the ear syringe a Davidson or foun- 
 tain syringe may be used, the head of the patient 
 being held face downward. The nozzle of the 
 syringe, however, is not to be introduced into the 
 
FOREIGN BODIES IN THE EYE, EAR, OR NOSE. 77 
 
 canal, as it might prevent the escape of the for- 
 eign body. 
 
 Foreign Bodies in the Nose. In cases of for- 
 eign body in the nostril, the bearer should close 
 the affected nostril with the finger and instruct 
 the patient (generally a child) to take a deep 
 breath. Then removing his finger, closing the 
 other nostril with it, and the mouth with his 
 hand, he causes the patient to exhale forcibly, 
 clapping him smartly on the back as he does so. 
 By this procedure the foreign body may be dis- 
 lodged. 
 
 If the object is near the opening of the nostril, 
 the bearer may, with his fingers, compress the 
 nose above it and effect removal by means of a 
 pair of forceps, hair-pin, toothpick, bent wire. 
 
 The surgeon's services should be obtained 
 without delay if the above measures prove un- 
 successful. 
 
 MISCELLANEOUS HINTS. 
 
 Constipation. A Seidlitz powder taken before 
 breakfast will relieve a mild constipation. A 
 tablespoonful of Rochelle or Epsom salts before 
 breakfast, a teaspoonful of compound liquorice 
 powder, three or four compound cathartic pills 
 late at night, or a tablespoonful of castor-oil are 
 safe purgatives. 
 
 Colic is a violent pain in the bowels caused by 
 the presence of undigested food. A dose of castor- 
 oil will remove the offending material Hot ap- 
 
78 THE SOLDIER'S FIRST AID HANDBOOK. 
 
 plications may be applied to the belly if practi- 
 cable, and a teaspoonful of Squibb's mixture, ginger 
 essence, given in water. 
 
 In Cholera Morbus the first thing to do gen- 
 erally is to subdue the pain. Half a teaspoonful 
 of laudanum, a quarter of a grain of morphine, or a 
 teaspoonful of Squibb's mixture diluted may be 
 given at once. At the same time hot applica- 
 tions should be applied to the belly if practicable. 
 Stimulants may be necessary in case of collapse. 
 
 Diarrhoea is often an effort of nature to rid 
 the bowels of hurtful material. To encourage 
 this effort, a dose of castor-oil may be given. If, 
 after the oil has acted, diarrhoea still persists, a 
 teaspoonful of Squibb's mixture diluted, or a 
 camphor and opium pill, may be administered, to 
 be repeated in an hour or two, if necessary. 
 
 THE SIGNS OF DEATH. 
 
 The Signs of Death. Frequently the occur- 
 rence of death will be immediately apparent from 
 the character of existing wounds or injuries : 
 should this not be the case, the bearer will look 
 for absence of circulation of the blood, absence of 
 breathing, general ashy paleness of the skin, and 
 its deep discoloration from settling of the blood in 
 those parts which in the position of the body are 
 undermost ; dulness and glazing of the eye, cooling 
 of the body; the rigor mortis, or death-stiffness 
 coming on, as a rule, after some hours ; and finally 
 putrefaction. 
 
ORDINARY ACCIDENTS AND EMERGENCIES. 79 
 
 Absence of circulation, clearly shown, is a posi- 
 tive sign of death. Cessation of the action of the 
 heart may be established by listening carefully 
 over the region of the heart for its sounds, or feel- 
 ing for its beat to the left of the breast-bone in 
 the space between the fifth and sixth rib. 
 
 Absence of breathing will be apparent from 
 the following: The sound of breathing cannot be 
 heard when the ear is applied to the chest, and no 
 chest motion is perceptible. A mirror or highly 
 polished surface held to the mouth will not be- 
 come coated with a film of moisture, as it would if 
 held to the mouth of a breathing person. A tuft of 
 down, etc., placed upon the lips will fail to dis- 
 close any movement of air-currents. 
 
 The bearer will do well not to rely upon any 
 limited number of signs. The above are the prin- 
 cipal ones ; putrefaction is not necessary to estab- 
 lish death when they are associated with a num- 
 ber of the others. 
 
