detection from the deformity they cause. In fractures of both
bones, or of the shin-bone alone, the patient should be placed
in bed on his back, with the broken leg supported upon a pil-
low, and should remain so until any swelHiig of the leg has
gone down. If only the outer, or smaller, bone is broken, a
few days rest will allow of the application of egg and flour, or
gum and chalk bandage.
The larger bone, or both, being broken, a well padded
splint may be applied up each side of the leg, extending to the
foot, and bound on with a calico bandage, or by leather
straps. The splint on the outer side must be cut away so as
not to exert undue pressure on the ankle bone. A cross-piece
may be fixed so as to support the sole of the foot at a right
angle to the leg, by means of a few turns of bandage. Before
the splints are finally bandaged on, care must be taken that the
bones of the leg are placed in a straight position, and as nearly
as possible to their natural position. This may be judged of
by comparing the relative positions of the great toes. The
setting of the bones may be effected by an assistant holding
the thigh steady, while firm but gentle extension is made from
the foot. If there be no displacement of the broken bones,
the use of starch and egg, or gum and chalk bandages will
give a firm support to the limb.
^"•'iiiliiillillllllltllllllltHllililltlilUiii^'
FractUx^e of the Knee Cap. — This may be distinctly
felt over the knee joint by the space between the broken edges,
and by the loss of power in extending the leg.
Treatment. — The limb should be put quite straight, and
raised on a pillow. The patient should keep on his back. By
these means the two portions of the bones will be brought
as near to each other as possible. There will be great swelling
of the part, which should be treated with cold water dressing.
When this has subsided, two handkerchiefs should be placed
round the leg, one above the upper fragment, and the other
below the lower one, and these should be connected by pieces
of tape. The handkerchiefs may be gradually drawn nearer
and nearer together. The nearer they -approach each other,
the nearer the two fragments will come together, and the pieces
will be firmly knit together. This position and bandaging
22
338
MEDICINAL.
should be maintained for a month, at the end of which time
the patient should be allowed to move the limb gently until he
regains the use of the limb.
Broken Ribs. — The best method of detection of this
injury is to place the hand over the painful spot, and to make
the patient breathe as deeply as possible. By this means crepi-
tation or grating caused by the rubbing of the fractured ends
of the bone together, may be sometimes detected; but as it is
by no means certain that this can be always detected, and as it
is the only sign by which a broken rib can absolutely be
detected, it will be advisable to treat in all cases of doubt as if
there were a fracture.
Page 243
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
detection from the deformity they cause. In fractures of both bones, or of the shin-bone alone, the patient should be placed in bed on his back, with the broken leg supported upon a pillow, and should remain so until any swelling of the leg has gone down. If only the outer, or smaller, bone is broken, a few days rest will allow of the application of egg and flour, or gum and chalk bandage.
The larger bone, or both, being broken, a well padded splint may be applied up each side of the leg, extending to the foot, and bound on with a calico bandage, or by leather straps. The splint on the outer side must be cut away so as not to exert undue pressure on the ankle bone. A cross-piece may be fixed so as to support the sole of the foot at a right angle to the leg, by means of a few turns of bandage. Before the splints are finally bandaged on, care must be taken that the bones of the leg are placed in a straight position, and as nearly as possible to their natural position. This may be judged of by comparing the relative positions of the great toes. The setting of the bones may be effected by an assistant holding the thigh steady, while firm but gentle extension is made from the foot. If there be no displacement of the broken bones, the use of starch and egg, or gum and chalk bandages will give a firm support to the limb.
'
Fracture of the Knee Cap. — This may be distinctly felt over the knee joint by the space between the broken edges, and by the loss of power in extending the leg.
Treatment. — The limb should be put quite straight, and raised on a pillow. The patient should keep on his back. By these means the two portions of the bones will be brought as near to each other as possible. There will be great swelling of the part, which should be treated with cold water dressing. When this has subsided, two handkerchiefs should be placed round the leg, one above the upper fragment, and the other below the lower one, and these should be connected by pieces of tape. The handkerchiefs may be gradually drawn nearer and nearer together. The nearer they -approach each other, the nearer the two fragments will come together, and the pieces will be firmly knit together. This position and bandaging
should be maintained for a month, at the end of which time the patient should be allowed to move the limb gently until he regains the use of the limb.
Broken Ribs. — The best method of detection of this injury is to place the hand over the painful spot, and to make the patient breathe as deeply as possible. By this means crepitation or grating caused by the rubbing of the fractured ends of the bone together, may be sometimes detected; but as it is by no means certain that this can be always detected, and as it is the only sign by which a broken rib can absolutely be detected, it will be advisable to treat in all cases of doubt as if there were a fracture.