Domestic Encyclopædia (1802)/Bruises

BRUISES, or contusions, being frequently neglected at first, may produce consequences more alarming than those of wounds. Blows received on the head, pit of the stomach, hip, or the knee, are the most dangerous. A violent inflammation, in consequence of injured nerves, or the destruction of blood vessels, often occasions the mortification of those parts, which the most skilful treatment cannot retrieve, if the accident be neglected for many hours or days. Instead, therefore, of listening to officious old women, or neighbours, an experienced surgeon ought instantly to be consulted. We know a recent melancholy instance, of a most promising youth, who, when studying physic at Edinburgh, was so improvident as to suffer a slight contusion on the knee to pass unnoticed; which, however, proved fatal to him a week after the accident.

When the contusion is slight, fomentations with lukewarm vinegar and water, repeatedly applied to the part, will generally relieve it; but if it be of a more serious nature, either decoctions of the German leopard's bane (Arnica montana, L.) or arquebusade water (see p. 103), may be preferably used.—Dr. Buchan informs us, that he has often seen cataplasms of fresh cow-dung applied to violent contusions occasioned by blows, falls, bruises, &c. and never knew them fail to have a good effect. In more violent cases of this nature, the patient's diet and regimen ought to be in every respect similar to that suggested under the head of Inflammation.

Bruises of dogs, which they often receive either in hunting, or by other accidents, may be cured, according to Professor Bradley, in the following manner: If a bruise appear externally, anoint the swelling with a decoction of chickweed and groundsel, boiled in strong ale; which will assuage the pain, and reduce the tumor: but, if it be a wound, cut away the hair, and cover it with a plaster made of equal quantities of the roots of great comfrey, melilot, and oil of roses. As the latter, however, might be too expensive an ingredient, we recommend either to substitute a little of the spirit of turpentine, or more simply, to lay two or three folds of the common black, adhesive plaster on the injured part, immediately after the accident, so as to prevent bleeding, and to exclude the air. But, if there be reason to suspect that the bruise is inward, give the dog a drench, composed of a pint of new milk, and a quarter of an ounce of spermaceti.

Bruises on the withers of a Horse, arise from pinches of the saddle, and from want of care, often imposthumate, and turn fistulous. Such tumors may be bathed three or four times a day with warm vinegar; and if this application proves ineffectual, either an ounce of the oil of vitriol, or half an ounce of white vitriol, dissolved in a little water, should be mixed with a quart of vinegar, which makes an excellent repellent lotion, and will frequently prevent the formation of an abscess. But when the swellingis attended with heat, smarting, and little watery pimples, the following mixture may be preferably applied: take two ounces of crude sal ammoniac, boiled in a quart of lime-water; or, instead of these, a handful of wood, or pearl-ashes, boiled in common water; pour off the decoction, when settled, and mix it with half a pint of spirit of wine; anoint the parts afterwards with lintseed oil, or elder ointment, to soften and smooth the skin.

In critical swellings, however, the repelling method must be avoided, and the swelling relieved by suppurating poultices. These tumors ought never to be opened before they are ripe, but suffered to break of themselves; otherwise the whole sore will be spongy, discharge a bloody ichor, and soon degenerate into an ulcer. The openings, however, may be enlarged, and the lips pared away, that the dressings may be easily applied, taking care to avoid the ligament, which runs along the neck to the withers. If a suppuration appears on the opposite side, let it be treated in the same manner. The openings should incline downward, to let the matter flow out easily. If the bones are foul, they must be dressed with tincture of myrrh, till they scale off. When the fungus is very troublesome, and the matter discharged is oily, yellow, and viscid, pledgets soaked in the following preparation will be found beneficial: take of blue vitriol, dissolved in a pint of water, half an ounce; oil of turpentine, and rectified spirit of wine, of each four ounces; white wine vinegar, six ounces; oil of vitriol, and Ægyptiacum, of each two ounces. Let this be made hot, and the pledgets soaked in it, and then immediately applied to the part affected, taking care to bathe the swelling round it with spirit of wine and vinegar. When the cavities are fistulous, the callosities must be cut out with a knife, where it can be done conveniently, and the remainder be destroyed by corrosives.