When you're writing about doctors, or medieval times you want your story to be legit right? Suppose your character gets hurt or something and they are expected to take care of the wound themselves. Can you explain it logically? Or, even know how to explain it?
If not, this will help.
If not, this will help.
Concerning All Things Medical
by: Miss Hanako Megumi
Part One: The Body and It's weaknesses
We all know that the body is a fragile thing. If you fall on something just right you could crack or break a rib. If you fall backwards too hard you could damage your head or dislocate a joint.
If and when your character experiences one of these things, you can always turn here for help. Even to the minor things such has fever, pain, hallucination and such.
The shoulders of the body are very strong and not easily hurt. Taking a knife to one can damage the nerves and tendons, it can even render the arm limp and numb. In which case your character would not be able to use it.
People also tend to fight the most with their "chosen" hand, meaning if your a lefty, then you're most likely to use your left hand most in battle. Causing your left side to sustain more damage than your right.
Vice versa for the other hand. You can't fight without sight, so if your character damages an eye or gets blood in it, then their vision will be compromised.
Hands break easily, fingers too. Grabbing something tight and holding on while it jerks you can cause your wrist to blow out, your shoulder to dislocate and your fingers to wrench.
The abdomen is by far the most fragile part of the body. You've got the stomach, liver, kidneys and lungs. Breaking a rib can chance in a collasped lung. Taking a stab to the stomach will demand immediate surgery. Taking a slice across the abdomen is easily taken care of.
The chest is instant death. A stab to the chest, or a cut across will cause massive bleeding, disorientation and need to immediate medical attention. So, unless your character needs to die a bloody and miserable death... I'd pick somewhere else for short term injuries.
The legs are the most vital limbs and joints. They control motion and speed. Take out a leg and you take out your opponent or your character. Getting shot in the leg is serious. The bullet can hit vital veins and cause your character to bleed out.
If hit, cut, dislocated or broken knees can be very fragile. Taking a pipe to someone's knee will leave them motionless. Knees are not curable, they take time to heal. So if you're thinking about having your character get hurt there, I'd think twice. If you have more time, or some hot chick to take care of him, then please continue with the injury. Otherwise, consider something more easily remedied.
Part Two: Taking Care of those Owies-
Okay, so now we know what is fragile and what is not easily hurt. Now we need to know how to take care of it.
Each section will explain for each part of the body. That way you don't have to search and search for what you need.
Starting from the top.
Section One: The Head
1. Taking a Blow to the head- If there is going to be blood, then there's going to be a cut. In which case you can grind garlic and mix it with boiling water. Draining the leftover will create an astringent which can be used to cleanse the wound. Binding it with bandages will help stop the bleeding. If it's a deep cut the wound will need stitches.
2. A cut to the face- A cut to the face needs the same treatment as for a blow to the head. Astringent made from garlic and boiling water. Wrap the wound with bandages. If deep enough it will need stitches.
Info: The important thing to remember about head wounds is concussions. A blow to the head will usually always cause a concussion. Meaning a days rest is required and encouraged. If head wounds are sustained enough brain damage will be present. A head wound can also result in memory loss, Amnesia, headaches and black outs.
Blood in Eye: If your character sustains a head wound and happens to get blood in his eye, rinsing with clear, clean water can help. Wiping your eye only makes things worse, as some of us have personal experience of.
Section Two: The Chest
Cuts to the Chest: Astringent, if the wound is deep enough then stitches will be needed. Modern day people can use fishing line, thread, some people have even used staples, but I wouldn't go that far. Bandages will follow. If you're going to be specific then you'll want to mention that the wound needs to breathe. (Air to the wound is important, it will allow for quicker healing. Keeping something enclosed for so long can also speed up infection. Change your bandages Daily)
A Stab To The Chest: Same procedure, Astringent, stitches then bandages. If the wound is deep and close to the heart then your character will need surgery. The farther away a cut is from the heart, the better.
Info: Wounds to the chest are almost always fatal. In modern day times medical treatment can save a life. But if you're working from a Medieval perspective then any of these wounds will be fatal.
Section Three: The Abdomen
Broken Ribs: NO MOVEMENT- Wrap the ribs that are broken tightly and give some ginger root for pain. Modern day medicine requires Vicodin or some milder pain medications. There will be a list below of the herbal properties once used in medieval times. Including modern day medicine as well.
Cracked Ribs: Cracked ribs are still painful, but less life inflicting. A character can be moved with cracked ribs, but not far. Their breath will be short, they'll tire easier and hurt when touched in the affected area. Cracked ribs follow the same procedure as broken ribs.
INFO: Except cracked ribs must be bandaged with EXTREME caution, if your character sustains cracked ribs be sure you're careful with how he bandages himself. If you want it to seem real.
Collasped Lung: A Collasped Lung is only sustained by a broken rib which has pierced the lung tissue. Or by a foreign object which has invaded the chest area. A Collasped lung is always fatal in medieval times. In modern day times getting a person to a hospital is advised. However, if your in a tight spot and the lung is filling with blood, you can take an empty syringe and insert it into the chest. Plunging it in the side will do. The empty syringe will allow the blood an exit and air to enter. Once finished remove the syringe, bandage and seek medical attention as quickly as possible.
Info: If you note that your character has sustained broken ribs or a broken rib, then the key thing is NO MOVEMENT. If you move then you'll hurt, if you talk, you'll hurt and even if you whisper you'll still hurt. This all depends of course, on how many ribs are broken and if they are shattered.
