首页 >出版文学> ON FRACTURES>第2章

第2章

  Thethigh-boneisconsolidatedinfortydays。
  20。Butthisalsoshouldbeknown,thatthethigh-boneiscurvedrathertotheoutsidethantotheinside,andratherforwardthanbackward;whennotproperlytreated,then,thedistortionsareinthesedirections;andtheboneisleastcoveredwithfleshatthesameparts,sothatthedistortioncannotbeconcealed。If,therefore,yoususpectanythingofthiskind,youshouldhaverecoursetothemechanicalcontrivancesrecommendedindistortionofthearm。Andafewturnsofthebandageshouldbebroughtroundbythehipandtheloins,sothatthegroinandthearticulationneartheperineummaybeincludedinthebandage;andmoreover,itisexpedientthattheextremitiesofthesplintsshouldnotdomischiefbybeingplacedonpartsnotcoveredwiththebandages。Thesplints,infact,shouldbecarefullykeptoffthenakedpartsatbothends;andthearrangementofthemshouldbesomanaged,asthattheymaynotbeplacedonthenaturalprotuberancesoftheboneattheknee-joint,noronthetendonwhichissituatedthere。
  21。Theswellingswhichariseintheham,atthefoot,orinanyotherpartfromthepressure,shouldbewellwrappedinunscouredandcardedwool,washedwithwineandoil,andanointedwithcerate,beforebandaging;andifthesplintsgivepaintheyshouldbeslackened。Youmaysoonerreducetheswellings,bylayingasidethesplints,andapplyingplentyofbandagestothem,beginningfrombelowandrollingupward;forthustheswellingswillbemostspeedilyreduced,andthehumorsbepropelledtothepartsabovetheformerbandages。Butthisformofbandagingmustnotbeusedunlesstherebedangerofvesicationsorblackeningintheswelling,andnothingofthekindoccursunlessthefracturebeboundtootight,orunlessthelimbbeallowedtohang,oritberubbedwiththehand,orsomeotherthingofanirritantnaturebeappliedtotheskin。
  22。Moreinjurythangoodresultsfromplacingbelowthethighacanalwhichdoesnotpassfartherdownthantheham,foritneitherpreventsthebodynorthelegfrombeingmovedwithoutthethigh。
  Anditcreatesuneasinessbybeingbroughtdowntotheham,andhasatendencytoproducewhatofallthingsshouldbeavoided,namely,flexionattheknee,forthiscompletelydisturbsthebandages;andwhenthethighandlegarebandaged,ifonebendthelimbattheknee,themusclesnecessarilyassumeanothershape,andthebrokenbonesarealsonecessarilymoved。Everyendeavorthenshouldbemadetokeepthehamextended。Butitappearstome,thatacanalwhichembracesthelimbfromthenatestothefootisofuse。Andmoreover,ashawlshouldbeputlooselyroundattheham,alongwiththecanal,aschildrenareswathedinbed;andthen,ifthethigh-bonegetsdisplacedeitherupwardortotheside,itcanbemoreeasilykeptinpositionbythismeansalongwiththecanal。Thecanalthenshouldbemadesoastoextendallalongthelimbornotusedatall。
  23。Theextremityoftheheelshouldbeparticularlyattendedto,sothatitmaybeproperlylaid,bothinfracturesofthelegandofthethigh。Forifthefootbeplacedinadependentposition,whiletherestofthebodyissupported,thelimbmustpresentacurvedappearanceattheforepartoftheleg;andiftheheelbeplacedhigherthanisproper,andiftherestofthelegberathertoolow,theboneattheforepartofthelegmustpresentahollow,moreespeciallyiftheheelofthepatientbenaturallylarge。Butallthebonesgetconsolidatedmoreslowly,ifnotlaidproperly,andifnotkeptsteadyinthesameposition,andinthiscasethecallusismorefeeble。
  24。Thesethingsrelatetocasesinwhichthereisfractureoftheboneswithoutprotrusionofthesameorwoundofanyotherkind。Inthosecasesinwhichthebonesaresimplybrokenacross,andarenotcomminuted,butprotrude,ifreducedthesamedayornext,andsecuredintheirplace,andiftherebenoreasontoanticipatethatanysplinteredboneswillcomeaway;andinthoseinwhichthebrokenbonesdonotprotrude,noristhemodeoffracturesuchthatthereisreasontoexpectthesplinterswillcomeout,somephysicianshealthesoresinawaywhichneitherdoesmuchgoodnorharm,bymeansofacleansingapplication,applyingpitchointment,orsomeofthedressingsforfreshwounds,oranythingelsewhichtheyareaccustomedtodo,andbindingabovethemcompresseswettedwithwine,orgreasywool,orsomethingelseofthelikenature。Andwhenthewoundsbecomecleanandarenewhealed,theyendeavortobindupthelimbwithplentyofbandages,andkeepitstraightwithtreatmentdoessomegood,andnevermuchharm。Thebones,however,canneverbeequallywellrestoredtotheirplace,butthepartisalittlemoreswelledthanitshouldbe;andthelimbwillbesomewhatshortened,providedbothboneseitherofthelegorfore-armhavebeenfractured。
