INTERNAL BLEEDING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20988, 26 September 1931, Page 7 (Supplement)

INTERNAL BLEEDING.

: lIV A FAMILY DOCTOR. Ndt infrequently, without any warning, a man may suddenly eillier vomit up or cougli up a large quantity of Mood. This is naturally extremely alarming to the patient and his friends, especially as lie may go on coughing or being sick several times in quick succession. While yon arc waiting for the doctor' to arrive you can lie of great assistance. The first thing is to lay the patient down on a lied or couch, with either no pillow or one very low one. The next thing is to try to reassure him, and the best way to do this is by keeping yourself quite calm. Remember it is excessively tare for a patient to die as the result of such a hemorrhage; in practically every case it stops of its own accord.

If the patient is shivering and frightened, put hot-water bottles to his feet and cover him with blankets.

A cold, wet cloth may be applied to his forehead. He should be encouraged to lie very still, and if possible to try to sleep. Do not let him have anything to take by mouth, not even water, till the doctor comes. Do nut have other people in the room, and prevent them running about talking or whispering outside the door. Also, keep everything that the patient vomits or coughs up, for it will be of great help to the doctor in arriving at a diagnosis of I lie cause of the troublo and at the best method of treatment. But. sin h things should as far as possible be kept out of sight of the patient, and blood stains on iiandkeichiefs and sheets should bo hidden from him. Reassurance, lying completely still on the back, and, if possible, sleep, are the very best forms of treatment in this condition.