BOOKS OF REFERENCE. 
 
 Encyclopaedic Index of Medicine and Surgery. Bermingham. 
 
 Reference Handbook of Medical Sciences. Buck. 
 
 Physiology. Dalton. 
 
 What to do First in Emergencies. Dulles. 
 
 Manual of Drill for the Hospital Corps and Company Bearers. 
 
 Havard. 
 
 Instruktionsbuch fiir den Krankentrftger. Hering. 
 The Surgeon's Handbook. Porter. 
 Handbook for the Hospital Corps. Smart. 
 Military Hygiene. Woodhull. 
 
 81 
 
INDEX. 
 
 A. 
 
 PACE 
 
 Abdomen, organs of 15-18 
 
 " wounds of 23 
 
 " " '' position of patient upon litter in 
 
 cases of 22, 23 
 
 Accident, general rules in cases of 46 
 
 Acids, poisoning by 64, 65, 69, 71 , 72 
 
 " in the eye 75 
 
 " as antidotes 62 
 
 Aconite, poisoning by 7~73 
 
 Administration, forcible, of remedies 63 
 
 Aid, first, on the battle-field 21-23 
 
 Alkalies, poisoning by 65-72 
 
 Ammonia, poisoning by 65-72 
 
 " in the eye 75 
 
 Animation, suspended 43~45 
 
 Antidotes, classification of 62, 71-74 
 
 " alkaline 62-72 
 
 " acid 62-71 
 
 Aorta 14-18 
 
 Apoplexy 48, 49 
 
 Arsenic, poisoning by 66-72 
 
 Arteries, the 18-20 
 
 " bleeding from (see Hemorrhage) 27 
 
 " location of the principal 18-20 
 
 Artificial respiration 44 
 
 Asphyxia 51-54 
 
 83 
 
84 INDEX. 
 
 PACK 
 
 Astringents 78 
 
 Atropine, poisoning by 7O-73 
 
 Axis, cerebro-spinal n 
 
 B. 
 
 Backbone 5 
 
 Bandage, roller 25 
 
 " triangular 26 
 
 " elastic 26 
 
 Bearers, equipment of 24 
 
 " limitation of duties of 24 
 
 " Company 24 
 
 " " duties of 21-23 
 
 Belladonna, poisoning by 68-73 
 
 Belly, the 15-18 
 
 " " wounds of the 23 
 
 " " " " " position of patient upon litter in. 23-35 
 
 Bending of limb to produce pressure upon artery 30, 31 
 
 Bile 16 
 
 Bile-duct 16 
 
 Bite of serpent 7O~74 
 
 " mad dog or other rabid animal 70, 71-74 
 
 Bladder, the 17 
 
 Bland liquids 62, 63 
 
 Blisters, from marching , . .. .57, 58 
 
 Blisters, puncture of 58 
 
 Bleeding (see Hemorrhage) 58, 59 
 
 Blood-vessels, location of principal 18-20 
 
 Body, the human 2-20 
 
 Bones, the 2-8 
 
 Bowels, the 16 
 
 " " bleeding from 59 
 
 Brain, the 10, II 
 
 " compression of > .... 48 
 
 " concussion of 48 
 
 Breathing .. 13 
 
 " rate of 13 
 
 " artificial (see Respiration, artificial) 44> 45 
 
INDEX. 85 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Bruises 34 
 
 Burns 55, 5& 
 
 C. 
 