  25。Thereareotherswhotreatsuchcasesatfirstwithbandages,applyingthemonbothsidesoftheseatoftheinjury,butomitthemthere,andleavethewounduncovered,andafterwardtheyapplytothewoundsomecleansingmedicine,andcompletethedressingwithcompressesdippedinwineandgreasywool。Thisplanoftreatmentisbad,anditisclearthatthosewhoadoptthismodeofpracticeareguiltyofgreatmistakesinothercasesoffractureaswellasthese。Foritisamostimportantconsiderationtoknowinwhatmannertheheadofthebandageshouldbeplacedandatwhatpartthegreatestpressureshouldbe,andwhatbenefitswouldresultfromapplyingtheendofthebandageandthepressureattheproperplace,andwhatmischiefswouldresultfromapplyingtheheadofthebandageandthepressureotherwisethanattheproperplace。Whereforeithasbeenstatedintheprecedingpartoftheworkwhataretheresultsofeither;andthepracticeofmedicinebearswitnesstothetruthofit,forinapersonthusbandaged,aswellingmustnecessarilyariseonthewound。For,ifevenasoundpieceofskinwerebandagedoneitherside,andapartwereleftinthemiddle,thepartthusleftunbandagedwouldbecomemostswelled,andwouldassumeabadcolor;
  howthencoulditbethatawoundwouldnotsufferinlikemanner?Thewoundthenmustnecessarilybecomediscoloredanditslipseverted,thedischargewillbeichorousandwithoutpus,andthebones,whichshouldnothavegotintoastateofnecrosis,exfoliate;andthewoundgetsintoathrobbingandinflamedcondition。Andtheyareobligedtoapplyacataplasmonaccountoftheswelling,butthisisanunsuitableapplicationtopartswhicharebandagedonbothsides,forauselessloadisaddedtothethrobbingwhichformerlyexistedinit。Atlasttheyloosethebandageswhenmattersgetveryserious,andconducttherestofthetreatmentwithoutbandaging;andnotwithstanding,iftheymeetwithanothercaseofthesamedescription,theytreatitinthesamemanner,fortheydonotthinkthattheapplicationofthebandagesonbothsides,andtheexposureofthewoundarethecauseofwhathappened,butsomeotheruntowardcircumstance。WhereforeIwouldnothavewrittensomuchonthissubject,ifIhadnotwellknownthatthismodeofbandagingisunsuitable,andyetthatmanyconductthetreatmentinthisway,whosemistakeitisofvitalimportancetocorrect,whilewhatisheresaidisaproof,thatwhatwasformerlywrittenastothecircumstancesunderwhichbandagesshouldbetightlyappliedtofracturesorotherwisehasbeencorrectlywritten。
  26。Asageneralruleitmaybesaid,thatinthosecasesinwhichaseparationofboneisnotexpected,thesametreatmentshouldbeappliedaswhenthefracturesarenotcomplicatedwithanexternalwound;fortheextension,adjustmentofthebones,andthebandaging,aretobeconductedinthesamemanner。Tothewounditselfaceratemixedwithpitchistobeapplied,athinfoldedcompressistobebounduponit,andthepartsaroundaretobeanointedwithwhitecerate。Theclothsforbandagesandtheotherthingsshouldbetornbroaderthanincasesinwhichthereisnowound,andthefirstturnofthebandageshouldbeagooddealbroaderthanthewound。
  Foranarrowerbandagethanthewoundbindsthewoundlikeagirdle,whichisnotproper,orthefirstturnshouldcomprehendthewholewound,andthebandagingshouldextendbeyonditonbothsides。Thebandagethenshouldbeputoninthedirectionofthewound,andshouldbenotquitesotightaswhenthereisnowound,butthebandageshouldbeotherwiseappliedinthemannerdescribedabove。Thebandagesshouldbeofasoftconsistence,andmoreespeciallysoinsuchcasesthaninthosenotcomplicatedwithawound。Thenumberofbandagesshouldnotbesmaller,butrathergreaterthanthoseformerlydescribed。Whenapplied,thepatientshouldhavethefeelingofthepartsbeingproperlysecured,butnottootight,andinparticularheshouldbeabletosaythattheyarefirmaboutthewound。Andtheintervalsoftimeduringwhichthepartsseemtobeproperlyadjusted,andthoseinwhichtheygetloose,shouldbethesameasthoseformerlydescribed。Thebandagesshouldberenewedonthethirdday,andtheaftertreatmentconductedinthesamemannerasformerlydescribed,exceptthatinthelattercasethecompressionshouldbesomewhatlessthanintheformer。Andifmattersgoonproperly,thepartsaboutthewoundshouldbefoundateverydressingalwaysmoreandmorefreeofswelling,andtheswellingshouldhavesubsidedonthewholepartcomprehendedbythebandages。Andthesuppurationswilltakeplacemorespeedilythaninthecaseofwoundstreatedotherwise;
  andthepiecesoffleshinthewoundwhichhavebecomeblackanddead,willsoonerseparateandfalloffunderthisplanoftreatmentthananyother,andthesorewillcomemorequicklytocicatrizationwhenthustreatedthanotherwise。Thereasonofallthisis,thatthepartsinwhichthewoundissituated,andthesurroundingparts,arekeptfreeofswelling。Inallotherrespectsthetreatmentistobeconductedasincasesoffracturewithoutawoundoftheinteguments。Splintsshouldnotbeapplied。Onthisaccountthebandagesshouldbemorenumerousthanintheformercase,bothbecausetheymustbeputonlesstight,andbecausethesplintsarelaterofbeingapplied。Butifyoudoapplythesplints,theyshouldnotbeappliedalongthewound,andtheyaretobeputoninaloosemanner,especialcarebeingtakenthattheremaybenogreatcompressionfromthesplints。Thisdirectionhasbeenformerlygiven。Andthedietshouldbemorerestricted,andforalongerperiod,inthosecasesinwhichthereisawoundatthecommencement,andwhenthebonesprotrudethroughtheskin;and,inaword,thegreaterthewound,themoresevereandprotractedshouldtheregimenbe。
