CHAP. XLIX. Of the dislocated Knee.
THe knee also may be dislocated three manner of waies, that is, into the in∣ner, outer, and hinde part, but very seldom towards the foreside and that * 1.1 not without some grievous and forcible violence; for the Whirle-bone lying upon it, hinders it from slipping out, and holds it in. The other wayes are easie, because the cavity of the leg-bone is superficiary and very smooth, but the cavity of the lower end of the thigh-bone is made in the maner of a spout or gutter, & besids the head therof is very smooth and slippery; but the whole joint is much more laxe than the joint of the Elbow: so that as it may be the more easily di∣slocated, so may it the better be restored; and as it may be the more easily, so may it * 1.2 be the more safely dislocated, for that inflammation is lesse to bee feared here, as it is observed by Hippocrates. Falls from high, leaping, and too violent running are the causes of this dislocation. The signe thereof is the disability of bending or lifting up the legge to the thigh, so that the patient cannot touch his buttocke with his heele. The dislocation of the knee which is inwardly and outwardly is restored with in∣different * 1.3 extension and forcing of the bones into their seats from those parts where∣unto they have fallen. But to restore a dislocation made backwards, the patient shall be placed upon a bench of an indifferent height, so that the Surgeon may be behind