Quote:
Originally Posted by allmywires  Two things:
If a character were to have part of their arm amputated on a battlefield, would cauterisation be the best way to stop the bleeding? If so, how long would a sword take to heat (over a fire) to be hot enough to do so?
Second, if said character was pregnant (only early stages) would she definitely lose the baby? (I want her not to). |
Suggest you do a google search there is a lot of info on the net with regards to American Civil war battlefield ampuations. Ok, not the time period you are looking for, but conditions would be close enough. From my own research, limbs were sawn off as quickly as possible, then the blood vessels tied off and a flap of skin (left for the purpose) sewn back over the wound with a gap left for drainage. The basics are not much different throughout history. Quickness was the key.
As to losing a baby. I had a friend who was in a horrible car accident and to the surprise of the doctors the baby not only survived, it at no time showed any signs of problems, then again a woman can just lose her footing, not even fall, and lose a child. There are so many factors, stress, shock etc. With regards to this, you are the writer, if you want her to not lose the child, she doesn't.