  27。Thetreatmentofthesoresisthesameinthosecasesoffractureinwhichtherewasnowoundoftheskinatfirst,butonehasformedinthecourseoftreatment,owingtothepressureofthesplintsoccasionedbythebandages,orfromanyothercause。Insuchcasesitisascertainedthatthereisanulcer,bythepainandthethrobbing;andtheswellingintheextremitiesbecomesharderthanusual,andifyouapplyyourfingertherednessdisappears,butspeedilyreturns。Ifyoususpectanythingofthekindyoumustloosethedressing,iftherebeanyitchingbelowtheunder-bandages,orinanyotherpartthatisbandaged,andusedapitchedcerateinsteadoftheother。Iftherebenothingofthat,butiftheulcerbefoundinanirritablestate,beingveryblackandfoul,andthefleshypartsabouttosuppurate,andthetendonstosloughaway,inthesecasesnopartistobeexposedtotheair,norisanythingtobeapprehendedfromthesesuppurations,butthetreatmentistobeconductedinthesamemannerasinthosecasesinwhichtherewasanexternalwoundatfirst。Youmustbegintoapplythebandageslooselyattheswellingintheextremities,andthengraduallyproceedupwardwiththebandaging,sothatitmaybetightatnoplace,butparticularlyfirmatthesore,andlesssoelsewhere。Thefirstbandagesshouldbecleanandnotnarrow,andthenumberofbandagesshouldbeasgreatasinthosecasesinwhichthesplintswereused,orsomewhatfewer。Tothesoreitselfacompress,anointedwithwhitecerate,willbesufficient,forifapieceoffleshornerve(tendon?)becomeblack,itwillfalloff;forsuchsoresarenottobetreatedwithacrid,butwithemollientapplications,likeburns。Thebandagesaretoberenewedeverythirdday,andnosplintsaretobeapplied,butrestistobemorerigidlymaintainedthanintheformercases,alongwitharestricteddiet。Itshouldbeknown,thatifanypieceoffleshortendonbetocomeaway,themischiefwillspreadmuchless,andthepartswillmuchmorespeedilydropoff,andtheswellinginthesurroundingpartswillmuchmorecompletelysubside,underthistreatment,thanifanyofthecleansingapplicationsbeputuponthesore。Andifanypartthatistocomeawayshallfalloff,thepartwillincarnatesoonerwhenthustreatedthanotherwise,andwillmorespeedilycicatrize。Sucharethegoodeffectsofknowinghowabandagecanbewellandmoderatelyapplied。Butaproperposition,theotherpartsoftheregimen,andsuitablebandagescooperate。
  28。Ifyouaredeceivedwithregardtoarecentwound,supposingtherewillbenoexfoliationofthebones,whiletheyareontheeveofcomingoutofthesore,youmustnothesitatetoadoptthismodeoftreatment;fornogreatmischiefwillresult,providedyouhavethenecessarydexteritytoapplythebandageswellandwithoutdoinganyharm。Andthisisasymptomofanexfoliationofbonebeingabouttotakeplaceunderthismodeoftreatment;pusrunscopiouslyfromthesore,andappearsstrivingtomakeitsescape。Thebandagemustberenewedmorefrequentlyonaccountofthedischarge,sinceotherwisefeverscomeon;ifthesoreandsurroundingpartsbecompressedbythebandagestheybecomewasted。Casescomplicatedwiththeexfoliationofverysmallbones,donotrequireanychangeoftreatment,onlythebandagesshouldbeputonmoreloosely,sothatthedischargeofpusmaynotbeintercepted,butleftfree,andthedressingsaretobefrequentlyreneweduntiltheboneexfoliate,andthesplintsshouldnotbeapplieduntilthen。
  29。Thosecasesinwhichtheexfoliationofalargerpieceofboneisexpected,whetheryoudiscoverthisatthecommencement,orperceivesubsequentlythatitistohappen,nolongerrequirethesamemodeoftreatment,onlythattheextensionandarrangementofthepartsaretobeperformedinamannerthathasbeendescribed;buthavingformeddoublecompresses,notlessthanhalfafathominbreadth(beingguidedinthisbythenatureofthewound),andconsiderablyshorterthanwhatwouldberequiredtogotwiceroundthepartthatiswounded,butconsiderablylongerthantogoonceround,andinnumberwhatwillbesufficient,thesearetobedippedinablackausterewine;andbeginningatthemiddle,asisdoneinapplyingthedouble-headedbandage,youaretowrapthepartaroundandproceedcrossingtheheadsintheformofthebandagecalled"ascia。"Thesethingsaretobedoneatthewound,andonbothsidesofit;andtheremustbenocompression,buttheyaretobelaidonsoastogivesupporttothewound。Andonthewounditselfistobeappliedthepitchedcerate,oroneoftheapplicationstorecentwounds,oranyothermedicinewhichwillsuitwiththeembrocation。
  Andifitbethesummerseason,thecompressesaretobefrequentlydampedwithwine;butifthewinterseason,plentyofgreasywool,moistenedwithwineandoil,shouldbeapplied。Andagoat’sskinshouldbespreadbelow,soastocarryoffthefluidswhichrunfromthewound;thesemustbeguardedagainst,anditshouldbekeptinmind,thatpartswhichremainlonginthesamepositionaresubjecttoexcoriationswhicharedifficulttocure。
