Infection
Infection in a wound is the greatest enemy of healing. Infected wounds not only heal more slowly but heal with greater scar formation.
Prevention. To combat infection in cuts and minor wounds, the first-aider is directed to instruction outlined under Cuts in this chapter. To prevent infection following serious injury requires that drugs which hinder multiplication of bacteria be administered to the victim under the direction of a physician. He will continue the administration of such drugs, perhaps, for several days. Next in importance, in the case of serious injury, is that the physician cleans the wound, removing foreign material, cutting away the fragments of damaged tissue, and suturing if necessary.
Proper steps must also be taken early for the prevention of tetanus. It must be assumed that all deep wounds are potentially contaminated with the spores of tetanus.
WHAT TO DO
Even while drugs are being administered, it is helpful to build up tissue resistance, promoting healing by a simple procedure of hydrotherapy, which stimulates the circulation of blood through the injured tissues. First, the injured part is immersed in hot water, with the temperature gradually increased by adding more hot water as the patient's tolerance increases, for a period of three minutes. Then the part is plunged in a container filled with ice water and held there for about one-fourth minute. It is then returned to the hot water, for another three-minute period, and so on, alternating between hot and cold water for about fifteen minutes per treatment. About four such treatments should be given each day.
