Fracture of the Arm Below the Elbow, or Forearm.
—Both the bones of the forearm are generally broken to-
gether; but it sometimes happens that only one of them is
broken. In this case it is not always easy to discern the
nature of the accident, as the uninjured bone will act as a splint
to the other, and help to disguise the ordinary symptoms of
fracture. Crepitation, may, however, generally be detected by
taking in one hand the arm at or below the elbow, and gently
rotating the hand on the arm. The bones, if displaced,
should be set, that is, replaced in their proper position, by
gently drawing the hand in a straight line from the elbow,
which, for that purpose, should be held by an assistant. When
the bones are set, the arm should be well washed with soap
and water, and dusted with powdered starch or oxide of zinc.
Two well padded splints should then be applied on each side
of the arm, and strapped down with plaster. After this, the
whole arm should e placed in a sling, taking that it i§
336 MEDICINAL.
always carried with the palm of the hand towards the bojy,
that is, with the thumb uppermost. The reason of this is that,
in that position the two bones are furthest apart, and there is
no danger of the wrong bones uniting. The splints should
not be too tight to begin with, as the arm will swell a little at
first; they should, however, be gradually tightened as the
swelling subsides. The most common fracture in this region
occurs just above the wrist, and in this the deformity is very
great.
The splints in fractures of both bones of the forearm
should not be removed under five weeks; if, however, only
one bone is broken, four weeks will suffice.
Fractures of the Fingers and Hands. — When any of
the bones of the fingers are broken, they are best treated by
placing the whole hand, sandwich fashion, between two well
padded splints, strapping them together by means of leather
straps or adhesive plaster. When the bones in the middle of
the palm of the hand are broken, the patient should be made
to grasp a ball of tow, or cotton-wool, and the hand should be
bandaged in that position; but if either of the outside bones
are broken, the hand should be put up as described under
" Broken Fingers."
Fractures of the Thigh. — These may be recognized
by the great deformity, the limb beihg generally shortened,
the inability of the patient to stand on the injured leg, and
the unnatural mobility of the limb. The proper treatment of
fracture of this bone can scarcely be efficiently applied by a
non-professional person.
Fracture of Leg Below the Knee. — In this region
there are two bones; one, which is commonly called the shin-
bone, may be distinctly felt down the front of the leg, and for
about an inch on the inside of the leg. The other, which is
much smaller, is on the outside of the leg, and forms the outer
ankle. It can only be felt distinctly in two spots, the one where
it forms the prominence of the ankle, and the other where it is
attached, just below the knee-joint. In the intermediate
space it is embedded in the muscles, and, except with persons
of exceptionally small calves, cannot be detected. For the
above reasons it will be seen that fractures of this bone are i'ai
more difficult to detect than are fractures of the shin bona,
whilst fractures of both bones are comparatively easy oi
MEDICINAL.
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Page 242
Presented as published in 1883. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
AI-modernized reading of the original text
Fracture of the Arm Below the Elbow, or Forearm. —Both the bones of the forearm are generally broken together; but it sometimes happens that only one of them is broken. In this case it is not always easy to discern the nature of the accident, as the uninjured bone will act as a splint to the other, and help to disguise the ordinary symptoms of fracture. Crepitation may, however, generally be detected by taking in one hand the arm at or below the elbow, and gently rotating the hand on the arm. The bones, if displaced, should be set, that is, replaced in their proper position, by gently drawing the hand in a straight line from the elbow, which, for that purpose, should be held by an assistant. When the bones are set, the arm should be well washed with soap and water, and dusted with powdered starch or oxide of zinc. Two well padded splints should then be applied on each side of the arm, and strapped down with plaster. After this, the whole arm should be placed in a sling, taking that it is
always carried with the palm of the hand towards the bojy, that is, with the thumb uppermost. The reason of this is that, in that position the two bones are furthest apart, and there is no danger of the wrong bones uniting. The splints should not be too tight to begin with, as the arm will swell a little at first; they should, however, be gradually tightened as the swelling subsides. The most common fracture in this region occurs just above the wrist, and in this the deformity is very great.
The splints in fractures of both bones of the forearm should not be removed under five weeks; if, however, only one bone is broken, four weeks will suffice.
Fractures of the Fingers and Hands. — When any of the bones of the fingers are broken, they are best treated by placing the whole hand, sandwich fashion, between two well padded splints, strapping them together by means of leather straps or adhesive plaster. When the bones in the middle of the palm of the hand are broken, the patient should be made to grasp a ball of tow, or cotton-wool, and the hand should be bandaged in that position; but if either of the outside bones are broken, the hand should be put up as described under " Broken Fingers."
Fractures of the Thigh. — These may be recognized by the great deformity, the limb being generally shortened, the inability of the patient to stand on the injured leg, and the unnatural mobility of the limb. The proper treatment of fracture of this bone can scarcely be efficiently applied by a non-professional person.
Fracture of Leg Below the Knee. — In this region there are two bones; one, which is commonly called the shinbone, may be distinctly felt down the front of the leg, and for about an inch on the inside of the leg. The other, which is much smaller, is on the outside of the leg, and forms the outer ankle. It can only be felt distinctly in two spots, the one where it forms the prominence of the ankle, and the other where it is attached, just below the knee-joint. In the intermediate space it is embedded in the muscles, and, except with persons of exceptionally small calves, cannot be detected. For the above reasons it will be seen that fractures of this bone are far more difficult to detect than are fractures of the shin bona, whilst fractures of both bones are comparatively easy of
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