[p. 230] above. If not reduced, the patient's life will
be in danger from continual fevers, coma attended with stupor (for
these muscles, when disordered and stretched preternaturally, induce
coma); and there is usually diarrhea attended with billous, unmixed,
and scanty dejections; and the vomitings, if any, consist of pure
bile, and the patients commonly die on the tenth day.
Part 32
In fracture of the lower jaw, when the bone is not fairly broken across,
and is still partially retained, but displaced, it should be adjusted
by introducing the fingers at the side of the tongue, and making suitable
counter-pressure on the outside; and if the teeth at the wound be
distorted and loosened, when the bone is adjusted, they should be
connected together, not only two, but more of them, with a gold thread,
if possible, but otherwise, with a linen thread, until the bone be
consolidated, and then the part is to be dressed with cerate, a few
compresses, and a few bandages, which should not be very tight, but
rather loose. For it should be well known that in fracture of the
jaw, dressing with bandages, if properly performed, is of little advantage,
but occasions great mischief if improperly done. Frequent examinations
should be made about the tongue, and prolonged pressure should be
applied with the fingers, in order to rectify the displaced bone.
It would be best if one could do so constantly, but that is impossible.
Part 33
But if the bone be fairly broken across (this, however, rarely happens),
it is to be set in the manner now described. When adjusted, the teeth
are to be fastened together as formerly described, for this will contribute
much toward keeping the parts at rest, especially if properly fastened,
and the ends of the thread secured with knots. But it is not easy
to describe exactly in writing the whole manipulation of the case;
but the reader must figure the thing to himself from the description
given. Then one must take a piece of Carthaginian leather; if the
patient be a younger person, it will be sufficient to use the outer
skin, but if an adult the whole thickness of the hide will be required;
it is to be cut to the breadth of about three inches, or as much as
will be required, and having smeared the jaw with a little gum (for
thus it sticks more pleasantly), the end of the skin is to be
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