[p. 245]make pressure more especially
at that spot. When matters are thus adjusted, one
person, or two if necessary, must press down the end of the board,
whilst others at the same time make extension and counter-extension
as along the body, as formerly described. Extension may also be made
with axles, which may either be fastened in the ground beside the
bench, or the post of the axles may be attached to the bench itself,
if you will make them perpendicular and overtopping (the bench?) a
little at both ends, or at either end of the bench. These powers are
easily regulated, so as to be made stronger or weaker, and they are
of such force, that if one were to have recourse to them for a mischievous
purpose, and not as a remedy, they would operate strongly in this
way also; for by making merely extension and counter-extension longitudinally,
without any additional force, one might make sufficient extension;
and if, without making extension at all, one were only to press down
properly with the board, sufficient force might be applied in this
way. Such powers, then, are excellent which admit of being so regulated,
that they can be made weaker and stronger as required. And the forces
are applied in the natural way; for the pressure above forces the
displaced parts into their place. Natural extension restores parts
which have come too near one another to their natural position. I,
then, am acquainted with no powers which are better or more appropriate
than these; for extension along the spine downward has no proper hold
at the bone called the os sacrum; and extension upward, along the
neck and head, has indeed a hold; but extension thus made is unseemly
to behold, and, besides, if increased, may occasion much mischief
otherwise. I once made trial of the following plan. Having placed
the patient on his back, I put below the hump a bladder, not inflated,
and afterward introduced air into the bladder by means of a brass
pipe connected with it. But the experiment did not succeed; for, when
the man was fairly extended, the bladder yielded, and the air could
not be forced into it; and, besides, the hump of the patient was apt
to slip off the distended bladder when they were pressed together.
But when I did not extend the man strongly, the bladder was swelled
up by the air, and the man became more bent forward
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