ankles are generally, by such artificial supports, made worse, in
consequence of the pressure causing a further dwindling away and
enfeebling of the ligaments of the ankles, already wasted and
weakened.

Let him wear shoes with straps over the insteps to keep them on, and
not boots: boots will only, by wasting the ligaments, increase the
weakness of the ankles.

113. _Sometimes there is a difficulty in restraining the bleeding of
leech bites. What is the best method_?

The difficulty in these cases generally arises from the improper
method of performing it. For example--a mother endeavours to stop the
haemorrhage by loading the part with rag; the more the bites discharge,
the more rag she applies. At the same time, the child probably is in a
room with a, large fire, with two or three candles, with the doors
closed, and with perhaps a dozen people in the apartment, whom the
mother has, in her fright, sent for. This practice is strongly
reprehensible.

If the bleeding cannot be stopped,--in the first place, the fire most
be extinguished, the door and windows should be thrown open, and the
room ought to be cleared of persons, with the exception of one, or, at
the most, two; and every rag should be removed. "Stopping of leech
bites.--The simplest and most certain way, till the proper assistance
is obtained, is the pressure of the finger, with nothing
intervening. It _cannot_ bleed through that." [Footnote: Sir Charles
Locock, in a _Letter_ to the Author.]