[p. 191] for it neither prevents
the body nor the leg from being moved without the thigh. And it creates
uneasiness by being brought down to the ham, and has a tendency to
produce what of all things should be avoided, namely, flexion at the
knee, for this completely disturbs the bandages; and when the thigh
and leg are bandaged, if one bend the limb at the knee, the muscles
necessarily assume another shape, and the broken bones are also necessarily
moved. Every endeavor then should be made to keep the ham extended.
But it appears to me, that a canal which embraces the limb from the
nates to the foot is of use. And moreover, a shawl should be put loosely
round at the ham, along with the canal, as children are swathed in
bed; and then, if the thigh-bone gets displaced either upward or to
the side, it can be more easily kept in position by this means along
with the canal. The canal then should be made so as to extend all
along the limb or not used at all.
Part 23
The extremity of the heel should be particularly attended to, so that
it may be properly laid, both in fractures of the leg and of the thigh.
For if the foot be placed in a dependent position, while the rest
of the body is supported, the limb must present a curved appearance
at the forepart of the leg; and if the heel be placed higher than
is proper, and if the rest of the leg be rather too low, the bone
at the forepart of the leg must present a hollow, more especially
if the heel of the patient be naturally large. But all the bones get
consolidated more slowly, if not laid properly, and if not kept steady
in the same position, and in this case the callus is more feeble.
Part 24
These things relate to cases in which there is fracture of the bones
without protrusion of the same or wound of any other kind. In those
cases in which the bones are simply broken across, and are not comminuted,
but protrude, if reduced the same day or next, and secured in their
place, and if there be no reason to anticipate that any splintered
bones will come away; and in those in which the broken bones do not
protrude, nor is the mode of fracture such that there is reason to
expect the splinters will come out, some physicians heal the sores
in a way which neither does much good nor harm, by means of a cleansing
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