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CHAP. XIX. Of the fracture of a Hand.
THe Bones of the Wrist, and After-wrist, may be broken: but, in Hippocrates opinion,* 1.1 chiefly by that kinde of fracture which is called a Sedes; now if they shall happen to be broken, this shall be the manner of restoring them:* 1.2 Let the Patient lay forth his hand upon some even and smooth table; then let your servant stretch forth the broken bones, and the work-master restore them thus extended, and put them in their proper seats. But being resto∣red, they must be kept in their places by such remedies as are used in other fractures; to wit, cerates, compresses, linnen cloths, and splints. Now the fractured 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 Workman: But these bones, seeing they are of a rare and spongy nature, are in a short time and easily strengthened, or knit by a Callus.* 1.3 These things being done, the hollowness or palm 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 them∣selves 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, whereby we take hold of any thing. The case stands otherwise with the fractured Toes; for they shall be kept streight and even out, lest they should hinder our going or standing.