INTREATINGfracturesanddislocations,thephysicianmustmaketheextensionasstraightaspossible,forthisisthemostnaturaldirection。Butifitinclinetoeitherside,itshouldratherturntothatofpronation,forthereisthuslessharmthanifitbetowardsupination。Those,then,whoactinsuchcaseswithoutdeliberation,forthemostpartdonotfallintoanygreatmistake,forthepersonwhoistohavehisarmbound,presentsitintheproperpositionfromnecessity,butphysicianswhofancythemselveslearnedinthesematters,aretheywhocommitblunders。Thereisnonecessityformuchstudy,then,inordertosetabrokenarm,andinaword,anyordinaryphysiciancanperformit;butIamunderthenecessityofgivingthelongerdirectionsonthissubject,becauseIknowphysicianswhohavethereputationofbeingskilledingivingtheproperpositionstothearminbindingitup,whileinrealitytheyareonlyshowingtheirownignorance。Butmanyotherthingsinourartarejudgedofinthismanner,forpeopleratheradmirewhatisnew,althoughtheydonotknowwhetheritbeproperornot,thanwhattheyareaccustomedto,andknowalreadytobeproper;andwhatisstrange,theyprefertowhatisobvious。Imustnowstatewhatthemistakesofmedicalmenare,whichIwishtounteach,andwhatinstructionsIhavetogiveastothemanagementofthearm;forwhatIhavetosayregardingit,willapplytotheotherbonesinthebody。
2。Thearm,then,forthatisthesubjectweweretreatingof,waspresentedinthepronepositiontobebound,butthephysicianforcedhispatienttoholditasthearchersdowhentheyprojecttheshoulder,andinthispositionhebounditup,thinkingwithinhimselfthathewasactingaccordingtoNature,andinproofofthishepointedoutthatallthebonesinthefore-armwerethusinastraightline,andthattheintegumentsbothinsideandoutside,werealsoinastraightline,andthatthefleshandnerves(tendons?)
werethusputintheirnaturalposition,andheappealedtowhathappensinarchery,asaproofofthis。Andsosaying,andsodoing,heislookeduptoasasage;andyetheforgetsthatinalltheotherartsandperformances,whetherexecutedwhetherexecutedbystrengthordexterity,whatisreckonedthenaturalpositionisnotthesame,andthatinthesamepieceofworkitmayhappenthatthenaturalpositionoftherightarmisnotthesameasthatoftheleft。Forthereisoneattitudeinthrowingthejavelin,andanotherinslinging,anotherincastingstones,anotherinboxing,andanotherinastateofrepose。Andwhateverartsoneexamines,itwillbefoundthatthenaturalpositionofthearmsisnotthesameineach,butthatineverycasethearmsareputintotheattitudewhichsuitsbestwiththeinstrumentthatisused,andtheworktobeperformed。Inpracticingarchery,nodoubtthisisthebestattitudeoftheleftarm,forgingly-moidextremityofthehumerusbeingfixedinthecavityoftheulna,inthisposition,throwsthebonesoftheforearmandarmintoaline,asiftheyconstitutedasinglebone,andallflexionatthejointispreventedinthisposition。Itisnodoubtcertainthatthememberisthusputintothemostunbendingandextendedpositionpossible,soasnottobeovercomeoryieldwhenthestringisdrawnbytherightarm,andthuswillthearcherbeenabledtodrawthestringfarthest,anddischargehisarrowwiththegreatestforceandrapidity,forarrowsthusdischargedhavethegreatestswiftnessandforce,andarecarriedtothegreatestdistances。Butthereisnothingincommonbetweenthebindingupofanarmandarchery。Moreover,ifhavingthusboundupthearm,thephysiciandirectthepatienttokeepitthus,hewilloccasionhimgreaterpainthanhehadfromthewounditself;andthusalso,ifthephysicianorderhimtobendthearm,neitherthebones,thenerves,northefleshwillanylongerbeinthesamecondition,butwillbearrangeddifferently,havingovercomethebandaging。Whatuse,then,isthereofthearcher’sattitude?Andthesemistakes,thephysician,conceitedinhisknowledge,wouldprobablynothavecommittedifhehadallowedthepatienthimselftopresenthisarm。
3。Butanotherphysicianputtingthearmintothestateofsupination,givesorderstoextendthearmthus,andbandagesitinthisposition,reckoningittheoneaccordingtonature,judgingthusfromtheskin,andalsofancyingthebonestobethusintheirnaturalposition,becausethebonewhichprotrudesatthewrist,wherethelittlefingeris,appearstobeinalinewiththebonefromwhichpeoplemeasuretheboneofthefore-arm。Thesethingshebringsforwardasproofsthatthepartsareintheirnaturalstate,andheissupposedtospeakcorrectly。But,indeed,ifthearmbekeptstretchedinasupineposition,itwillbecomeverypainful,andthisfactanyonemayascertainbyextendinghisownarminthisattitude。Andalsoaweakermangraspingwithhishandsastrongermanwhosearmisturnedinasupineposition,couldleadhimwhereverhechose,andneither,ifamanheldaswordthusinhishand,couldhemakeanyproperuseofit,soconstrainedisthisposition。