BRUISE, or CONTUSION, an injury caused by a blow or sudden pressure, in which the skin is not wounded and no bone broken or dislocated. Both terms, but more particularly the latter, arc employed in surgery to include all such injuries from a black eye to a thor oughly crushed mass of muscle. In the slighter forms of this injury, as in ordinary simple bruises, there is no tearing but only a concus sion of the tissues, the utmost damage done being the rupture of a few small blood vessels, occasioning the discoloration always observed in these cases. In more severe contusions, the subjacent structures — muscles, connective tis sue, vessels, etc.— are more or less ruptured, and in extreme cases are thoroughly crushed and usually become gangrenous. The quantity of blood extravasated depends chiefly upon the size and number of the ruptured blood vessels, but partly also on the nature of the textures of the injured part. Thus, a lax tissue, as that of the eyelids, favors the escape of blood into the surrounding parts. Simple and not very severe bruises require little treatment other than the rest necessary for the avoidance of pain, but the removal of the swelling and discolora tion may be hastened by the application of vari ous local stimulants, which seem to act by ac celerating the circulation through the bruised part and promoting the absorption of the ef fused fluid. Friar's balsam, compound soap
liniment or poultices made with the roots of black bryony beaten to a pulp are popular rem edies of this class. Tincture of arnica has a great reputation, but experiments have made it very doubtful whether it is any more efficacious than simple spirit of the same strength. A so lution of sulphurous acid, and hazeline and other preparations of the American witch-hazel are of more value. They should be kept con stantly applied to the bruised part on lint or cotton wool. Pugilists, who are probably bet ter acquainted with ordinary bruises than any other class of men, are in the habit of removing the swelling of the eyelids that often naturally occurs during a prize fight to such an extent as to close the eyes, by at once puncturing the eye-lids at several points with a lancet; and their favorite remedy for a black eye or other bruise on the face is a fresh beefsteak applied locally as a poultice. Bruises of a more severe nature, as when there is much breaking or crushing of the tissues, must, of course, at once be referred to the care of a surgeon.