 Canal, spinal 5 
 
 Canthandes, poisoning by 66, 73 
 
 Capillaries, the 14 
 
 Capsule of joint 8 
 
 Carbolic acid, poisoning by 65 
 
 Cartilage 6 
 
 Caustics in the eye 75 
 
 Chest, the 5, 12 
 
 " bones of the 5 
 
 " organs of the 12 
 
 Chilblains 57 
 
 Chloral 69 
 
 Choking 54 
 
 Cholera Morbus 78 
 
 Circulation, the general I3~i5 J 8, 19 
 
 " systemic 13, 14, 18, 19 
 
 " pulmonary 13-15 
 
 Coffee, hot, as an antidote 63, 64, 69, 70, 72, 73 
 
 Colic 77 
 
 Collapse (see Shock) 33, 37, 38 
 
 Column, spinal 5, n 
 
 Compound fractures 38, 39 
 
 Compress 25 
 
 Compression of the brain 48 
 
 Concussion of thv, brain 48 
 
 Connective tissue 9 
 
 Consciousness, loss of 47 
 
 Constipation 77 
 
 Contusions 34 
 
 Copper, poisoning by 68, 73 
 
 Cord spinal n 
 
 Corps, Hospital 24, 25 
 
 Corrosive sublimate, poisoning by 65 , 66 
 
 Cranium, the 3 
 
 " bones of the 3 
 
86 INDEX. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Cranium, organs of the cavity of the 10, 1 1 
 
 Crepitus 38 
 
 Croton-oil, poisoning by 66, 73 
 
 Cuts 15, 23, 27, 35 
 
 Cut belly, position of patient in transportation 35 
 
 Cut throat, position in which head should be kept in 23 
 
 D. 
 
 Death, signs of 78, 79 
 
 Diaphragm 12 
 
 Diarrhoea 18 
 
 Digitalis, poisoning by 68, 73 
 
 Dislocation 43 
 
 Dog, bite of mad .70, 74 
 
 Dressing station 22 
 
 Drowning .51-53 
 
 Drunkenness 50 
 
 E. 
 
 Ear, foreign bodies in the 76, 77 
 
 Emetics applicable in cases of poisoning. . . 61, 62 
 
 Epileptic fit 50 
 
 Equipment, the bearer's 24 
 
 Esmarch's package 24 
 
 Essential oils, poisoning by 68, 73 
 
 Excretions 1 7, 54 
 
 Exhaustion from heat 49, 50 
 
 Eye, foreign bodies in the 74, 75 
 
 F. 
 
 Face, the 4 
 
 " bones of 4 
 
 Fainting 33 
 
 Feet, soreness of the 57 
 
 Fish, tainted, poisoning by 68 
 
 Fingers, used to apply pressure 7, 28-31 
 
 Fit, epileptic 50 
 
 Flexion of limb to produce pressure upon artery 30, 31 
 
INDEX. 87 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Foreign bodies in the eye 74, 75 
 
 " " ear 76,77 
 
 " nose 77 
 
 " " windpipe and gullet 54 
 
 Foxglove, poisoning by 70, 73 
 
 Fractures in general 38 
 
 special 39-42 
 
 " compound 38, 42 
 
 " position of patient upon litter in cases of 39 
 
 Freezing 56 
 
 Frost-bites 56,57 
 
 G. 
 
 Gall-bladder 16 
 
 Gases, suffocation caused by 53 
 
 Gastric juice 16 
 
 Glands 17 
 
 Gristle 6 
 
 Gullet 16 
 
 H. 
 
 Handkerchief to produce pressure in hemorrhage 29 
 
 Hanging, strangulation from 53 
 
 Head, organs of the lesser cavities of the 12 
 
 Heat exhaustion ,..49,50 
 
 Heart, the 13-15 
 
 Hemlock, poisoning by 70, 73 
 
 Hemorrhage, capillary 27,31-33 
 
 in general 26-30 
 
 " venous 28 
 
 " arterial 28-30 
 
 " from the artery of the neck 30 
 
 " " " " " arm in its uppermost 
 
 portion 30 
 
 Hemorrhage from the artery of the arm in its lower por- 
 tion 31 
 
 Hemorrhage from the arteries of the fore-arm 31 
 
 " " " hand. ..... , ...... ,, 31 
 
88 INDEX. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Hemorrhage from the thigh 32 
 
 " " leg 32 
 
 " " foot 32 
 
 internal 32 
 
 " on reaction from fainting 33 
 
 from the nose 58 
 
 " " lungs 58,59 
 
 " " " stomach 59 
 
 " " '* bowels 59 
 
 " " great cavities, position of patient 
 
 upon litter in cases of . . . . , 22, 35 
 
 Hydrochloric acid, poisoning by 65, 71 
 
 Hydrocyanic acid, poisoning by 68, 73 
 
 I. 
 
