A system of surgery : pathological, diagnostic, therapeutic, and operative . the bandage acts in producing its salutaryeffects. In fractures and dislocations, as well as in large wounds, it powerfullycontrols muscular contraction, and at the same time prevents tumefaction, bygiving tone and support to the capillary and other vessels. Its influence as asorbefacient is evinced in the rapid abatement of the swelling which so oftenfollows compression by the bandage in erysipelas, oedema, and various kinds ofinjuries ; or, more strikingly still, in orchitis, when, after the subsidence of themore ac
A system of surgery : pathological, diagnostic, therapeutic, and operative . the bandage acts in producing its salutaryeffects. In fractures and dislocations, as well as in large wounds, it powerfullycontrols muscular contraction, and at the same time prevents tumefaction, bygiving tone and support to the capillary and other vessels. Its influence as asorbefacient is evinced in the rapid abatement of the swelling which so oftenfollows compression by the bandage in erysipelas, oedema, and various kinds ofinjuries ; or, more strikingly still, in orchitis, when, after the subsidence of themore active disease, the testicle is strapped with adhesive plaster, which is butanother form of bandage. Here in a short time, ordinarily in less than twenty-four hours, the swelling usually so far disappears as to allow the organ to slipout of its artificial case, or, at all events, to such an extent as to require renewalof the dressing. The general effect of the bandage would thus seem to be some-what similar to that of mercury, controlling capillary action, and promoting th^. 472 OPERATIVE SURGERY. chap. xiv. absorption of effused fluids; but it has the additional advantage, and no triflingone it is, that it supports the muscles and prevents spasm, as is so remarkablyevinced in fractures and in the stump after amputation. Of the extent to which bandaging may be carried, a good idea may be formedfrom the frequent allusion that will be made to it in different parts of this work;it will suffice here to observe that it is applicable, as a general rule, to the treat-ment of all classes of wounds, from the most simple to the most severe, to frac-tures and dislocations, ulcers, abscesses, erysipelas, whitlow, orchitis, chronicinflammation of the superficial veins, and to nearly all affections of the limbs inwhich there is an effusion of serum, or serum and plastic matter. CHAPTER XIV. OPERATIVE SURGERY. Operative surgery has too often been regarded as an opprobrium of thehealing art. Thi
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, booksubjectgeneralsurgery, booksubjectsurgery