  30。Insuchcasesasdonotadmitofbandagingaccordingtoanyofthemethodswhichhavebeendescribed,orwhichwillbedescribed,greatpainsshouldbetakenthatthefracturedpartofthebodybelaidinarightposition,andattentionshouldbepaidthatitmayinclineupwardratherthandownward。Butifonewouldwishtodothethingwellanddexterously,itispropertohaverecoursetosomemechanicalcontrivance,inorderthatthefracturedpartofthebodymayundergoproperandnotviolentextension;andthismeansisparticularlyapplicableinfracturesoftheleg。Therearecertainphysicianswho,inallfracturesoftheleg,whetherbandagesbeappliedornot,fastenthesoleofthefoottothecouch,ortosomeotherpieceofwoodwhichtheyhavefixedinthegroundnearthecouch。Thesepersonsthusdoallsortsofmischiefbutnogood;foritcontributesnothingtotheextensionthatthefootisthusbound,astherestofthebodywillnolesssinkdowntothefoot,andthusthelimbwillnolongerbestretched,neitherwillitdoanygoodtowardkeepingthelimbinaproperposition,butwilldoharm,forwhentherestofthebodyisturnedtothissideorthat,thebandagingwillnotpreventthefootandthebonesbelongingtoitfromfollowingtherestofthebody。Forifithadnotbeenbounditwouldhavebeenlessdistorted,asitwouldhavebeenthelesspreventedfromfollowingthemotionoftherestofthebody。ButoneshouldsewtwoballsofEgyptianleather,suchasarewornbypersonsconfinedforalengthoftimeinlargeshackles,andtheballstheballsshouldhavecoatsoneachside,deepertowardthewound,butshortertowardthejoints;andtheballsshouldbewellstuffedandsoft,andfitwell,theoneabovetheankles,andtheotherbelowtheknee。Sidewaysitshouldhavebelowtwoappendages,eitherofasingleordoublethong,andshort,likeloops,theonesetbeingplacedoneithersideoftheankle,andtheotherontheknee。Andtheotherupperballshouldhaveothersofthesamekindinthesameline。
  Thentakingfourrods,madeofthecorneltree,ofequallength,andofthethicknessofafinger,andofsuchlengththatwhenbenttheywilladmitofbeingadjustedtotheappendages,careshouldbetakenthattheextremitiesoftherodsbearnotupontheskin,butontheextremitiesoftheballs。Thereshouldbethreesetsofrods,ormore,onesetalittlelongerthananother,andanotheralittleshorterandsmaller,sothattheymayproducegreaterorlessdistention,ifrequired。Eitherofthesesetsofrodsshouldbeplacedonthissideandthatoftheankles。Ifthesethingsbeproperlycontrived,theyshouldoccasionaproperandequableextensioninastraightline,withoutgivinganypaintothewound;forthepressure,ifthereisany,shouldbethrownatthefootandthethigh。Andtherodsarecommodiouslyarrangedoneithersideoftheankles,soasnottointerferewiththepositionofthelimb;andthewoundiseasilyexaminedandeasilyarranged。And,ifthoughtproper,thereisnothingtopreventthetwoupperrodsfrombeingfastenedtooneanother;
  andifanylightcoveringbethrownoverthelimb,itwillthusbekeptofffromthewound。If,then,theballsbewellmade,handsome,soft,andnewlystitched,andiftheextensionbytherodsbeproperlymanaged,ashasbeenalreadydescribed,thisisanexcellentcontrivance;butifanyofthemdonotfitproperly,itdoesmoreharmthangood。Andallothermechanicalcontrivancesshouldeitherbeproperlydone,ornotbehadrecoursetoatall,foritisadisgracefulandawkwardthingtousemechanicalmeansinanunmechanicalway。
  31。Moreover,thegreaterpartofphysicianstreatfractures,bothwithandwithoutanexternalwound,duringthefirstdays,bymeansofunwashedwool,andtheredoesnotappeartobeanythingimproperinthis。Itisveryexcusableforthosewhoarecalledupontotreatnewly-receivedaccidentsofthiskind,andwhohavenoclothforbandagesathand,todothemupwithwool;for,exceptclothforbandages,onecouldnothaveanythingbetterthanwoolinsuchcases;butagooddealshouldbeusedforthispurpose,anditshouldbewellcardedandnotrough,forinsmallquantityandofabadqualityithaslittlepower。Butthosewhoapproveofbindingupthelimbwithwoolforadayortwo,andonthethirdandfourthapplybandages,andmakethegreatestcompressionandextensionatthatperiod,suchpersonsshowthemselvestobeignorantofthemostimportantprinciplesofmedicine;for,inaword,atnotimeisitsolittlepropertodisturballkindsofwoundsasonthethirdandfourthday;andallsortofprobingshouldbeavoidedonthesedaysinwhateverotherinjuriesareattendedwithirritation。For,generally,thethirdandfourthdayinmostcasesofwounds,arethosewhichgiverisetoexacerbations,whetherthetendencybetoinflammation,toafoulconditionofthesore,ortofevers。Andifanypieceofinformationbeparticularlyvaluablethisis;towhichofthemostimportantcasesinmedicinedoesitnotapply?andthatnotonlyinwoundsbutinmanyotherdiseases,unlessoneshouldcallallotherdiseaseswounds。