 Insects, in ear 76 
 
 sting of 71, 74 
 
 Insensibility 48,49 
 
 Intestines 35 
 
 Intoxication 50 
 
 Ipecac as an emetic 62 
 
 j. 
 
 Jamestown weed, poisoning by 70, 73 
 
 Joints, the 8 
 
 " parts forming 8 
 
 Juice, gastric 16 
 
 K. 
 
 Kidneys, the 17 
 
 Knotted cloth used to apply pressure in hemorrhage 29 
 
 L. 
 
 Laudanum, use of, in case of pain from poisoning 63, 71 
 
 poisoning by 73 
 
 Lead, poisoning by ,.,., 67 
 
INDEX. 89 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Ligaments, the , 8 
 
 Limbs, upper, bones of t . . . 6 
 
 11 lower, bones of 6 
 
 Lime in the eye 75 
 
 Lint and its substitutes 25,35 
 
 Liquids, bland 62, 63 
 
 Litter, position of wounded upon 22, 23 
 
 Liver, the 1 6 
 
 Lungs, the , 12, 13 
 
 " bleeding from 58,59 
 
 " position of patient upon litter in cases of wound of, 23 
 
 Lye, poisoning by 65, 72 
 
 Lymphatics, the 10 
 
 M. 
 
 Meat, tainted, poisoning by 68 
 
 Medicine chest, the bearer's 24 
 
 Membranes of brain 10 
 
 Method, Silvester's 44, 45 
 
 Midriff, the 12 
 
 Morphine, poisoning by 68, 73 
 
 Muriatic (hydrochloric) acid, poisoning by 64, 71 
 
 Muscles, the 9 
 
 N. 
 
 Neck, position in which head should be kept in wounds of 
 
 front of 23 
 
 Nerves ro-i 2 
 
 Nitrate of silver, poisoning by 64, 66, 72 
 
 Nitric acid, poisoning by 71 
 
 Nose, bleeding from 58 
 
 " foreign body in 77 
 
 O. 
 
 Oil, Croton, poisoning by 68, 73 
 
 Oils, essential, poisoning by 68, 73 
 
QO INDEX. 
 
 PACK 
 
 Oil of vitriol (sulphuric acid), poisoning by 65, 71 
 
 Opium, poisoning by 69, 73 
 
 Oxalic acid, poisoning by 65, 71 
 
 P. 
 
 Package, Esmarch's , 24 
 
 Pad and bandage, to produce pressure in hemorrhage 29, 30 
 
 Pancreas, the 17 
 
 Paris green, poisoning by 66, 72 
 
 Parts, the soft 9 
 
 Pelvic cavity, organs of 15-17 
 
 Pelvis, bones of 6 
 
 Peritoneum, the 18 
 
 Phosphorus, poisoning by 66 
 
 Pleurae, the 12 
 
 Plug and bandage to produce pressure in hemorrhage. ... 28 
 
 Poisoning 59-74 
 
 " definition of a poison 59 
 
 " classification of poisons 59 
 
 " general measures and remedies 60, 61 
 
 " by unknown substances .... 64 
 
 " by corrosive substances 64 
 
 sulphuric, nitric, and hydrochloric acids. ... 64 
 
 carbolic acid 65 
 
 " oxalic acid 65 
 
 ammonia, potash, and soda 65 
 
 " corrosive sublimate 65, 66 
 
 " lunar caustic, nitrate of silver 66 
 
 phosphorus 66 
 
 " by irritant metallic substances 66 
 
 arsenic 66, 72 
 
 " tartar emetic 67,72 
 
 " lead 67,73 
 
 " copper 68,73 
 
 " by irritant vegetable and animal substance^. ..68, 73 
 " by tainted meat, tainted fish, toadstools. ... ..68, 73 
 
 " by narcotics 68,73 
 
 " opium , 69, 73 
 
INDEX. 91 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Poisoning by chloral 69, 73 
 
 " hydrocyanic or prussic acid 69,73 
 
 " by irritant narcotics. . . . 70, 73 
 
 " aconite, belladonna, digitalis 70,73 
 
 Jamestown weed, hemlock, etc 70, 73 
 
 Poison ivy and poison-oak eruption 71 
 
 Poisoned wounds 70, 74 
 
 Potash, poisoning by 65, 72 
 
 Powder for sore feet 57, 58 
 
 Pressure, methods of applying, in hemorrhage 28-33 
 
 Prussic (hydrocyanic) acid, poisoning by 69, 73 
 
 R. 
 