And,moreover,if,whenaphysicianhasthusboundupthearm,heallowittoremaininthesameposition,thepatientwillenduregreaterpainifhewalkabout,butconsiderable,evenifheremainatrest。Andthus,too,ifheshallbendthearm,themusclesandthebonesmustnecessarilyassumeadifferentposition。But,inadditiontoothermischief,heisignorantofthesefactsregardingtheposition,thatthebonewhichprotrudesatthewrist,closetothelittlefinger,belongstothefore-arm,whereastheoneatthejoint,fromwhichpeoplemeasurethefore-arm,istheheadofthehumerus。Hefanciesthatboththesebelongtothesamebone,andmanyothersareofthisopinion。Thelatter,infact,isthesamepartasthatwhichiscalledtheelbow,uponwhichwesometimesrest,andwhenheholdsthearmthusinasupineposition,inthefirstplacetheboneappearsdistorted,andinthenextplacethetendonswhichextendfromthecarpusalongtheinnersideandfromthefingersbecomedistortedwhilethearmhasasupineposition;forthesetendonsproceedtotheboneofthehumerus,fromwhichthefore-armismeasured。Such,andsomanymistakesandmarksofignorancearecommitted,regardingthenaturalconstructionofthearm。ButifonewillextendabrokenarmasIdirect,hewillturnthebone,situatedattheextremityofthelittlefinger,intothestraightline,andalsotheoneattheelbow,andthetendonswhichstretchfromthecarpustotheextremityofthehumeruswillbeplacedinthestraightline;andwhenthearmissuspendedinasling,itwillbeinthesameattitudeasthatinwhichitwasboundup,andwillgivenopaintothepatientwhenhewalksabout,norwhenheliesreclined,andwillnotbecomefatigued。Themanshouldbesoseatedthattheprominentpartofthebonemaybeturnedtothebrightestlightwhichisathand,sothattheoperatorinmakingtheextension,maybeatnolosstodiscoverifitbesufficientlystraight。Theprominenceofabrokenbonecouldnotescapebeingdetectedbythehandofanexperiencedperson,whenappliedforthispurpose,and,moreover,theprojectingpartisparticularlypainfultothetouch。
4。Incasesoffractureineitherofthebonesoftheforearm,itiseasiertoeffectacureiftheupperbonebebroken,althoughitbethethickerone,bothbecausethesoundboneissituatedbelow,andformsasupporttoit,andbecausethedeformityismoreeasilyconcealed,therebeingathickmassoffleshontheupperside,exceptneartothewrist。Butthelowerboneiswithoutacoveringofflesh,isnoteasilyconcealed,andrequiresstrongerextension。Ifitisnotthisbone,buttheotherwhichisbroken,amorefeebleextensionprovessufficient,butifbothbebroken,amorepowerfulextensionisrequired。InthecaseofayoungpersonIhaveknowntheextensionmademorestrongthanwasnecessary,butingeneraltheextensionmadeislessthanwhatisrequired。Andwhentheyareextended,thephysicianshouldapplythepalmsofthehands,andadjustthefracturedpartsandthenhavingrubbedthepartswithcerate,butnotinlargequantitysothatthebandagesmaynotcomeoff,itistobeboundupinthisstate,carebeingtakenthatthehandbenotlowerthantheelbow,butalittlehigher,sothattheblooddonotflowtowardtheextremity,butmaybedeterminedtotheupperpart;andthenitistobesecuredwiththebandage,theheadofwhichistobeplacedatthefracture,andthebandageshouldimpartfirmnesstothepartswithoutoccasioningstrongcompression。Whenyouhavecarriedthebandagetwiceorthriceroundattheseatofthefracture,itistobecarriedupward,sothattheaffluxofbloodintoitmaybestopped,andthebandageshouldterminatethere,andthefirstbandagesoughtnottobelong。Theheadofthesecondbandageisalsotobeplacedupontheseatofthefracture,andasingleroundofitbeingmadethere,itisthentobecarrieddownward,andisnottobeappliedsotightastheother,andthereshouldbegreaterdistancesbetweentheturns,sothatthebandagemayprovesufficienttoreverttothespotwheretheotherterminated。Thebandagesmayberolledtothelefthandortotheright,ortowhateversidesuitsbestwiththepositionofthefracturedarm,oraccordingtotheinclinationwhichitmayhave。Afterwardwemustplacealongthearm,compresses,smearedwithalittlecerate,forthustheyoccasionlessuneasiness,andaremoreeasilyarranged。
Andthenwemustapplythebandagescrossways,sometimestotherighthand,andsometimestotheleft,forthemostpartbeginningbelowandterminatingabove,butsometimescommencingaboveandendingbelow。Thepartswhicharethinlycoveredwithfleshshouldbewrappedroundwithcompresses,andinequalitiesshouldbemadeup,notbyanumberoffoldsatonce,butbydegrees。Someslackturnsarealsotobemadearoundthewrist,tothissideandtothat。Thesetwobandagesaresufficientatfirst。
5。Andthesearethesignsthatthepatienthasbeenwelltreatedandproperlybandaged:ifyouaskhimifthearmfeelstight,andhesaysitdoes,butmoderatelyso,andespeciallyaboutthefracture;
