MEDICAL TREATMENTS
****************************************
Life in a wagon camp is active and more primitive than that of a city, but we are fortunate to have people trained in city methods. This means that treatment can be more refined and there are medicines and equipment available that might not usually be there. Also, the widespread use of stabilization serum and many generations of serum-treated Goreans have produced people that heal injury more quickly and seldom suffer from illness. See Recovery Times to advise as to how long it will take to heal. All treatments given should be posted to the Healing Treatments board.
*************************************************
WOUND TREATMENTBleeding - If there is an artery or vein bleeding (spurting blood out), then that must be carefully stitched back together first with fine curved needle and fine gut suture. There are clamps to close the cut artery or vein until it can be repaired. If there is excessive bleeding, such as in a limb or side, a cauterizing iron may be used to sear it shut. This is usually done when there is no better medical treatment available.
Stitching - Use small, fine, even stitches, trying not to pucker the skin. Tie off each single stitch to prevent one from being ripped and loosening others.
No Stitches Required ? Clean the area using either warm water with green herbal powder added or sterile (distilled) paga. Sprinkle with green powder, if desired, then layer on healing salve.
Bandaging - Wounds that require stitching need to be bandaged. A pad is made to cover the wound, then wrapped with bandage. Tear or cut the end to tie in place. Change bandages daily until no longer needed.
*************************************************
OTHER TREATMENTS
Arrows: An arrow should be removed carefully. If it is not lodged in a vital area, push it through and out the other side. If in a vital area, or the arrowhead is barbed, it will be necessary to cut it out. Remove the shaft before working on a barbed arrowhead. Clean, stitch and bandage as needed. 
Beasts: Be sure there are no teeth or claws left in the wound. Clean thoroughly, as some animals may have residues that are poisonous. Stitch, if needed, apply healing salve and bandage. 
Burns: Apply a cold water compress to soothe. Lance any blisters that have formed. Cleanse using warm water with green herbal powder. Treat with healing salve. Apply a dressing only if the burn is deep or there is other damage that breaks the skin. 
Broken Bones: Set by sharply pulling the ends into place. Run a finger along the bone to be sure it is straight and snugly bandage splints to keep it immobile. 
Bruising or Muscle Strain: Apply cold compresses or an ice pack. Apply numbing salve for pain or lyptus salve to soothe away discomfort. For swelling, clay packs or cold water soaks may be used. For stiffness, hot water soaks and massage may be used. 
Choking: Get behind the patient and reach around with both hands at abdomen. Quickly jerk back and up in the diaphragm. This will force lots of air out and make the patient cough out the lodged object. If not, see Tracheotomy. 
Congestion: An ointment, poultice or salve of peppermint or lyptus may be applied to the chest to relieve breathing. Follow with peppermint tea.  
Cramp: Give chamomile/zingiber syrup. Follow with chamomile or peppermint tea. For female cramping, raspberry syrup followed with raspberry/chamomile tea. 
Headache: Willow syrup or tea for pain. Chamomile to relax. 
Insect Bites: If the bite has a known poison to it, use antivenin injection. For the affected area, clean and apply bergament/kanda salve. If the bite is of a nonpoisonous insect but there are many bites, consider treating as though the person has received a poisonous bite. 
Lung, Collapsed: Use the chest tube in the med kit. Insert between the ribs on the side of the injured lung. Use a sharp trocar to make the hole (ask permission first. A trocar is an ice pick and can be considered a weapon). Insert chest tube between ribs. Stab gently with firm pressure with a little twist. Remove trocar and leave the tube. Blow hard on the end of the tube, until you hear the lung pop back open. Pad the end to catch bloody drainage and stitch in place. Remove the chest tube when lungs sound clear and stitch back together, usually two days.  
Lung, Punctured: Use the chest tube in med kit and insert between the ribs on side of injured lung. Use a sharp trocar to make the hole (ask permission first It is an ice pick and can be considered a weapon). Insert the chest tube between ribs. Stab gently with firm pressure with a little twist. Remove trocar and leave the tube. Pad the end to catch bloody drainage and stitch in place. Remove the chest tube when lungs sound clear and stitch back together, usually two days. 
Nausea: Give chamomile/zingiber syrup. Follow with chamomile or peppermint tea. 
Poison: There are antivenins or antitoxins available for certain poisons. For our Home Stone, any animal toxin can be countered by an antivenin, if given within a certain amount of time (to be determined in play). Gorean medicine is advanced enough to produce them, even though it may not have been mentioned. However, man-made poisons may have become stronger to counteract the resistance to it, since a formula could be adjusted to produce a stronger solution. 
Sedative: This is used when quick or strong sedation is needed for rest or for surgery. The most effective are capture scent and frobicain. Capture scent is given by cloth upon the nose. It must be carefully timed by counting. If the person begins to show reaction to it, cease using it until the symptoms have eased. Frobicain is given by injection. In addition, in higher doses, valerian works well, but watch for toxic reaction. 
Sleep: For gentle rest or relaxation, herbals work better. Chamomile is best, with valerian as a good alternative.  
Tracheotomy: If airway is blocked due to smoke inhalation or blocking objects or broken windpipe, and the patient cannot breathe, take a knife and cut a small hole at base of neck where the indentation is. That is just below Adam?s apple for a man. Insert some tubing, The patient will be able to breathe now. Remove object or repair the broken windpipe and sew back the trachea. For smoke inhalation, have the patient drink cool tea of peppermint and sage for two days.  When the patient can breath better, sew back the trachea. 
*************************************************
Thanks are given to Cabushan Tieri, Lysette, Amukusa and Kangi'Cetan for the use of their information.
*************************************************
Soap Medical Home Medicine Quick Reference