Stab To The Stomach: Oh my, I've been getting questions about this one. Will you die if you're stabbed in the stomach? In all likelihood... yes.. the reason? When you're stabbed in the stomach it causes hemorrhaging, the most likely cause is bleeding out. You lose blood pressure and this causes you to pass out. The body can go into shock as well.
Stab wounds to the abdomen require immediate surgery... no butts about it.
Section Four: The Hip
There aren't many things that can happen to the hip that are out of the ordinary. It can be stabbed, whacked, dislocated and broken. Each of these will render the person imobile. Binding the hip tightly will ease the pain and constrict movement. Any injury sustained to the hip will need immediate medical attention. Especially stabs and breaks.
Info: The hips are strong, it takes a hard fall or a stab to injure them. Be careful when listing the hips as a potential injury.
Part 3: Burns, Broken Limbs and Dislocated Joints
Being burned is painful, having your shoulder dislocated feels like a thousand needles piercing your skin. Breaking a bone in your arm or leg can really hurt. All these things if left alone can be fatal eventually. A broken leg which has been left can cause fluid or blood to pool at the broken bone if the bone has been crushed. If the bone is just broken then the limb should not be moved at all. This will cause excruciating pain to the victim.
Burns can be scaled from 1st degree burns to 3rd degree burns. Most 1st degree burns are minor and can be easily treated. 3rd degree burns are a whole other matter. 3rd degree burns will most likely cause scarring and boils on the skin. Not a pretty sight.
What to do for minor burns:
Firstly run the burned area under cold water for five minutes. (For the medieval ppl, your character could find a stream, and soak his hand or leg in the cold water. Beware though, bacteria can live in streams so soaking a limb or hand that is burned can have a 50-50 chance of attracting some pretty nasty bacteria into the affected burn. I would recommend taking water from the stream, boiling it to clear the water of bacteria and letting it cool and become cold. Putting some Aloe Vera plant on the burn can help ease the pain as well.) Wrap the burned area in a clean, sanitary bandage making sure not to bind it too tightly. Binding it too tight can cause the burned skin to wrinkle and shift. When the skin heals it will appear shifted and dry. Not good.
What to do for Major Burns:
2nd and 3rd degree burns are very painful. If the affected area was covered by clothing remove it carefully. Making sure that all clothing is removed, leaving the burn clear. Normally people will advise you NOT to remove clothing that is burned into the skin. But when you're out on your own what are you gonna do? So, if a piece of clothing is connected to the skin, remove very, very carefully. Extreme pain can come from removing the clothing, so be careful.
DO NOT put ice on burned skin as this will damage the burned area. If you must move cover the burn with a dry towel to protect it from bacteria.
Even though you will want to, you must NOT pop blisters. Allow them to break on their own, when they do dab a little Antibacterial ointment on them. Or Aloe Vera plant extract.
HOW TO GET ALOE VERA:
An Aloe Vera plant looks like a spiky octopus. Often it's outside will look light green with darker green spots. Cutting a piece off and cutting it open will reveal a sticky substance. The Sticky stuff inside will help relieve pain for burns.
If you're not too badly burned you may take sips of cold water. However, if you're heading to a hospital DON'T DRINK ANYTHING.
Treating a Broken Leg:
The most important thing about treating a broken leg is keeping it immobile. Remove ALL jewelry, preferably before the leg swells. If you leave jewelry on it could cause more injuries such as compression of nerves and restriction of blood flow.
It's important that the leg is set correctly, if it is set wrong then the bone will not heal properly. Put a splint on the leg to keep it immobile. A splint can be made from wood, small branches and other things that are strong and flat. If a bone is protruding from the skin DO NOT ATTEMPT to push it back in. Have your character seek immediate help.
Dislocated Shoulder: The shoulder will be imobile, grabbing the wrist tightly and giving a strong pull straight forward will put the shoulder back in place.
Keeping the shoulder imobile will ensure less pain and faster healing. Putting the arm in a sling is one way to keep pressure off of the shoulder.
HERBS USED FOR MEDICINE: http://www.altnature.com/gallery/
This link will provide you with a library of herbs. Click on the Herbs name and you can read about it's uses, description and some will even have a picture showing what it looks like and where it grows.
MODERN DAY MEDICINE: http://www.rxlist.com/drugs/alpha_a.htm
This site lists drugs from A-Z and has all their uses. I suggest you search here for anything "Pilly" you might be looking for.
Conclusion:
Well, that's about all I have to offer. When in doubt turn to this. There's many more things to be added, but for now this will do. I've tried to list everything I know. Below will be updates as to what is new and what is coming. Keep looking and if you need something specific addressed don't be afraid to message me or comment with your questions.
UPDATES: August 3rd 2008
COMING SOON
1. How to treat a Broken Leg ADDED 10/25/08
2. A list of Herbs used for medical purposes ADDED 10/25/08
3. A List of in home drugs which can be used ADDED 10/25/08
4. A list of different types of Bandages and Anethestics
5. Removing Foreign Objects from the Shoulder, Abdomen, Leg and Chest.
INFO: Each of these takes time to research, ask questions and conclude. So please be patient and keep looking back for your answers. Most questions can be answered very quickly. Some must be researched and thoroughly explained.
Any tips or info you might have and want to contribute may go here. Just message me and I'll inlcude it with your name.
Thanks for reading, and I hope this helps you some.
TO BE CON.
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