andthisreplyheshouldmakeallalong,ifthebandagebeproperlyapplied。Andthesearesymptomsofthebandagingbeingmoderatelytight;ifforthefirstdayandnighthefanciesthatthetightnessdoesnotdiminish,butratherincreases;andifonthenextdaytherebeasoftswellinginthehand,forthisisasignofmoderatecompression,butattheendoftheseconddaythecompressionshouldfeelless,andonthethirddaythebandagingshouldappearloose。Andifanyofthesesymptomsbewanting,youmayconcludethatthebandagingisslackerthanitshouldbe;orifanyofthesesymptomsbeinexcess,youmayinferthatthecompressionismorethanmoderate;
andjudgingfromthese,youwillapplythenextbandageseitherslackerortighter。Havingremovedthebandagesonthethirdday,youmustmakeextensionandadjustthefracture,andbinditupagain;
andifthefirstbandagingwasmoderatelyapplied,thesecondbandagingshouldbemadesomewhattighter。Theheadsthebandagesshouldbeplacedonthefracturesasintheformercase;for,sodoing,thehumorswillbedriventotheextremities,whereasifyoubandageanyotherpartbeforehand,thehumorswillheforcedfromittotheseatofthefracture:itisofmuchimportancethatthisshouldbeproperlyunderstood。Thusthebandagingandcompressionshouldalwayscommenceattheseatofthefracture,andeverythingelseshouldbeconductedonthesameprinciple,sothatthefartheryouproceedfromthefracture,thecompressionshouldalwaysbetheless。Thebandagesshouldneverbeactuallyloose,butshouldbesmoothlyputon。Ateachdressingthenumberofbandagesshouldbeincreased;andthepatient,ifasked,shouldanswer,thathefeelsthebandagessomewhattighterthanontheformeroccasion,especiallyaboutthefracture,andeverythingelseinproportion;andwithrespecttotheswelling,thepain,andrecovery,everythingshouldproceedasaftertheformerdressing。Butonthethirddaytheouterbandagingshouldappearlooser。Thenhavingremovedthebandages,youshouldbinditupagain,somewhattighterthanbefore,andwithallthebandageswhichwillberequiredontheoccasion,andafterwardsoneoughttoexperiencethesametrainofsymptomsasattheformerperiodsofbandaging。
6。Whenthethirddayarrives,thatistosay,theseventhfromthefirstdressing,ifproperlydone,theswellinginthehandshouldbenotverygreat;andthepartwhichhasbeenbandagedshouldbefoundmoreslenderandlessswelledateachtime,andontheseventhdaytheswellingshouldbequitegone,andthebrokenbonesshouldbemorereadilymoved,andadmitofbeingeasilyadjusted。
Andifthesethingsbeso,youshould,aftersettingthefracture,applythebandagessoastosuitthesplints,andalittlemoretightthanformerly,unlesstherebemorepainfromtheswellinginthehand。Whenyouhaveappliedthebandages,youmustadjustthesplintsallaroundthelimb,andsecurethemsecurethemwithstringssolooseasjusttokeepthemintheirplace,withouttheapplicationofthesplintscontributingatalltothecompressionofthearm。Afterthisthepainandrecoveryshouldproceedasintheprecedingperiodsofthebandaging。Butif,onthethirdday,thepatientsaythatthebandagingisloose,youmustthenfastenthesplints,especiallyatthefracture,butalsoelsewhere,whereverthebandagingisratherloosethantight。Thesplintshouldbethickestwherethefractureprotrudes,butitshouldnotbemuchmoresothanelsewhere。Particularattentionshouldbepaidtothelineofthearmcorrespondingtothethumb,sothatnosplintbelaidonit,butuponeachsideofit,norinthelineofthelittlefingerwheretheboneisprominentatthewrist,butoneachsideofit。Andifitbefoundnecessarythatsplintsshouldbeappliedinthesedirectionsattheseatofthefracture,theyshouldbemadeshorterthantheothers,soasthattheymaynotreachtheboneswhichareprominentatthewrist,forotherwisethereisdangerofulceration,andofthetendonsbeinglaidbare。Thesplintsshouldbeadjustedaneweverythirdday,inaverygentlemanner,alwayskeepinginmindthattheobjectofthesplintsistomaintainthelowerbandagesintheirplace,andthattheyarenotneededinordertocontributetothecompression。
7。If,then,youseethatthebonesareproperlyadjustedbythefirstdressings,andthatthereisnotroublesomepruritusinthepart,noranyreasontosuspectulceration,youmayallowthearmtoremainbandagedinthesplintsuntilafterthelapseofmorethantwentydays。Thebonesofthefore-armgenerallygetconsolidatedinthirtydaysaltogether;butthereisnothingpreciseinthismatter,foroneconstitutiondiffersfromanother,andoneperiodoflifefromanother。Whenyouremovethebandages,youmustpourhotwateronthearmandbinditupagain,butsomewhatslacker,andwithfewerbandagesthanformerly:andagainonthethirddayyouundothebandages,andbinditstillmoreloosely,andwithstillfewerbandages。Andif,whilethearmisboundupinthesplints,youshouldatanytimesuspectthatthebonesdonotlieproperly,orifanythingaboutthebandagesannoysthepatient,youshouldloosethematthemiddleofthetime,oralittleearlier,andapplythemagain。A
