Ars chirurgica a compendium of the theory and practice of chirurgery in seven books ... shewing the names, causes, signs, differences, prognosticks, and various intentions of curing all kinds of chirurgick diseases ... : to which is added Pharmacopoeia chirurgica, or, The medical store, Latin and English ... / by William Salmon ...

CHAP. XXXIV. Of a FRACTƲRE of the FOOT.

I. IT is called in Greek, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. in Latin, Fractura Ossis vel Ossium Pedis: and in English, a Fracture of a Bone, or Bones of the Foot.

II. Hippocrates, de Articulis, saith, That the Bones of the Feet, (as also of the Hands) cannot be broken, without a Wound of the Fleshy parts, by something very sharp or heavy: because these Bones are harder th••n ordinary, and therefore cannot suffer with∣out hurt of the adjacent Flesh.

III. Paulus Aegineta, lib. 6. cap. 106. saith, That the Ancle-bone can by no means be broken, not only by reason of its hardness, but because also, it is guarded and de∣fended round about.

IV. The Signs. A Fracture of the Bones of the Foot, is found both by sight and touching; be∣cause those parts, have but little Flesh about them; for common∣ly they stick out, upon their breaking.

V. The Prognosticks. A Fra∣cture in these parts is not very

dangerous, or of difficult cure; yet because the Member is full of Nerves, which are generally bruised and wounded; there are most vehement Pains, Inflam∣mations, and other evil Sym∣ptoms excited.

VI. If a violent Flux of Hu∣mors falls down upon the Part, the Cure will be exceeding difficult, by reason it is a depending Part.

VII. Otherwise, if no ill Sym∣ptoms occur, these Fractures will, be for the most part consolidated in about twenty days: except the Fra∣cture is near the Ancle; for then a longer time will be required.

VIII. The Cure. It is nearly the same with that in the Hand: there ought to be a due exten∣sion, and then with the Fin∣gers, the broken Bones are to be put in their proper places.

IX. This will be best done, if the Sick stands with the fractured Foot upon a Table, covered with a Woollen Cloth: then proper Me∣dicaments are to be apply'd, and the Foot is to be wrapp'd about with Swaths.

X. Splinters cannot well be im∣posed here, therefore Splenia ought to be used to cover the Part, and then the Fracture is to be bound up with Swaths; so the Bones being once put in their right places, they may be kept there.

XI. You are to have a Swath about two Inches broad, and four Yards long, which is to be rowled up to the middle, with two Heads.

XII. It is to begin with an Ap∣plication, and a Circumvolution about the Ancle, and then it must pass on to the Foot, and n•• like manner make a Circum. volution round it.

XIII. This done, with the same Swath, you must cross over the Metatarsus, making some Figures, in form of a Rhombus, or Diamond fashion, as also over the Toes: and then it is to be carried up again, to end above the Ankle.

XIV. But some are for carrying the Heads up the Leg, and then to end them above the Knee: this kind of Bandage is called the Sandal, and indifferently serves for any Fracture of the Bones of the Feet.

XV. The Situation and placing ought to be otherwise than in the Hands, for our Hands being gi∣ven us to lay hold with upon things, are to be placed in a crooked Figure: but our Feet being given us to stand upon, and to go withal, are to be situ∣ated in a straight Figure, lest their Action should be hindred, or depraved.

XVI. You must also take all imaginable care to hinder as much as may be Inflammation, and pre∣vent defluxion of Humors; for that, if they once have a recourse to those Parts, they seldom or ne∣ver after, suffer a Revulsion, without great difficulty.

XVII. Thus much upon Fra∣ctures: if you would see more upon this Subject, you must Read the most Learned Books of Hippocrates de Fracturis, and de Articulis, with the admirable Comment of Galen upon them, where possibly you may meet with much satisfacti∣on: and yet we think, that here∣in, we have omitted nothing, which is absolutly necessary for the Young Artist to know.