[p. 197] to recent wounds, or any other medicine
which will suit with the embrocation. And if it be the summer season,
the compresses are to be frequently damped with wine; but if the winter
season, plenty of greasy wool, moistened with wine and oil, should
be applied. And a goat's skin should be spread below, so as to carry
off the fluids which run from the wound; these must be guarded against,
and it should be kept in mind, that parts which remain long in the
same position are subject to excoriations which are difficult to cure.
Part 30
In such cases as do not admit of bandaging according to any of the
methods which have been described, or which will be described, great
pains should be taken that the fractured part of the body be laid
in a right position, and attention should be paid that it may incline
upward rather than downward. But if one would wish to do the thing
well and dexterously, it is proper to have recourse to some mechanical
contrivance, in order that the fractured part of the body may undergo
proper and not violent extension; and this means is particularly applicable
in fractures of the leg. There are certain physicians who, in all
fractures of the leg, whether bandages be applied or not, fasten the
sole of the foot to the couch, or to some other piece of wood which
they have fixed in the ground near the couch. These persons thus do
all sorts of mischief but no good; for it contributes nothing to the
extension that the foot is thus bound, as the rest of the body will
no less sink down to the foot, and thus the limb will no longer be
stretched, neither will it do any good toward keeping the limb in
a proper position, but will do harm, for when the rest of the body
is turned to this side or that, the bandaging will not prevent the
foot and the bones belonging to it from following the rest of the
body. For if it had not been bound it would have been less distorted,
as it would have been the less prevented from following the motion
of the rest of the body. But one should sew two balls of Egyptian
leather, such as are worn by persons confined for a length of time
in large shackles, and the balls should have coats on each
side, deeper toward the wound, but shorter toward the joints; and
the balls should be well stuffed and soft, and fit well, the one above
the
|