dietslightlyrestrictedwillbesufficientinthosecasesinwhichtherewasnoexternalwoundatfirst,orwhenthebonedoesnotprotrude;butoneshouldliverathersparinglyuntilthetenthday,asbeingnowdeprivedofexercise;andtenderarticlesoffoodshouldbeused,suchasmoderatelyloosenthebowels;butoneshouldabstainaltogetherfromfleshandwine,andthenbydegreesresumeamorenourishingdiet。Thisdiet。maybelaiddownasajustruleinthetreatmentoffractures,bothastohowtheyshouldbetreated,andwhatwillbetheresultsofaproperplanoftreatment;sothatonemayknow,thatifthingsdonotturnoutthus,therehasbeensomedefectorexcessinthetreatment。Andinthissimpleplanoftreatmentitisnecessarytoattendalsotothefollowingdirections,whichsomephysicianspaylittleattentionto,although,whenimproperlyexecuted,theyarecapableofmarringthewholeprocessofbandaging:forifboththebonesbebroken,ortheloweroneonly,andthepatientwhohasgothisarmbandagedkeepitslunginashawl,andthattheshawlisparticularlylooseatthefracture,sothatthearmisnotproperlysuspendedatthisendorthat,inthiscasethebonemustnecessarilybefounddistortedupwards;whereas,whenbothbonesarethusbroken,ifthearmreclineintheshawlatthewristandelbow,buttherestofitbenotkeptup,theboneinthiscasewillbedistortedtothelowerside。
Thegreaterpartofthearmandthewristofthehandshouldthereforebeequallysuspendedinabroadsoftshawl。
8。Whenthearmisbroken,ifonestretchthefore-armandadjustitwhileinthisposition,themuscleofthearmwillbeboundwhileextended;butwhenthedressingisover,andthepatientbendshisarmattheelbow,themuscleofthearmwillassumeadifferentshape。Thefollowing,then,isthemostnaturalplanofsettingthearm:havinggotapieceofwoodacubitorsomewhatlessinlength,likethehandlesofspades,suspenditbymeansofachainfastenedtoitsextremitiesatbothends;andhavingseatedthemanonsomehighobject,thearmistobebroughtover,sothatthearmpitmayrestonthepieceofwood,andthemancanscarcelytouchtheseat,beingalmostsuspended;thenhavingbroughtanotherseat,andplacedoneormoreleatherpillowsunderthearm,soastokeepitamoderateheightwhileitisbentatarightangle,thebestplanistoputroundthearmabroadandsoftskin,orbroadshawl,andtohangsomegreatweighttoit,soastoproducemoderateextension;orotherwise,whilethearmisinthepositionIhavedescribed,astrongmanistotakeholdofitattheelbowandpullitdownward。Butthephysicianstandingerect,mustperformthepropermanipulation,havingtheonefootonsomeprettyhighobject,andadjustingthebonewiththepalmsofhishands;anditwillreadilybeadjusted,fortheextensionisgoodifproperlyapplied。Thenlethimbindthearm,commencingatthefracture,anddootherwiseasdirectedabove;lethimputthesamequestionsandavailhimselfofthesamesignstoascertainwhetherthearmbemoderatelytightornot;andeverythirddaylethimbinditanewandmakeittighter;andontheseventhorninthdaylethimbinditupwithsplints,andleaveitsountilafterthelapseofmorethanthirtydays。Andifhesuspectthattheboneisnotlyingproperly,lethimremovethebandagesintheinterval,andhavingadjustedthearm,lethimbinditupagain。Theboneofthearmisgenerallyconsolidatedinfortydays。Whenthesearepast,thedressingistoberemoved,andfewerandslackerbandagesappliedinsteadofit。Thepatientistobekeptonastricterdiet,andforalongerspaceoftimethanintheformercase;
andwemustformourjudgmentofitfromtheswellinginthehand,lookingalsotothestrengthofthepatient。Thisalsoshouldbeknown,thatthearmisnaturallyinclinedoutward;tothisside,therefore,thedistortionusuallytakesplace,ifnotproperlytreated;butindeed,alltheotherbonesareusuallydistortedduringtreatmentforfracturetothatsidetowhichtheynaturallyincline。When,therefore,anythingofthiskindissuspected,thearmistobeencircledinabroadshawl,whichistobecarriedroundthebreast,andwhenthepatientgoestorest,acompressofmanyfolds,orsomesuchthing,istobefoldedandplacedbetweentheelbowandtheside,forthusthebendingofthebonewillberectified,butcaremustbetakenlestitbeinclinedtoomuchinwards。
9。Thehumanfootiscomposedofseveralsmallboneslikethehand。Thesebonesthereforearescarcelyeverbroken,unlesstheskinatthesametimebewoundedbysomesharpandheavybody。Thetreatmentofstichinjuries,therefore,willbedeliveredundertheheadofwounds。Butifanybonebemovedfromitsplace,orajointofthetoesbeluxated,oranyofthebonesofthepartcalledthetarsusbedisplaced,itmustbeforcedbackagaintoitsplaceasdescribedwithregardtothehand;andistobetreatedwithcerate,compresses,andbandages,likethefractures,withtheexceptionofthesplints;
andistobesecuredtightlyinthesameway,andthebandagesrenewedonthethirdday;andthepatientthusbandagedshouldreturnthesameanswersasinfractures,astothebandagesfeelingtightorslack。
