Manual of Military Training Part 132

=1510. Scratches of cats and other animals.= Apply tincture of iodine or wash with soap and water.

=1511. Shock.= In case of collapse following an accident, treat the accident; then treat as for fainting. Apply hot plates, stones or bottles of hot water, or an electric light wrapped in towels over the stomach. Wrap up warmly. Keep the patient quiet, in the dark, and send for a doctor.

=1512. Snow or sun blindness.= Smear the nose and face about the eyes with charcoal, and wear a cloth over the face with small holes for the eyes.

=1513. Sore throat.= Gargling with hot strong tea or hot water and salt is often effective.

Listerine diluted in water and used as a gargle is also good.

Peroxide of hydrogen is a good gargle.

=1514. Spider bite.= Apply a cloth dampened with alcohol or weak ammonia and water.

=1515. Suffocation by gas.= See "Asphyxiation by gas."

=1516. Sprains.= The regular medical treatment is to plunge a sprained ankle, wrist or finger, into water as hot as can be borne at the start, and to raise the heat gradually thereafter to the limit of endurance. Continue for half an hour, then put the joint in a hot wet bandage, reheat from time to time, and support the limb in an elevated position,--the leg on a chair or stool; the arm carried in a sling. In a day or two begin gently moving and kneading the joint, and rub with liniment, oil or vaseline.

As a soothing application for sprains, bruises, etc., the virtues of witch hazel are well known.

=1517. Stings.= Stings of bees, jelly fish and other stinging animals are treated with a very weak solution of ammonia in water applied as a lotion. Or apply a very weak solution of carbolic acid in water, a strong solution of baking powder, a slice of crushed raw onion, a moist quid of tobacco, witch hazel, listerine, or a paste of clay.

Before applying any of these remedies, extract the sting, if left in the wound. Also, work out as much of the poison as possible by ma.s.saging and sucking the wound.

=1518. Sunburn.= Treat with witch hazel or listerine or vinegar well diluted with water.

=1519. Sunstroke.= In sunstroke the man has a blazing red face, dry, burning hot skin; agitated heart; snoring breathing; a high fever, and is unconscious and delirious. _What is the matter?_ The part of the brain which regulates the heat of the body is overcome by the heat and loses control,--the man is entirely too hot all the way through.

_Treatment._ First of all remove the pack and shoes and loosen the clothing. Then souse the man, clothing and all, with water. Lay him in the shade and fan him, keeping him covered and wet. This will cool him off without chilling too much. If possible, rub the chest and legs, but not the belly, with ice.

=1520. Wounds.= Wounds may be made in every degree of size, from the jab of a splinter to the loss of a part of the body from shrapnel.

No matter what form of the wound or the cause, we know the following fact to be of the utmost importance: A wound without germs in it will heal rapidly without pain, redness, heat, or pus and the patient will have no fever. He will eat his regular meals and act as though well.

Such wounds we see made by surgeons when operating. On the other hand, wounds infected with germs are painful, hot, angry, red, and swollen and form large quant.i.ties of pus or matter.

Pus is a mixture of germs, blood and the flesh that they have destroyed. This pus prevents wounds from healing and often burrows under the skin, forming abcesses which cause fever and chills, and the pus enters the blood causing delirium and death.

Our one aim in treating wounds is to keep out germs, and we accomplish this by means of the first aid packet.

=1521. The first aid packet= consists of two gauze compresses sewed to two cotton bandages. They are sealed in wax paper. There are also two safety pins wrapped in wax paper. These articles are placed in an airtight metal case which protects them from contamination.

Now, the one important fact about this first aid packet is that the bandage compresses and safety pins have been _sterilized_,--that is, they contain no living germs of any kind. It is, therefore, perfectly safe to put on a wound, _provided the pad touches the wound before it touches anything else and provided that the wound has not been handled_. Therefore, do not wash a fresh clean wound.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 18

_First Aid Packet_

After the removal of packet from tin can, open the wax paper and hold the package as shown.

1. Left hand holds the wax paper.

2. Right hand holds the bandage.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 19

_First Aid Packet_

Shake out packet with right hand so that the pad (or compress) does not touch anything until placed on the wound.]

CAUTION. Have the wound ready before you open the packet. Do not touch the gauze pad with ANYTHING. Do not breathe on it, and be especially careful not to cough or sneeze over it. These things put germs on it which will grow in the wound.

By observing these instructions you may save a man's life. By not observing them, you may cause his death, or cause him much pain and suffering.

The life of a wounded man is often in the hands of the first one who attends him.

It is said that since the adoption of the first aid packet by armies, it has done more than everything else to save the lives of those wounded in battle by preventing the infection of wounds.

In an emergency a pad from any kind of cloth may be boiled for ten minutes to kill the germs, the water drained off to allow it to cool, and then placed on the wound. Or, the pad may be held over a clear fire until it is fairly scorched; then let it cool. A little charring of the surface will do no harm. Any kind of bandage may then be used to hold it in place.

When a bullet strikes a man first, the wound is clean cut and germ free and it will heal rapidly. If, however, it strikes something first, and bounces off (ricochets) and then strikes a man, it will be knocked into an irregular shape and, therefore, cause a ragged wound with much bruising. What is more important, such a bullet will carry germs into the wound from the object struck, and almost surely some shreds of clothing.

When a wound is infected it is extremely difficult to kill the germs (disinfect). Such a wound, before applying the first aid dressing should be painted with a tincture of iodine, or alcohol or be well washed with boiled salt water.

=1522.= The ill.u.s.trations below show improvised litters.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 20

_Litter made of one-half shelter tent, three shelter tent pins and one tent or other pole_

_Litter made of two poles, two coats and one belt. The coats are b.u.t.toned and the sleeves turned inside out, the poles being run through the sleeves. The belt is used as a head rest_

_The coat litter in use_]

PART VI

MILITARY COURTESY AND KINDRED SUBJECTS

CHAPTER I

MILITARY DEPORTMENT AND APPEARANCE--PERSONAL CLEANLINESS--FORMS OF SPEECH--DELIVERY OF MESSAGES, ETC.