De Medicina |
Translator: Walter George Spencer
|
|
| 209 |
Plantae ossa isdem modis quibus in manu prodeunt , isdemque conduntur . Fascia tantummodo calcem quoque debet comprehendere , ne , cum mediam plantam imumque eius uinciri necesse est , liber tal us in medio relictus materiam pleniorem recipiat ideoque suppuret .
|
23 The bones of the sole of the foot may come out like those of the hand, and are set after the same fashion. Only the bandage should also include the heel, in case, when the middle and front part of the sole have to be bandaged, if the ankle is left unbandaged, too much matter should accumulate there, and lead to suppuration. |
| 210 |
In digitis nihil ultra fieri debet quam quod in is , qui sunt in manu , positum est . Potest tamen conditus articulus medius aut summus canaliculo aliquo contineri .
|
24 For the toes the same treatment is required as was laid down for the fingers. But the middle or end joint when replaced may be fixed in some kind of gutter splint. |
| 211 |
Haec facienda sunt in is casibus , ubi sine uulnere ossa exciderunt . * * * Hic quoque et ingens periculum est , et eo grauius , quo maius membrum est , quoue ualidioribus neruis aut musculis continetur . Ideoque in umeris femoribusque metus mortis est : ac , si reposita e is ossa sunt , spes nulla est ; si non reposita , tamen nonnullum periculum est ; eoque maior in utroque timor est , quo propius uulnus articulo est . Hippocrates nihil t uto reponi posse praeter digitos et plantas et manuus dixit , atque in his quoque diligenter esse agendum , ne praecipitarent . Quidam brachia quoque et crura reposuerunt ; et ne cancri distentionesque neruorum orirentur , sub quibus in eiusmodi casu f ere mors matura e st , sanguinem ex brachio miserunt . Verum ne digitus quidem , in quo minimum ut malum , sic etiam periculum est , reponi debet , aut in inflammatione aut postea , cum iam uetus res est . Sic quoque reposito osse nerui ubi distenduntur , rursus id protinus expellendum est . Omne autem membrum , quod cum uulnere loco motum neque repositum est , sic iacere conuenit , ut maxime cubantem iuuat ; tantum ne moueatur neue dependeat . In omnique tali mo rbo magnum ex longa fame praesidium est , deinde ex curatione eadem , quae proposita est , ubi ossibus fractis uulnus accessit . Si nudum os eminet , impedimento semper futurum est : id eo quod excedit abscidendum est , inponendaque super arida linamenta sunt et medicamenta non pinguia , donec quae sola esse in eiusmodi re sanitas potest , ueniat : nam et debilitas sequitur et tenuis cicatrix inducitur , quae necesse est facile noxae postea pateat .
|
25 This is the treatment for those cases in which no wound accompanies the dislocation. . . . In these cases too there is not only great danger but it is more serious, the larger the limb, and the more powerful the sinews and muscles controlling it. Hence in the case of the shoulder and hip joints there is risk of death: and if the bones are set, there is no hope at all; if not, there is still some danger, and in either case the nearer the wound is to the joint the greater the cause for anxiety. Hippocrates said that no such dislocation could be replaced safely except those of fingers and toes, and feet and hands, and even in these cases it was best not to be in a hurry. Some have also replaced elbows and knees; and have then let blood at the elbow, lest gangrene and spasm should arise, after which generally in such cases an early death follows. Even a finger, in which the damage and therefore the damage is least, ought not to be reset whilst there is inflammation, or indeed at a later stage when the condition is of long standing. Moreover, when after replacement the sinews become tense, the bone should at once be put out again. Where there is a dislocation and a wound as well, the limb which has not been seet should lie in the position easiest to the patient; only it must not be moved or hang downwards. In every disorder of this kind there is great advantage in prolonged abstinence, and then in the treatment described above for fractured bones when there is also a wound. If bare bone projects, it will always be troublesome; hence the projection is to be sawn away and dry lint and medicaments without lard put on, until what is possible in the way of healing for such a case is arrived at; for weakness of the limb follows and the scar that forms is thin, and this of necessity is afterwards readily subject to injury. |