Allthesebonesrecoverperfectlyintwentydays,exceptthosethatareconnectedwiththebonesoftheleg,andareinalinewiththem。Itisadvantageoustolieinbedduringthewholeofthistime;butthepatients,thinkinglightofthecomplaint,havenotperseverancetodothis,andtheywalkaboutbeforetheygetwell;
whereforemanyofthesedonotmakeaperfectrecovery。Andoftenthepainputstheminmindoftheinjury;anddeservedly,forthefeetsustaintheweightofthewholebody。When,therefore,theywalkaboutbeforetheyarewhole,thejointswhichhavebeenluxatedarecuredincompletely;and,onthataccount,whilewalkingabout,theyhavepainsinthelegfromtimetotime。
10。Butthoseboneswhichareconnectedwiththebonesofthelegarelargerthantheothers,andthecureofthemwhenluxuatedismoreprotracted。Themodeoftreatmentthenisthesame;butwemustusemorebandagesandmoresplints,andthebandageistobecarriedroundtothissideandtothat,andpressureistobemadeasintheothercases,particularlyattheseatoftheluxation,andthefirstcirclesofthebandagesaretobemadethere。Andateachtimethebandagesaretakenoff,muchhotwateristobeused,forinallinjuriesatjointstheaffusionofhotwaterinlargequantityistobehadrecourseto。Andthesamesymptomsofcompressionandrelaxationshouldmanifestthemselvesinthesametimes,asinthecasesformerlytreatedof,andthesubsequentbandagingsshouldbeconductedinlikemanner。Thesecasesgetcompletelywellforthemostpartinfortydays,ifthepatientshaveresolutiontokeeptheirbed;butifnot,theyaresubjectedtothecomplaintsformerlydescribed,orstillworse。
11。Inpersonswhojumpingfromanyhighobjectpitchupontheirheelwithgreatforce,thebonesareseparated,andtheveinspourforththeircontents,owingtothecontusionofthefleshsurroundingthebone,andhenceaswellingandmuchpainsupervene。
Forthisbone(oscalcis)isnotasmallone,protrudesbeyondthelineoftheleg,andisconnectedwithimportantveinsandtendons;
forthebacktendonofthelegisinsertedintothisbone。Suchcasesaretobetreatedwithcerate,andwithcompressesandbandages;
andhotwateristobeusedinlargequantity;andtheyrequiremanybandages,whichoughttobeparticularlygoodandappropriate。Andifthepatienthappentohaveatenderskinabouttheheel,nothingistobedonetoit;butif,assomehaveit,theskinbethickandhardened,itistobepareddownsmoothlyandthinned,butwithoutwoundingit。Itisnoteverybodywhocanapplythebandageproperlyinsuchcases;forifoneshallbindtheparts,asinotheraccidentsabouttheankle,sometimesbringingafoldroundthefootandsometimesroundthetendon,theseturnsleaveouttheheel,whichistheseatofthecontusion,andthusthereisdangerthattheoscalcismaysphacelate;andifthisshouldtakeplace,theimpedimentmayendureforlifeandalsoinalltheothercasesofsphacelus,notproceedingfromsuchacauseasthis;aswhen,frombeingcarelesslyallowedtolieinacertainpositionduringconfinementtobed,theheelbecomesblack,orwhenaseriouswoundhasoccurredintheleganditislongofhealing,andisconnectedwiththeheel,orwhenthesamethinghappensinthethigh,orwheninanydiseaseaprotracteddecubitustakesplaceontheback,inallsuchcasesthesoresareinveterate,troublesome,andfrequentlybreakoutagain,unlessparticularattentionbepaidtothecure,alongwithmuchrest,asinallthecasesattendedwithsphacelus。Andcasesofsphacelusconnectedwiththiscause,inadditiontootherinconveniences,areattendedwithgreatdangertothewholebody。Fortheyareapttobeattendedwithveryacutefevers,ofthecontinualtype,accompaniedwithtremblings,hiccup,aberrationofintellect,andwhichprovefatalwithinafewdays:andtheremaybelividitiesofbloodyveins,withnausea,andgangrenefrompressure;thesediseasesmayoccur,besidesthesphacelus。Thosewhichhavebeendescribedarethemostviolentcontusion;butingeneralthecontusionsaremild,andnogreatcareisrequiredwithregardtothetreatment,andyetitmustbeconductedproperly。Butwhenthecontusionappearstobesevere,wemustdoasdescribedabove,makingmanyturnsofthebandagearoundtheheel,sometimescarryingittotheextremityofthefoot,sometimestothemiddle,andsometimesaroundtheleg;and,inaddition,allthesurroundingpartsaretobebandagedinthisdirectionandthat,asformerlydescribed;andthecompressionshouldnotbemadestrong,butweshouldmakeuseofmanybandages,anditisbetteralsotoadministerhelleborethesamedayoronthemorrow;andthebandagesshouldberemovedonthethirddayandreapplied。Andthesearethesymptomsbywhichwediscoverwhetherthecasewillgetworseornot:whentheextravasatedblood,thelividities,andthesurroundingpartsbecomeredandhard,thereisdangerofanexacerbation。Butiftherebenofever,wemustgiveemetics,ashasbeensaid,andadministertheotherremedieswhichareapplicablewhenthefeverisnotofacontinualtype;butifcontinualfeverbepresent,wemustnotgivestrongmedicines,butenjoinabstinencefromsolidfoodandsoups,andgivewaterfordrink,andnotallowwinebutoxyglyky(acompositionfromvinegarandhoney?)。
