Sometimes bleeding may cause trouble.  Usually, hot water constantly applied will stop it.  Pressing above the part will often stop bleeding.  If an artery is cut it will spurt red blood.  The artery should be tied and pressure made upon the limb above the cut toward the body; or tying the limb tight.  If a finger or toe is cut and bleeds much, press on each side.  The arteries are there.  Put the limb high and the head low.  Bandaging a limb tight, beginning at the end, often stops bleeding.  Stimulants’ are sometimes necessary for a time.

Punctured Wounds.—­From a sharp pointed instrument, nail, etc.  The first thing to do is to cleanse the wound thoroughly with hot water and about one-half ounce of salt to a pint of water.  Keep this up constantly for one-half hour.  Then if it is from a nail, put on a bread and milk poultice hot, and keep changing it every ten minutes to keep it good and hot.  Keep this going for at least an hour.  Salt pork can then be put on and kept on; or a cloth dipped in hot salt water can be applied, and kept on for a few hours when it can be dressed as other wounds are.  There should be no throbbing pain the next day.  A wound of this kind should be dressed every day, with great care in the matter of cleanliness.  It is lack of cleanliness that usually causes trouble, either the poison that gets into the wound at the time of injury or that is allowed to get in and infect the wound afterwards.  Clean hands, tools, basins, dressings and boiled water are essential to a quick healing.

Rusty Nail Wound, Simple Guard Against Serious Results from.—­“Every little while we read of someone who has run a rusty nail in his foot or some other part of his person, and lockjaw has resulted therefrom.  All such wounds can be healed without any fatal consequences following them.  It is only necessary to smoke such wounds or any wound or bruise that is inflamed, with burning wood or woolen cloth.  Twenty minutes in the smoke will take the pain out of the worst case of inflammation arising from any wound I ever saw.”  Put on a poultice of bread and milk, changing every five or ten minutes.  After this bind on salt pork and keep on for several days.

[394 Mothers’ remedies]

Mothers’ remedies. 1.  Cuts, Iodoform and Vaselin Salve for Barb Wire.—­

“Iodoform     1 teaspoonful. 
Vaselin       1 ounce.”

Before applying the above salve it is very necessary to cleanse the affected parts with a solution made of one teaspoonful of salt to a pint of water.  If the iodoform is offensive to some people, you may use the vaselin alone, although the iodoform is known to be one of the best healing remedies that can be obtained.

2.  Cuts, Turpentine Good in Small Quantities for.—­“For cuts and any open wound pour turpentine in and put a piece of absorbent cotton on and soak well with the liniment, tie up, and leave it so until dry, then pour on some more.”  Care should be taken in using turpentine, not to put too much on the wound, as it may cause proud flesh in some people; a little of it is very healing and effective.