CHAP. XXXIX. Of a dislocated Thigh, or Hip.
THe Thigh or Hip may bee disloeated, and fall forth towards all the four parts But most frequently inwards, next to that outwards,* 1.1 but verie seldom either forwards or backwards. A subluxation cannot happen in this joint, as nei∣ther in the shoulder, especially from an external caus, contrarie to which it usually happen's in the elbow, hand, knee, and foot. The caus hereof is, for that the heads of the thigh and shoulder-bone are exactly round, and the sockets which re∣ceiv them have certain borders and edges encompassing them: hereunto may bee added,* 1.2 that strong muscles encompass each dearticulation, so that it cannot com to pass that part of the heads of such bones may bee contained in the cavitie, and other parts stand or fall forth, but that they will quickly bee restored to their places by the motion and wheeling about of the joint, and the strength of the encompassiing muscles. But a subluxation may seem to happen in these parts from an internal caus. For then the ligaments and ties being soft∣ned and relaxed, cannot draw and carrie back the head of the bone standing forth so far as the edges of the socket. If the Hip bee dislocated towards the inner part,* 1.3 that leg bee∣com's longer and larger than the other, but the knee appear's somwhat lower, and look's outwardly with the whole foot, neither can the patient stand upon his leg. To conclude, the head of the Thigh-bone bewray's it self lying in the groin, with a swelling manifest both to the eie and hand; now the leg is longer than that which is sound, for that the head of the thigh is out of it's socket or cavitie, and situated lower, to wit, in the groin, therefore the leg is made by so much the larger. Now the knee stand's forth, becaus neces∣sarily the lower head of the thigh-bone stand's contrary to the socket. For this is com∣mon to all dislocated bones, that when as the dislocation happen's to the one side, the o∣ther end of the bone flie's out to the contrarie. Whence it is, that if the upper-head of the thigh-bone shall fall inwards, then the other head, which is at the knee, must necessarily look outwards. The like happen's in other dislocations. The leg cannot bee bended to∣wards the groin, for that the dislocated bone hold's the extending muscles of the same part so stiffly stretched out, that they cannot yield, or applie themselvs to the benders. For flexion or bending ought to precede extension, and extension, flexion.