| [p. 242]forward, unless some very heavy weight should fall
upon it behind; for each of the posterior spinal processes is so constructed,
that it would sooner be broken than undergo any great inclination
forward from a force which would have to overcome the ligaments and
the articulations mutually connecting them. And the spinal marrow
would suffer, if from the displacement of a vertebra it were to be
bent even to a small extent; for the displaced vertebra would compress
the spinal marrow, if it did not break it; and if compressed and strangled,
it would induce insensibility of many great and important parts, so
that the physician need not give himself any concern about rectifying
the displacement of the vertebra, accompanied, as it is, by many other
ill consequences of a serious nature. It is evident, then, that such
a case could not be reduced either by succussion or by any other method,
unless one were to cut open the patient, and then, having introduced
the hand into one of the great cavities, were to push outward from
within, which one might do on the dead body, but not at all on the
living. Wherefore, then, do I write all this? Because certain persons
fancy that they have cured patients in whom the vertebra had undergone
complete dislocation forward. Some, indeed, suppose that this is the
easiest of all these dislocations to be recovered from, and that such
cases do not stand in need of reduction, but get well spontaneously.
Many are ignorant, and profit by their ignorance, for they obtain
credit from those about them. These are deceived in this way, for
they suppose the spinous processes to be the vertebrae themselves,
because every one of them appears round to the touch, not knowing
that these bones are processes from the vertebrae, as formerly stated;
but the vertebrae are at a considerable distance before them; for
of all animals, man, in proportion to his bulk, has the belly (internal
cavity?) the narrowest from behind to before, especially at the breast.
When, therefore, any of these processes are severely fractured, whether
one or more, the part there appears lower than on either side, and
for that reason they are deceived, supposing that the vertebrae are
displaced inward. And the attitudes of the patient contribute also to deceive them;
for if they attempt to put themselves into a bent position, they
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