Andthisdoctrineisnotdevoidofacertaindegreeofplausibility,fortheyarealliedtooneanotherinmanyrespects。Butthosewhomaintainthatwoolshouldbeuseduntilafterthefirstsevendays,andthenthatthepartsshouldbeextendedandadjusted,andsecuredwithbandages,wouldappearnottobeequallydevoidofproperjudgment,fortheproperjudgment,forthemostdangerousseasonforinflammationisthenpast,andthebonesbeingloosecanbeeasilysetafterthelapseofthesedays。Butstillthismodeoftreatmentisfarinferiortothatwithbandagesfromthecommencement;for,thelattermethodexhibitsthepatientontheseventhdayfreefrominflammation,andreadyforcompletebandagingwithsplints;whiletheformermethodisfarbehindinthisrespect,andisattendedwithmanyotherbadeffectswhichitwouldbetedioustodescribe。
  31a。Inthosecasesoffractureinwhichthebonesprotrudeandcannotberestoredtotheirplace,thefollowingmodeofreductionmaybepracticed:-Somesmallpiecesofironaretobepreparedliketheleverswhichthecuttersofstonemakeuseof,onebeingratherbroaderandanothernarrower;andthereshouldbethreeofthematleast,andstillmore,sothatyoumayusethosethatsuitbest;andthen,alongwithextension,wemustusetheseaslevers,applyingtheundersurfaceofthepieceofirontotheunderfragmentofthebone,andtheuppersurfacetotheupperbone;and,inaword,wemustoperatepowerfullywiththeleveraswewoulddouponastoneorapieceofwood。Thepiecesofironshouldbeasstrongaspossible,sothattheymaynotbend。Thisisapowerfulassistance,providedthepiecesofironbesuitable,andoneusethemproperlyaslevers。Ofallthemechanicalinstrumentsusedbymen,themostpowerfularethesethree,theaxisinperitrochio,thelever,andthewedge。
  Withoutthese,oneorall,mencouldnotperformanyoftheirworkswhichrequiregreatforce。Wherefore,reductionwiththeleverisnottobedespised,fortheboneswillbereducedinthisway,ornotatall。Butiftheupperfragmentwhichridesovertheotherdoesnotfurnishasuitablepointofsupportasuitablepointofsupportforthelever,buttheprotrudingpartissharp,youmustscoopoutofthebonewhatwillfurnishaproperplaceforthelevertoreston。Thelever,alongwithextension,maybehadrecoursetoonthedayoftheaccident,ortheaccident,ornextday,butbynomeansonthethird,thefourth,andthefifth。Forifthelimbisdisturbedonthesedays,andyetthefracturedbonesnotreduced,inflammationwillbeexcited,andthisnolessiftheyarereduced;
  forconvulsionsaremoreapttooccurifreductiontakeplace,thaniftheattemptshouldfail。Thesefactsshouldbewellknown,forifconvulsionsshouldcomeonwhenreductioniseffected,thereeffected,thereislittlehopeofrecovery;butitisofusetodisplacethebonesagainifthiscanbedonewithouttrouble。Foritisnotatthetimewhenthepartsareinaparticularlyrelaxedconditionthatconvulsionsandtetanusareapttosupervene,butwhentheyaremorethanusuallytense。Inthecasewearenowtreatingof,weshouldnotdisturbthelimbontheaforesaiddays,butstrivetokeepthewoundasfreefrominflammationaspossible,andespeciallyencouragesuppurationinit。Butwhensevendayshaveelapsed,orrathermore,iftherebenofever,andifthewoundbenotinflamed,thentherewillbelesstopreventanattemptatreduction,ifyouhopetosucceed;butotherwiseyouneednottakeandgivetroubleinvain。
  32。Whenyouhavereducedthebonestotheirplace,themodesoftreatment,whetheryouexpectthebonestoexfoliateornot,havebeenalreadydescribed。Allthosecasesinwhichanexfoliationofboneisexpected,shouldbetreatedbythemethodofbandagingwithcloths,beginningforthemostpartatthemiddleofthebandage,asisdonewiththedouble-headedbandage;butparticularattentionshouldbepaidtotheshapeofthewound,sothatitslipsmaygapeorbedistortedaslittleaspossibleunderthebandage。Sometimestheturnsofthebandagehavetobemadetotheright,andsometimestotheleft,andsometimesadouble-headedbandageistobeused。
  33。Itshouldbeknownthatbones,whichithasbeenfoundimpossibletoreduce,aswellasthosewhicharewhollydenudedofflesh,willbecomedetached。Insomecasestheupperpartoftheboneislaidbare,andinothersthefleshdiesallaround;and,fromasoreoflongstanding,certainofthebonesbecomecarious,andsomenot,somemore,andsomeless;andinsomethesmall,andinothersthelargebones。Fromwhathasbeensaiditwillbeseen,thatitisimpossibletotellinonewordwhentheboneswillseparate。Somecomeawaymorequickly,owingtotheirsmallness,andsomefrombeingmerelyfixedatthepoint;andsome,frompiecesnotseparating,butmerelyexfoliating,becomedriedupandputrid;andbesides,differentmodesoftreatmenthavedifferenteffects。Forthemostpart,thebonesseparatemostquicklyinthosecasesinwhichsuppurationtakesplacemostquickly,andwhennewfleshismostquicklyformed,andisparticularlysound,forthefleshwhichgrowsupbelowinthewoundgenerallyelevatesthepiecesofbone。