[p. 181]to be made there. And at each time the bandages
are taken off, much hot water is to be used, for in all injuries at
joints the affusion of hot water in large quantity is to be had recourse
to. And the same symptoms of compression and relaxation should manifest
themselves in the same times, as in the cases formerly treated of,
and the subsequent bandagings should be conducted in like manner.
These cases get completely well for the most part in forty days, if
the patients have resolution to keep their bed; but if not, they are
subjected to the complaints formerly described, or still worse.
Part 11
In persons who jumping from any high object pitch upon their heel
with great force, the bones are separated, and the veins pour forth
their contents, owing to the contusion of the flesh surrounding the
bone, and hence a swelling and much pain supervene. For this bone
(os calcis) is not a small one, protrudes beyond the line of the leg,
and is connected with important veins and tendons; for the back tendon
of the leg is inserted into this bone. Such cases are to be treated
with cerate, and with compresses and bandages; and hot water is to
be used in large quantity; and they require many bandages, which ought
to be particularly good and appropriate. And if the patient happen
to have a tender skin about the heel, nothing is to be done to it;
but if, as some have it, the skin be thick and hardened, it is to
be pared down smoothly and thinned, but without wounding it. It is
not everybody who can apply the bandage properly in such cases; for
if one shall bind the parts, as in other accidents about the ankle,
sometimes bringing a fold round the foot and sometimes round the tendon,
these turns leave out the heel, which is the seat of the contusion,
and thus there is danger that the os calcis may sphacelate; and if
this should take place, the impediment may endure for life and also
in all the other cases of sphacelus, not proceeding from such a cause
as this; as when, from being carelessly allowed to lie in a certain
position during confinement to bed, the heel becomes black, or when
a serious wound has occurred in the leg and it is long of healing,
and is connected with the heel, or when the same thing happens in
the thigh, or when in any disease a protracted decubitus takes place
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