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CHAP. XIX. Of the fracture of a Hand.
THe bones of the Wrest, and After-wrest, may bee broken: but, * 1.1 in Hippocrates opinion, chiefly by that kind of fracture which is cal∣led a Sedes; now if they shal happen to be broken, this shal be the maner of restoring them. Let the Patient lay forth his hand upon some even * 1.2 and smooth table, then let your servant stretch forth the broken bones, & the work-master restore them thus extended, and put them in their proper seats. But being re∣stored, they must be kept in their places by such remedies as are used in other fra∣ctures; to wit, cerates, compresses, linnen clothes, and splints. Now the fractu∣red fingers shall be tyed or bound to their neighbours, that so they may the more easily, as bound to a stake, be kept in that state wherein they have been put by the hand of the Workeman. But these bones, seeing they are of a rare and spongie na∣ture, are in a short time and easily strengthened, or knit by a Callus. These things * 1.3 being done, the hollownesse or palme of the hand shall be filled with a Tennis ball, for thus the broken bones shall not only be more easily kept in their places, but also the fingers themselves shall be kept in a middle posture, that is, not wholly open, nor quite shut. If they be kept in any other figure, the ensuing Callus will either deprave or quite abolish that action of the hand, wherby we take hold of any thing. The case stands otherwise with the fractured Toes; for they shall bee kept straight and even out, lest they should hinder our going or standing.