| [p. 252]they use them as artisans
to perform any sedentary work, such as that of a shoemaker or brazier.
Whether these things be true or not I do not know, but this I know,
that matters would be such as is represented, provided their children,
while infants, were to have their joints dislocated. The consequences
of dislocation inward at the hip-joint are much greater than of dislocation
outward at the hip-joint, but at the knee, although there be some
difference, it is less; but the mode of either impediment is peculiar,
their legs are more bandied when the dislocation is outward, but those
who have dislocation inward stand erect on their feet with less freedom.
In like manner, when the dislocation is at the anklejoint, if outward
they become vari (their toes are turned inward?), but they can stand;
but if the dislocation be inward they become valgi (their toes are
turned outward?), but they have less freedom of standing. The proportional
growth of their bones is as follows: in those cases in which the bone
of the leg is dislocated, the bones of the feet grow very little,
as being very near the injury, but the bones of the leg increase in
size, and with very little defect, but the fleshy parts (muscles?)
are wasted. But when the ankle-joint is in its natural state, but
the knee is dislocated, in these cases the bones of the leg do not grow in like manner, but become shortened, as being nearest the seat of the injury, and the bones of the feet also are atrophied, but not in the same proportion; because, as was said a little while ago, the ankle-joint is safe, and if they could use it, as in the case of club-foot, the bones of the foot would be still less atrophied. When the dislocation takes place at the hip-joint, the bone of the thigh, in this case, does not generally grow in like manner, as being the one nearest the seat of the injury, but becomes shorter than the sound one; but the growth of the bones of the leg is not
arrested in like manner; nor of those of the feet, for this reason, that there is no displacement between the bones of the thigh and leg, nor between those of the leg and foot; in those cases, however, the fleshy parts of the whole limb are atrophied; but if they could make use of the limb, the growth of the bones would be still more developed, as formerly stated, only the thigh, although its flesh would be much less wasted, would
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