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CHAP. IIII. Of the binding up of Fractures associated with a wound.
IT sometimes happens, that a Fracture is associated by a wound, and yet * 1.1 for all this it is fit to binde the part with a Ligature, otherwise there will be no small danger of swelling, inflammation, and other ill ac∣cidents, by reason of the too plentifull affluxe of humors from the neighbouring parts. But it is not fit to endeavour to use that kinde of binding which is performed with manie circumvolutions or wrappings about. For, seeing the wound must bee dressed everie day, the part must each day necessarily be stirred, and the Ligature, consisting of so many windings, loosed; which thing will cause paine, and consequently hinder the knitting and uniting which is performed by rest. Therefore this kinde of binding may be performed by one onely rowling about the wound, and that with a rowler which consists of a twice or thrice doubled cloth, made in manner of a boulster, and sewed with as much conveniencie as you can, that it may be so large as to encompasse and cover all the wound, for these rea∣sons; which shall bee delivered at large in our Treatise of Fractures. But if the wound runne long-wayes, let the boulsters and splints be applyed to the sides of the wound, that so the lipps of the wound may bee pressed together, and the contained filth pressed forth. But if it be made over-thwart, we must abstaine from boulsters and splints: for that, in Galens opinion, they would dilate the wound, and the pu∣rulent * 1.2 matter would be pressed out, and cast back into the wound.