[p. 174] many mistakes and marks of ignorance are committed, regarding the natural construction of the arm. But if one will extend a broken
arm as I direct, he will turn the bone, situated at the extremity
of the little finger, into the straight line, and also the one at
the elbow, and the tendons which stretch from the carpus to the extremity
of the humerus will be placed in the straight line; and when the arm
is suspended in a sling, it will be in the same attitude as that in
which it was bound up, and will give no pain to the patient when he
walks about, nor when he lies reclined, and will not become fatigued.
The man should be so seated that the prominent part of the bone may
be turned to the brightest light which is at hand, so that the operator
in making the extension, may be at no loss to discover if it be sufficiently
straight. The prominence of a broken bone could not escape being detected
by the hand of an experienced person, when applied for this purpose,
and, moreover, the projecting part is particularly painful to the
touch.
Part 4
In cases of fracture in either of the bones of the forearm, it is
easier to effect a cure if the upper bone be broken, although it be
the thicker one, both because the sound bone is situated below, and
forms a support to it, and because the deformity is more easily concealed,
there being a thick mass of flesh on the upper side, except near to
the wrist. But the lower bone is without a covering of flesh, is not
easily concealed, and requires stronger extension. If it is not this
bone, but the other which is broken, a more feeble extension proves
sufficient, but if both be broken, a more powerful extension is required.
In the case of a young person I have known the extension made more
strong than was necessary, but in general the extension made is less
than what is required. And when they are extended, the physician should
apply the palms of the hands, and adjust the fractured parts and then
having rubbed the parts with cerate, but not in large quantity so
that the bandages may not come off, it is to be bound up in this state,
care being taken that the hand be not lower than the elbow, but a
little higher, so that the blood do not flow toward the extremity,
but may be determined to the upper part; and then it is to be secured
with the bandage,
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