Itwillbewellifthewholecircleoftheboneseparateinfortydays;forinsomecasesitisprotractedtosixtydays,andinsometomore;forthemoreporouspiecesofboneseparatemorequickly,butthemoresolidcomeawaymoreslowly;buttheothersmallersplintersinmuchlesstime,andothersotherwise。Aportionofbonewhichprotrudesshouldbesawnoffforthefollowingreasons:ifitcannotbereduced,andifitappearssons:thatonlyasmallpieceisrequiredinorderthatitmaygetbackintoitsplace;andifitbesuchthatitcanbetakenout,andifitoccasionsinconvenienceandirritatesanypartoftheflesh,andpreventsthelimbfrombeingproperlylaid,andif,moreover,itbedenudedofflesh,suchapieceofboneshouldbetakenoff。Withregardtotheothers,itisnotofmuchconsequencewhethertheybesawedoffornot。Foritshouldbeknownforcertain,thatsuchbonesasarecompletelydeprivedofflesh,andhavebecomedried,allseparatecompletely。Thosewhichareabouttoexfollateshouldnotbesawnoff。Thosethatwillseparatecompletelymustbejudgedoffromthesymptomsthathavebeenlaiddown。
  34。Suchcasesaretobetreatedwithcompressesandvinousapplications,asformerlylaiddownregardingboneswhichwillseparate。Wemustavoidwettingitatthebeginningwithanythingcold;forthereisdangeroffebrilerigors,andalsoofconvulsions;forconvulsionsareinducedbycoldthings,andalsosometimesbywounds。Itispropertoknowthatthemembersarenecessarilyshortenedinthosecasesinwhichtheboneshavebeenbroken,andhavehealedtheoneacrosstheother,andinthosecasesinwhichthewholecircleofthebonehasbecomedetached。
  35。Thosecasesinwhichtheboneofthethigh,orofthearm,protrudes,donoteasilyrecover。Forthebonesarelarge,andcontainmuchmarrow;andmanyimportantnerves,muscles,andveinsarewoundedatthesametime。Andifyoureducethem,convulsionsusuallysupervene;and,ifnotreduced,acutebiliousfeverscomeon,withsingultusandmortification。Thechancesofrecoveryarenotfewerinthosecasesinwhichthepartshavenotbeenreduced,noranyattemptsmadeatreduction。Stillmorerecoverinthosecasesinwhichthelower,thanthoseinwhichtheupperpartoftheboneprotrudes;
  andsomewillrecoverwhenreductionhasbeenmade,butveryrarelyindeed。Formodesoftreatmentandpeculiarityofconstitutionmakeagreatdifferenceastothecapabilityofenduringsuchaninjury。
  Anditmakesagreatdifferenceifthebonesofthearmandofthethighprotrudetotheinside;fortherearemanyandimportantvesselssituatedthere,someofwhich,ifwounded,willprovefatal;therearesuchalsoontheoutside,butoflessimportance。Inwoundsofthissort,then,oneoughtnottobeignorantofthedangers,andshouldprognosticatetheminduetime。Butifyouarecompelledtohaverecoursetoreduction,andhopetosucceed,andifthebonesdonotcrossoneanothermuch,andifthemusclesarenotcontracted(fortheyusuallyarecontracted),theleverinsuchcasesmaybeadvantageouslyemployed。
  36。Havingeffectedthereduction,youmustgiveanemollientdraughtofhelleborethesameday,providedithasbeenreducedonthedayoftheaccident,butotherwiseitshouldnotbeattempted。Thewoundshouldbetreatedwiththesamethingsasareusedinfracturesofthebonesofthehead,andnothingcoldshouldbeapplied;thepatientshouldberestrictedfromfoodaltogether,andifnaturallyofabiliousconstitution,heshouldhaveforadietalittlefragrantoxyglykysprinkledonwater;butifheisnotbilious,heshouldhavewaterfordrink;andiffeverofthecontinualtypecomeon,heistobeconfinedtothisregimenforfourteendaysatleast,butifhebefreeoffever,foronlysevendays,andthenyoumustbringhimbackbydegreestoacommondiet。Tothosecasesinwhichtheboneshavenotbeenreduced,asimilarcourseofmedicineshouldbeadministered,alongwiththesametreatmentofthesoresandregimen;andinlikemannerthesuspendedpartofthebodyshouldnotbestretched,butshouldratherbecontracted,soastorelaxthepartsaboutthewound。Theseparationofthebonesisprotracted,asalsowasformerlystated。Butoneshouldtrytoescapefromsuchcases,providedonecandosohonourably,forthehopesofrecoveryaresmall,andthedangersmany;andifthephysiciandonotreducethefracturedboneshewillbelookeduponasuponasunskillful,whilebyreducingthemhewillbringthepatientnearertodeaththantorecovery。
  37。Luxationsandsubluxationsatthekneearemuchmilderaccidentsthansubluxationsandluxationsattheelbow。Fortheknee-joint,inproportiontoitssize,ismorecompactthanthatofthearm,andhasamoreevenconformation,andisrounded,whilethejointofthearmislarge,andhasmanycavities。Andinaddition,thebonesofthelegarenearlyofthesamelength,fortheexternaloneovertopstheothertososmallanextentashardlytodeservebeingmentioned,andthereforeaffordsnogreatresistance,althoughtheexternalnerve(ligament?)atthehamarisesfromit;butthebonesofthefore-armareunequal,andtheshorterisconsiderablythickerthantheother,andthemoreslender(ulna?)protrudes,andpassesupabovethejoint,andtoit(theolecranon?)areattachedthenerves(ligaments?)