 Respiration, rate of -13 
 
 artificial 44 
 
 Sylvester's method of artificial 44, 45 
 
 " (see Breathing) 13 
 
 Rhus poisoning 71 
 
 S. 
 
 Salt as an emetic 61 
 
 Scalds 56 
 
 Secretions 17 
 
 Seizures, epileptic 50 
 
 Seminal vesicles 17 
 
 Serum 18 
 
 Shock accompanying severe injury. 37 
 
 " fright, despondency, hunger, and thirst as favoring, 37,38 
 
 " as a result of extensive burns or scalds 56 
 
 Silver, nitrate of, poisoning by 66, 72 
 
 Silvester's method 44, 45 
 
 Skeleton, the 2, 3 
 
 Skin, the 9, 10 
 
 Skull, the 3, 4, 10 
 
 Snake-bites 70, 74 
 
 Soda, poisoning by 65,72 
 
 Soft parts, the 9-11 
 
92 INDEX. 
 
 PACK 
 
 Soreness of the feet 57 
 
 Spine 5,11 
 
 Spinal column 5 
 
 " cavity, organs of 10 
 
 Spleen, the 17 
 
 Splints 26 
 
 " improvised 26, 39-42 
 
 Sprains 42 
 
 Stimulants in cases of poisoning 63, 66, 68-73 
 
 Stings, of tarantulas, centipedes, insects, etc 71, 74 
 
 Strangulation from hanging 53 
 
 Stomach, the , . 16 
 
 " bleeding from 59 
 
 Strychnine, poisoning by 68, 73 
 
 Stunning (see Concussion of the Brain) , . 48 
 
 Styptics. . , 25, 27, 29 
 
 Sublimate, corrosive, poisoning by 64, 72 
 
 Suffocation with gases 53 
 
 from foreign bodies in windpipe or gullet 54 
 
 Sugar of lead, poisoning by 67, 73 
 
 Sulphate of zinc, as an emetic. 62 
 
 Sulphuric acid, poisoning by 64, 65, 71 
 
 Sunstroke 49 
 
 Sutures of the skull 4 
 
 T. 
 
 Tannin as an antidote 67, 72, 73 
 
 Tartar emetic, poisoning by 67, 72 
 
 Tea, hot, as an antidote 68, 69, 72, 73 
 
 Teeth, the 4 
 
 Temperature, normal, of the body 15 
 
 Thorax, the 5 
 
 " bones of the 5,6 
 
 " organs of the cavity of the 12-15 
 
 Tickling the throat to produce vomiting 61, 69, 73 
 
 Tourniquet 26, 29-32, 37 
 
 Tobacco, poisoning by 70, 73 
 
INDEX. 93 
 
 U. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Unconsciousness 47 
 
 " position of patient upon litter in cases of, 47,48 
 
 Ureters 17 
 
 Urethra 17 
 
 Urine, the 17 
 
 " daily quantity of 17 
 
 V. 
 
 Veins, the 14, 20 
 
 " location of principal 14, 18, 19, 20 
 
 " bleeding from 15,27,28 
 
 Vomiting, how produced 61, 62, 66, 69 
 
 when to be produced 64-74 
 
 W. 
 
 Warm water as an emetic 61, 62, 72 
 
 Wax in ear 76 
 
 Windlass, Spanish 26, 29-32 
 
 Wounds in general 21, 27, 33 
 
 " contused 34 
 
 " incised 35 
 
 " punctured 35 
 
 " lacerated 36 
 
 " gunshot 36 
 
 " poisoned 70 
 
 " of belly 23, 35 
 
 " position of patient upon litter in cases of 23, 35 
 
 Wounded in battle, general management of 21-23 
 
 Z 
 Zinc sulphate as an emetic 62 
 
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