[p. 250]lead to error in judgment. Neither does
the limb at the groin admit of flexion as in the sound limb, and the
head of the bone is felt at the perineum too prominent. These, then,
are the symptoms attending dislocation of the thigh inward.
Part 52
When, then, a dislocation has not been reduced, but has been misunderstood
or neglected, the leg, in walking, is rolled about as is the case
with oxen, and the weight of the body is mostly supported on the sound
leg, and the limb at the flank, and the joint where the dislocation
has occurred is necessarily hollow and bent, while on the sound side
the buttock is necessarily rounded. For if one should walk with the
foot of the sound leg turned outward, the weight of the body would
be thrown upon the injured limb, but the injured limb could not carry
it, for how could it? One, then, is forced in walking to turn the
leg inward, and not outward, for thus the sound leg best supports
its own half of the body, and also that of the injured side. But being
hollow at the flank and the hip-joint, they appear small in stature,
and are forced to rest on a staff at the side of the sound leg. For
they require the support of a staff there, since the nates inclines
to this side, and the weight of the body is carried to it. They are
forced also to stoop, for they are obliged to rest the hand on the
side of the thigh against the affected limb; for the limb which is
injured cannot support the body in changing the legs, unless it be
held when it is applied to the ground. They who have got an unreduced
dislocation inward are forced to put themselves into these attitudes,
and this from no premeditation on their part how they should assume
the easiest position, but the impediment itself teaches them to choose
that which is most conformable to their present circumstances. For
persons who have a sore on the foot, or leg, and cannot rest upon
the limb, all, even children, walk in this way; for they turn the
injured limb outward in walking, and they derive two advantages therefrom,
to supply two wants; the weight of the body is not equally thrown
upon the limb turned outward, as upon the one turned inward, for neither
is the weight in a line with it, but is much more thrown upon the
one under the body; for the weight is in a straight line with it,
both in walking and in the shifting of the legs. In this
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