Butifthecasebenotgoingtogetworse,theecchymosedandlividparts,andthosesurroundingthembecomegreenishandnothard;forthisisasatisfactoryproofinallcasesofecchymosis,thattheyarenottogetworse;butwhenlividityiscomplicatedwithhardness,thereisdangerthatthepartmaybecomeblackened。Andwemustsomanagethefootasthatitmaybegenerallyraisedalittlehigherthantherestofthebody。Suchapatientwillgetwellinsixtydaysifhekeepquiet。
12。Thelegconsistsoftwobones,ofwhichtheoneismuchmoreslenderthantheotheratonepart,butnotmuchmoreslenderatanother。Theseareconnectedtogetheratthefoot,andformacommonepiphysis,buttheyarenotunitedtogetheralongthelineoftheleg;
andatthethightheyareunitedtogetherandformanepiphysis,andthisepiphysishasadiaphysis;buttheotherboneinalinewiththelittletoeisalittlelonger。Suchisthenatureofthebonesoftheleg。
13。Sometimesthebonesconnectedwiththefootaredisplaced,sometimesbothboneswiththeirepiphysis;sometimesthewholeepiphysisisslightlymoved,andsometimestheotherbone。Thesecasesarelesstroublesomethanthesameaccidentsatthewrist,ifthepatientswillhaveresolutiontogivethemrest。Themodeoftreatmentisthesameasthatoftheother,forthereductionistobemade,asoftheother,bymeansofextension,butgreaterforceisrequired,asthepartsofthebodyconcernedarestrongerinthiscase。But,forthemostpart,twomenwillbesufficient,bymakingextensioninoppositedirections,but,notwithstanding,iftheyarenotsufficientlystrong,itiseasytomakemorepowerfulextensioninthefollowingway:havingfixedinthegroundeitherthenaveofawheel,oranysuchobject,somethingsoftistobeboundroundthefoot,andthensomebroadthongsofox-skinbeingbroughtroundit,theheadsofthethongsaretobefastenedtoapestleoranyotherpieceofwood,theendofwhichistobeinsertedintothenave,andit,thepestle,istobepulledaway,whileotherpersonsmakecounter-extensionbygraspingtheshouldersandtheham。Itisalsosometimesnecessarytosecuretheupperextremityotherwise;thisifyoudesiretoeffect,fastendeeplyinthegroundaround,smoothpieceofwood,andplacetheupperextremityofthepieceofwoodattheperineum,sothatitmaypreventthebodyfromyieldingtothepullingatthefoot,and,moreover,topreventthelegwhilestretched,fromincliningdownward;somepersonseatedathissideshouldpushbackthehip,sothatthebodymaynotturnroundwiththepulling,andforthispurpose,ifyouthinkfit,piecesofwoodmaybefastenedaboutthearmpitsoneachside,andtheyaretobestretchedbythehands,andthussecured,whileanotherpersontakesholdofthelimbattheknee,andaidsinthusmakingcounter-extension。Orthus,ifyoupreferit:havingboundotherthongsofleatheraboutthelimb,eitherattheknee,oraroundthethigh,andhavingfastenedanothernaveofawheelinthegroundabovethehead,andadjustedthethongspieceofwoodadaptedtothenave,extensionmaythusbemadeintheoppositedirectiontothefeet。Orifyouchoose,itmaybedonethus:insteadofthenaves,layamoderate-sizedbeamunderthecouch,andthenhavingfastenedpiecesofwoodinthisbeam,bothbeforeandbehindthehead,makecounter-extensionbymeansofthongs,orplacewindlassesatthisextremityandthat,andmakeextensionbymeansofthem。Therearemanyothermethodsofmakingextension。Butthebestthingis,foranyphysicianwhopracticesinalargecity,tohavepreparedaproperwoodenmachine,withallthemechanicalpowersapplicableincasesoffracturesanddislocation,eitherformakingextension,oractingasalever。Forthispurposeitwillbesufficienttopossessaboardinlength,breadth,andthickness,resemblingthequadrangularthreshing-boardsmadeofoak。
14。Whenyouhavemadeproperextension,itiseasyreducethejoint,forthedisplacedboneisthusraisedintoalinewiththeother。Andthebonesaretobeadjustedwiththepalmsofthehands,pressingupontheprojectingbonewiththeone,andmakingcounter-pressurebelowtheanklewiththeother。Whenyouhavereplacedthebones,youmustapplythebandageswhilethepartsareuponthestretch,ifyoupossiblycan;butifpreventedbythethongs,youmustloosethem,andmakecounter-extensionuntilyougetthebandagesapplied。Thebandageistobeappliedinthemannerformerlydescribed,theheadsofthebandagesbeingplacedontheprojectingpart,andthefirstturnsmadeinlikemanner,andsoalsowithregardtothenumberofcompressesandthecompression;
