CHAP. XIV. Of the Dislocation of the vertebrae, or Racke-bones of the necke.
THe other vertebrae of the necke may bee both dislocated and strained. Dislocation verily, unlesse it be speedily helped, brings sudden death: * 1.1 for, by this meanes the spinall marrow is presently opprest at the verie originall thereof, and the nerves, there-hence arising, suffer also together therewith, and principally those which serve for respiration; whereby it commeth to passe, that the animal spirit cannot come and disperse its selfe into the rest of the bodie lying thereunder; hence proceede sudden inflammation, the squinsie, and a difficultie, or rather a defect of breathing. But a straine or incom∣plete * 1.2 Luxation brings not the like calamitie: by this the vertebrae, a little moved out of their seats, are turned a little to the hinde or fore part, then the necke is wrested aside, the face lookes blacke, and there is difficultie of speaking and breathing. Such, whether dislocation or straine, is thus restored. The Patient must be set upon * 1.3 alowe seat, and then one must leane and lye with his whole weight upon his shoul∣ders; and the meane while the Surgeon must take the Patients head, about his eares, betwixt his hands, and so shake and move it to everie part, untill the vertebra be re∣stored to its place. We may know it is set by the sudden ceasing of the pain, which * 1.4 before grievously afflicted the Patient, and by the free turning and moving his head & neck everie way. After the restoring it, the head must be inclined to the part opposite to the Luxation, and the neck must bee bound up about the dearticulation of the shoulder; but yet so, that the ligature bee not too strait, lest by pressing the weazon and gullet, it straiten the passages of breathing and swallowing.