Democratic Sentinel, Volume 19, Number 35, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 September 1895 — Injuries to the Head. [ARTICLE]

Injuries to the Head.

Injuries to the head may be divided into three classes: those which affect the scalp alone, those by which the skull is fractured, and those by which the brain itself is damaged to a greater or less degree. Inasmuch as the records of the civil war, in which are accounts of thousands of cases, are in favor of stitching all scalp wounds, they should receive a doctor’s care as soon as possible. As a rule, injuries to the scalp, if .carefully looked after, will repair at once, but if neglected they are exceedingly difficult of management. If the Injury is extensive, the hair should be removed for a short distance around, and a clean cloth soaked in ice water should be placed over the part while waiting for the physician. Since shock may accompany the slightest Injury to any part of the body, It is difficult to say at once whether a patient, in a condition of collapse from a head wound, is suffering from a fracture of the skull, with pressure of the

fragments upon the brain, or has sustained simply a concussion. As a rule, however, cases of extensive fracture are attended by a more profound degree of collapse than those of simple concussion. The patient is totally insensible to everything, even to the utmost efforts made to arouse him. Fractures of the base of the skull, which are almost invariably fatal, may be attended with bleeding from the ears and nose or mouth. In all injuries to the head, the patient should be kept in a state of complete quiet. Iced water should be kept constantly about the head, and ths room should be somewhat darkened. The diet should be low in proportion to the severity of the case, but always nourishing. The head should be elevated, placed upon the rather firm pillows instead of soft ones. The dressing about the head should be just enough to support and protect the wound from draughts of cold, without being heating. No injury to the head, however slight, should be regarded as unimportant, since almost any such injury is liable to be complicated with mischief to the brain. For this reason every wound of the head should receive careful attention at the hands of a competent physician.—Youth’s Companion.