andturnsofthebandagesaretobebroughtfrequentlyroundonthisandonthatsideoftheankle。Butthisjointmustbeboundmoretightatthefirstdressingthaninthecaseofthehand。Butwhenyouhaveappliedthebandage,youmustplacethebandagedpartsomewhathigherthantherestofthebody,andinsuchapositionthatthefootmayhangaslittleaspossible。Theattenuationofthebodyistobemadeproportionatetothemagnitudeoftheluxation,foroneluxationistobeasmall,andanothertoagreatextent。Butingeneralwemustreducemore,andforalongertime,ininjuriesaboutthelegs,thaninthoseaboutthehands;fortheformerpartsarelargerandthickerthanthelatter,anditisnecessarythatthebodyshouldbekeptinastateofrest,andinarecumbentposition。
Thereisnothingtopreventorrequirethelimbtobebandagedanewonthethirdday。Andallthetreatmentotherwiseistobeconductedinlikemanner,asintheprecedingcases。Andifthepatienthaveresolutiontoliequiet,fortydayswillbesufficientforthispurpose,ifonlythebonesbeproperlyreduced,butifhewillnotliequiet,hewillnotbeabletousethelimbwithease,andhewillfinditnecessarytowearabandageforalongtime。Whenthebonesarenotproperlyreplaced,buttherehasbeensomedefectinthisrespect,thehip,thethigh,andthelegbecomewasted,andifthedislocationbeinward,theexternalpartofthethighiswasted,andviceversa。
Butforthemostpartthedislocationisinward。
15。Andwhenbothbonesofthelegarebrokenwithoutawoundoftheskin,strongerextensionisrequired。Wemaymakeextensionbysomeofthemethodsformerlydescribed,providedthebonesrideoveroneanothertoaconsiderabledegree。Butextensionbymenisalsosufficient,andforthemostparttwostrongmenwillsuffice,bymakingextensionandcounterextension。Extensionmustnaturallybemadestraightinalinewiththelegandthigh,whetheronaccountofafractureofthebonesofthelegorofthethigh。Andinbothcasestheyaretobebandagedwhileinastateofextension,forthesamepositiondoesnotsuitwiththelegandthearm。Forwhenthefracturedbonesofthearmorfore-armarebandaged,thefore-armissuspendedinasling,andifyoubindthemupwhileextended,thefiguresofthefleshypartswillbechangedinbendingthearmattheelbow,fortheelbowcannotbekeptlongextended,sincepersonsarenotinthecustomofkeepingthejointlonginthisform,butinabentposition,andpersonswhohavebeenwoundedinthearm,andarestillabletowalkabout,requiretohavethearmbentattheelbow-joint。Buttheleg,bothinwalkingandstanding,ishabituallyextended,eithercompletelyornearlyso,andisusuallyinadependingpositionfromitsconstruction,andinorderthatitmaybeartheweightoftherestofthebody。Whereforeitreadilybearstobeextendedwhennecessary,andevenwheninbedthelimbisofteninthisposition。Andwhenwounded,necessitysubduestheunderstanding,sincethepatientsbecomeincapableofraisingthemselvesup,sothattheyneitherthinkofbendingthelimbnorofgettinguperect,butremainlyinginthesameposition。Forthesereasons,neitherthesamepositionnorthesamemodeofbandagingappliestothearmandtotheleg。If,then,extensionbymeansofmenbesufficient,weshouldnothaverecoursetoanyuselesscontrivances,foritanyuselesscontrivances,foritisabsurdtoemploymechanicalmeanswhennotrequired;butifextensionbymenbenotsufficient,youmayuseanyofthemechanicalpowerswhichissuitable。Whensufficientlyextended,itwillbeeasytoadjustthebonesandbringthemintotheirnaturalposition,bystraighteningandarrangingthemwiththepalmsofthehand。
16。Whenthepartsareadjusted,youshouldapplythebandageswhilethelimbisinastretchedposition,makingthefirstturnstotherightortotheleft,asmaybemostsuitable;andtheendofthebandageshouldbeplacedoverthefracture,andthefirstturnsmadeatthatplace;andthenthebandageshouldbecarrieduptheleg,asdescribedwithregardtotheotherfractures。Butthebandagesshouldbebroaderandlonger,andmorenumerous,inthecaseofthelegthaninthatofthearm。Andwhenitisbandageditshouldbelaiduponsomesmoothandsoftobject,sothatitmaynotbedistortedtotheonesideortheother,andthattheremaybenoprotrusionoftheboneseitherforwardorbackward;forthispurposenothingismoreconvenientthanacushion,orsomethingsimilar,eitheroflinenorwool,andnothard;itistobemadehollowalongitsmiddle,andplacedbelowthelimb。Withregardtothecanals(gutters?)usuallyplacedbelowfracturedlegs,Iamatalosswhethertoadvisethattheyshouldbeusedornot。Fortheycertainlyarebeneficial,butnottotheextentwhichthosewhousethemsuppose。Forthecanalsdonotpreservethelegatrestastheysuppose;nor,whentherestofthebodyisturnedtotheonesideortheother,doesthecanalpreventthelegfromfollowing,unlessthepatienthimselfpayattention;neitherdoesthecanalpreventthelimbfrombeingmovedwithoutthebodytotheonesideortheother。Andaboardisanuncomfortablethingtohavethelimblaidupon,unlesssomethingsoftbeplacedaboveit。Butitisaveryusefulthinginmakinganysubsequentarrangementsofthebedandingoingtostool。Alimbthenmaybewellorillarrangedwithorwithoutthecanal。Butthecommonpeoplehavemoreconfidence,andthesurgeonismorelikelytoescapeblame,whenthecanalisplacedunderthelimb,althoughitisnotsecundumartem。