CHAP. II. Of the signes of a Fracture.
WE may know by evident signes that a bone is broken: the first whereof, and most certaine, is, when by handling the part which * 1.1 we suspect to be broken, wee feele peeces of the bone severed a-sunder, and heare a certaine crackling of these peeces under our hands, caused by the attrition of the shattered bones. Another signe is taken from the impotencie of the part, which chiefly be∣wrayes * 1.2 its selfe, when both the bones, the legge, and brace-bones, the ell and wand are broken. For if onely the brace-bone or wand be broken, the Patient may goe on his legge, and stirre his arme: for the brace-bone serves for the sustaining of the muscles, and not of the bodie, as the legge bone doth. The third * 1.3 signe is drawne from the figure of the part changed besides nature: for it is there hollow, from whence the bone is flowne or gone, but gibbous or bunching out whither it is runne. Great paine in the interim torments the patient by reason of the wronged periostium, and that membrane which involves the marrow and the sympathie of the adjacent parts which are compressed or pricked.