  whichgodownwardtothejunctionofthebones;andtheslenderbone(ulna?)hasmoretodowiththeinsertionoftheligamentsinthearmthanthethickbone(radius?)。Theconfigurationthenofthearticulations,andofthebonesoftheelbow,issuchasIhavedescribed。Owingtotheirconfiguration,thebonesatthekneeareindeedfrequentlydislocated,buttheyareeasilyreduced,fornogreatinflammationfollows,noranyconstrictionofthejoint。Theyaredisplacedforthemostparttotheinside,sometimestotheoutside,andoccasionallyintotheham。Thereductioninallthesecasesisnotdifficult,butinthedislocationsinwardandoutward,thepatientshouldbeplacedonalowseat,andthethighshouldbeelevated,butnotmuch。Moderateextensionforthemostpartsufficeth,extensionbeingmadeattheleg,andcounter-extensionatthethigh。
  38。Dislocationsattheelbowaremoretroublesomethanthoseattheknee,and,owingtotheinflammationwhichcomeson,andtheconfigurationofthejoint,aremoredifficulttoreduceifthebonesarenotimmediatelyreplaced。Forthebonesattheelbowarelesssubjecttodislocationthanthoseoftheknee,butaremoredifficulttoreduceandkeepintheirposition,andaremoreapttobecomeinflamedandankylosed。
  39。Forthemostpartthedisplacementsofthesebonesaresmall,sometimestowardtheribs,andsometimestotheoutside;andthewholearticulationisnotdisplaced,butthatpartofthehumerusremainsinplacewhichisarticulatedwiththecavityoftheboneoftheforearmthathasaprotuberance(ulna?)。Suchdislocations,towhateverside,areeasilyreduced,andtheextensionistobemadeinthelineofthearm,onepersonmakingextensionatthewrist,andanothergraspingthearmpit,whileathird,applyingthepalmofhishandtothepartofthejointwhichisdisplaced,pushesitinwardward,andatthesametimemakescounterpressureontheoppositesidenearthejointwiththeotherhand。
  40。Theendofthehumerusatthe,elbowgetsdisplaced(subluxated?)byleavingthecavityoftheulna。Suchluxationsreadilyyieldtoreduction,ifappliedbeforethepartsgetinflamed。Thedisplacementforthemostpartistotheinside,butsometimestotheoutside,andtheyarereadilyrecognizedbytheshapeofthelimb。Andoftensuchluxationsarereducedwithoutanypowerfulextension。Indislocationsinward,thejointistobepushedintoitsplace,whilethefore-armisbroughtroundtoastateofpronation。Sucharemostofthedislocationsattheelbow。
  41。Butifthearticularextremityofthehumerusbecarriedtoeithersideabovetheboneofthefore-arm,whichisprominent,intothehollowofthearm(?),thisrarelyhappens;butifitdoeshappen,extensioninthestraightlineisnotsoproperundersuchcircumstances;forinsuchamodeofextension,theprocessoftheulna(olecranon?)preventstheboneofthearm(humerus?)frompassingoverit。Indislocationsofthiskind,extensionshouldbemadeinthemannerdescribedwhentreatingofthebandagingoffracturedbonesofthearm,extensionbeingmadeupwardatthearmpit,whilethepartsattheelbowarepusheddownward,forinthismannercanthehumerusbemostreadilyraisedaboveitscavity;andwhensoraised,thereductioniseasywiththepalmsofthehand,theonebeingappliedsoastomakepressureontheprotuberantpartofthearm,andtheothermakingcounter-pressure,soastopushtheboneofthefore-armintothejoint。Thismethodanswerswithbothcases。Andperhapsthisisthemostsuitablemodeofreductioninsuchacaseofdislocation。Thepartsmaybereducedbyextensioninastraightline,butlessreadilythanthus。
  42。Ifthearmbedislocatedforward-thisrarelyhappens,indeed,butwhatwouldasuddenshocknotdisplace?formanyotherthingsareremovedfromtheirproperplace,notwithstandingagreatobstacle,-insuchaviolentdisplacementthepart(olecranon?)
  whichpassesabovetheprominentpartofthebonesislarge,andthestretchingofthenerves(ligaments?)isintense;andyetthepartshavebeensodislocatedincertaincases。Thefollowingisthesymptomofsuchadisplacement:thearmcannotbebentintheleastdegreeattheelbow,anduponfeelingthejointthenatureoftheaccidentbecomesobvious。If,then,itisnotspeedilyreduced,strongandviolentinflammation,attendedwithfever,willcomeon,butifonehappentobeonthespotatthetimeitiseasilyreduced。Apieceofhardlinencloth(orapieceofhardlinen,notverylarge,rolledupinaball,willbesufficient)istobeplacedacrossthebendoftheelbow,andthearmisthentobesuddenlybentattheelbow,andthehandbroughtuptotheshoulder。Thismodeofreductionissufficientinsuchdisplacements;andextensioninthestraightlinecanrectifythismannerofdislocation,butwemustuseatthesametimethepalmsofthehands,applyingtheonetotheprojectingpartofthehumerusatthebendofthearmforthepurposeofpushingitback,andapplyingtheotherbelowtothesharpextremityoftheelbow,tomakecounter-pressure,andinclinethepartsintothestraightline。Andonemayusewithadvantageinthisformofdislocationthemethodofextensionformerlydescribed,fortheapplicationofthebandagesinthecaseoffractureofthearm;butwhenextensionismade,thepartsaretobeadjusted,ashasbeenalsodescribedabove。