Forthelimbshouldbyallmeansliestraightuponsomelevelandsoftobject,sincethebandagingmustnecessarilybeovercomebyanydistortionintheplacingoftheleg,wheneverortowhateverextentitmaybeinclined。Thepatient,whenbandaged,shouldreturnthesameanswersasformerlystated,forthebandagingshouldbethesame,andthesameswellingsshouldariseintheextremities,andtheslackeningofthebandagesinlikemanner,andthenewbandagingonthethirdday;andthebandagedpartshouldbefoundreducedinswelling;andthenewbandagingsshouldbemoretightlyputon,andmorepiecesofclothshouldbeused;andthebandagesshouldbecarriedlooselyaboutthefoot,unlessthewoundbeneartheknee。Extensionshouldbemadeandthebonesadjustedateverynewbandaging;for,ifproperlytreated,andiftheswellingprogressinasuitablemanner,thebandagedlimbwillhavebecomemoreslenderandattenuated,andtheboneswillbemoremobile,andyieldmorereadilytoextension。Ontheseventh,theninth,ortheeleventhday,thesplintsshouldbeappliedasdescribedintreatingoftheotherfractures。Attentionshouldbepaidtothepositionofthesplintsabouttheanklesandalongthetendonofthefootwhichrunsuptheleg。Thebonesoftheleggetconsolidatedinfortydays,ifproperlytreated。Butifyoususpectthatanythingiswantingtotheproperarrangementofthelimb,ordreadanyulceration,youshouldloosethebandagesintheinterval,andhavingputeverythingright,applythemagain。
17。Butiftheotherbone(fibula?)ofthelegbebroken,lesspowerfulextensionisrequired,andyetitmustnotbeneglected,norbeperformedslovenly,moreespeciallyatthefirstbandaging。Forinallcasesoffracturethisobjectshouldbeattainedthenasquicklyaspossible。Forwhenthebandageisappliedtightwhilethebonesarenotproperlyarranged,theproperlyarranged,thepartbecomesmorepainful。Thetreatmentotherwiseisthesame。
18。Ofthebonesoftheleg,theinnerone,calledthetibia,isthemoretroublesometomanage,andrequiresthegreaterextension;andifthebrokenbonesarenotproperlyarranged,itisimpossibletoconcealthedistortion,fortheboneisexposedandwhollyuncoveredwithflesh;anditismuchlongerbeforepatientscanwalkonthelegwhenthisboneisbroken。Butiftheouterbonebebroken,itcausesmuchlesstrouble,andthedeformity,whenthebonesarenotproperlyset,ismuchmoreeasilyconcealed,thebonebeingwellcoveredwithflesh;andthepatientsspeedilygetonfoot,foritistheinnerboneofthelegwhichsupportsthemostoftheweightofthebody。Foralongwiththethigh,asbeinginalinewithweightthrownuponthethigh,theinnerbonehasmoreworktosustain;
inasmuchasitistheheadofthethigh-bonewhichsustainstheupperpartofthebody,anditisontheinnerandnotontheoutersideofthethigh,beinginalinewiththetibia;andtheotherhalfofthebodyapproximatesmoretothislinethantotheexternalone;andatthesametimetheinnerboneislargerthantheouter,asinthefore-armtheboneinthelineofthelittlefingeristheslendererandlonger。Butinthejointoftheinferiorextremity,thedispositionofthelongerboneisnotalike,fortheelbowandthehamarebentdifferently。Forthesereasonswhentheexternalboneisbroken,thepatientscansoonwalkabout;butinfracturesoftheinner,itisalongtimebeforetheycanwalk。
19。Whenthethigh-boneisbroken,particularpainsshouldbetakenwithregardtotheextensionthatitmaynotbeinsufficient,forwhenexcessive,nogreatharmresultsfromit。For,ifoneshouldbandagealimbwhiletheextremitiesoftheboneareseparatedtoadistancefromoneanotherbytheforceoftheextension,thebandagingwillnotkeepthemseparate,andsotheboneswillcometogetheragainassoonasthepersonsstretchingitletgotheirhold;forthefleshyparts(muscles?)beingthickandstrong,aremorepowerfulthanthebandaging,insteadofbeinglessso。Inthecasethenwhichwearenowtreatingof,nothingshouldbeomittedinorderthatthepartsmaybeproperlydistendedandputinastraightline;foritisagreatdisgraceandaninjurytoexhibitashortenedthigh。Forthearm,whenshortened,mightbeconcealed,andthemistakewouldnotbegreat;butashortenedthigh-bonewouldexhibitthemanmaimed。Forwhenthesoundlimbisplacedbesideit,beinglongerthantheother,itexposesthemistake,andthereforeitwouldbetotheadvantageofapersonwhowouldbeimproperlytreatedthatbothhislegsshouldbebroken,ratherthaneitherofthem;forinthiscasetheonewouldbeofthesamelengthastheother。When,then,properextensionhasbeenmade,youmustadjustthepartswiththepalmsofthehands,andbandagethelimbinthemannerformerlydescribed,placingthehandsofthebandagesaswasdirected,andmakingtheturnsupward。Andthepatientshouldreturnthesameanswerstothesamequestionsasformerly,shouldbepainedandrecoverinlikemanner,andshouldhavethebandagingrenewedinthesameway;andtheapplicationofthesplintsshouldbethesame。