  43。Butifthearmbedislocatedbackward(butthisveryrarelyhappens,anditisthemostpainfulofall,andthemostsubjecttobiliousfeversofthecontinualtype,whichprovefatalinthecourseofafewdays),insuchacasethepatientcannotextendthearm。Ifyouarequicklypresent,byforcibleextensionthepartsmayreturntotheirplaceoftheirownaccord;butiffeverhavepreviouslycomeon,youmustnolongerattemptreduction,forthepainwillberenderedmoreintensebyanysuchviolentattempt。Inaword,nojointwhatevershouldbereducedduringtheprevalenceoffever,andleastofalltheelbow-joint。
  44。Therearealsoothertroublesomeinjuriesconnectedwiththeelbow-joint;forexample,thethickerbone(radius?)issometimepartiallydisplacedfromtheother,andthepatientcanneitherperformextensionnorflexionproperly。Thisaccidentbecomesobviousuponexaminationwiththehandatthebendofthearmnearthedivisionoftheveinthatrunsupthemuscle。Insuchacaseitisnoteasytoreducethepartstotheirnaturalstate,norisiteasy,intheseparationofanytwobonesunitedbysymphysis,torestorethemtotheirnaturalstate,fortherewillnecessarilybeaswellingattheseatofthediastasis。Themethodofbandagingajointhasbeenalreadydescribedintreatingoftheapplicationofbandagestotheankle。
  45。Incertaincasestheprocessoftheulna(olecranon?)behindthehumerusisbroken;sometimesitscartilaginouspart,whichgivesorigintotheposteriortendonofthearm,andsometimesitsforepart,atthebaseoftheanteriorcoronoidprocess;andwhenthisdisplacementtakesplace,itisapttobeattendedwithmalignantfever。Thejoint,however,remainsinplace,foritswholebaseprotrudesatthatpoint。Butwhenthedisplacementtakesplacewhereitsheadovertopsthearm,thejointbecomeslooserifthebonebefairlybrokenacross。Tospeakingeneralterms,allcasesoffracturedbonesarelessdangerousthanthoseinwhichthebonesarenotbroken,buttheveinsandimportantnerves(tendons?)situatedintheseplacesarecontused;fortheriskofdeathismoreimmediateinthelatterclassofcasesthanintheformer,ifcontinualfevercomeon。Butfracturesofthisnatureseldomoccur。
  46。Itsometimeshappensthattheheadofthehumerusisfracturedatitsepiphysis;andthis,althoughitmayappeartobeamuchmoretroublesomeaccident,isinfactamuchmilderonethantheotherinjuriesatthejoint。
  47。Thetreatmentespeciallybefittingeachparticulardislocationhasbeendescribed;andithasbeenlaiddownasarule,thatimmediatereductionisoftheutmostadvantage,owingtotherapidmannerinwhichinflammationofthetendonssupervenes。Forevenwhentheluxatedpartsareimmediatelyreduced,thetendonsusuallybecomestiffened,andforaconsiderabletimepreventextensionandflexionfrombeingperformedtotheordinaryextent。aretobetreatedinasimilarway,whethertheextremityofthearticulatingbonebesnappedoff,whetherthebonesbeseparated,orwhethertheybedislocated;fortheyarealltobetreatedwithplentyofbandages,compresses,andcerate,likeotherfractures。Thepositionofthejointinallthesecasesshouldbethesame,aswhenafracturedarmorfore-armhasbeenboundup。Forthisisthemostcommonpositioninalldislocations,displacements,andfractures;anditisthemostconvenientforthesubsequentmovements,whetherofextensionorflexion,asbeingtheintermediatestagebetweenboth。Andthisisthepositioninwhichthepatientcanmostconvenientlycarryorsuspendhisarminasling。Andbesides,ifthejointistobestiffenedbycallus,itwerebetterthatthisshouldnottakeplacewhenthearmisextended,forthispositionwillbeagreatimpedimentandlittleadvantage;ifthearmbewhollybent,itwillbemoreuseful;butitwillbemuchmoreconvenienttohavethejointintheintermediatepositionwhenitbecomesankylosed。Somuchwithregardtoposition。
  48。Inbandaging,theheadofthefirstbandageshouldbeplacedattheseatoftheinjury,whetheritbeacaseoffracture,ofdislocation,orofdiastasis(separation?),andthefirstturnsshouldbemadethere,andthebandagesshouldbeappliedmostfirmlyatthatplace,andlesssooneitherside。Thebandagingshouldcomprehendboththearmandthefore-arm,andonbothshouldbetoamuchgreaterextentthanmostphysiciansapplyit,sothattheswellingmaybeexpelledfromtheseatoftheinjurytoeitherside。
  Andpointofthefore-armshouldbecomprehendedinthebandaging,whethertheinjurybeinthatplaceornot,inorderthattheswellingmaynotcollectthere。Inapplyingbandages,wemustavoidasmuchaspossibleaccumulatingmanyturnsofthebandageatthebendofthearm。Fortheprincipalcompressionshouldbeattheseatoftheinjury,andthesamerulesaretobeobserved,andatthesameperiods,withregardtocompressionandrelaxation,asformerlydescribedrespectingthetreatmentofbrokenbones;andthebandagesshouldberenewedeverythirdday;andtheyshouldappearlooseonthethirdday,asintheothercase。Andsplintsshouldbeappliedatthepropertime(forthereisnothingunsuitableinthem,whetherthebonesbefracturedornot,providedthereisnofever);theyshouldbeparticularlyloose,whetherappliedtothearmortheforearm,buttheymustnotbethick。Itisnecessarythattheyshouldbeofunequalsize,andthattheoneshouldrideovertheother,wheneverfromtheflexionitisjudgedproper。Andtheapplicationofthecompressesshouldberegulatedinthesamemannerashasbeenstatedwithregardtothesplints;andtheyshouldbeputoninasomewhatmorebulkyformattheseatoftheinjury。Theperiodsaretobeestimatedfromtheinflammation,andfromwhathasbeenwrittenonthemabove。