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applies to the arm and to the leg。 If； then； extension by means of men
be sufficient； we should not have recourse to any useless
contrivances； for it any useless contrivances； for it is absurd to
employ mechanical means when not required； but if extension by men
be not sufficient； you may use any of the mechanical powers which is
suitable。 When sufficiently extended； it will be easy to adjust the
bones and bring them into their natural position； by straightening and
arranging them with the palms of the hand。
16。 When the parts are adjusted； you should apply the bandages while
the limb is in a stretched position； making the first turns to the
right or to the left； as may be most suitable； and the end of the
bandage should be placed over the fracture； and the first turns made
at that place； and then the bandage should be carried up the leg； as
described with regard to the other fractures。 But the bandages
should be broader and longer； and more numerous； in the case of the
leg than in that of the arm。 And when it is bandaged it should be laid
upon some smooth and soft object； so that it may not be distorted to
the one side or the other； and that there may be no protrusion of
the bones either forward or backward； for this purpose nothing is more
convenient than a cushion； or something similar； either of linen or
wool； and not hard； it is to be made hollow along its middle； and
placed below the limb。 With regard to the canals （gutters？） usually
placed below fractured legs； I am at a loss whether to advise that
they should be used or not。 For they certainly are beneficial； but not
to the extent which those who use them suppose。 For the canals do
not preserve the leg at rest as they suppose； nor； when the rest of
the body is turned to the one side or the other； does the canal
prevent the leg from following； unless the patient himself pay
attention； neither does the canal prevent the limb from being moved
without the body to the one side or the other。 And a board is an
uncomfortable thing to have the limb laid upon； unless something
soft be placed above it。 But it is a very useful thing in making any
subsequent arrangements of the bed and in going to stool。 A limb
then may be well or ill arranged with or without the canal。 But the
common people have more confidence； and the surgeon is more likely
to escape blame； when the canal is placed under the limb； although
it is not secundum artem。 For the limb should by all means lie
straight upon some level and soft object； since the bandaging must
necessarily be overcome by any distortion in the placing of the leg；
whenever or to whatever extent it may be inclined。 The patient； when
bandaged； should return the same answers as formerly stated； for the
bandaging should be the same； and the same swellings should arise in
the extremities； and the slackening of the bandages in like manner；
and the new bandaging on the third day； and the bandaged part should
be found reduced in swelling； and the new bandagings should be more
tightly put on； and more pieces of cloth should be used； and the
bandages should be carried loosely about the foot； unless the wound be
near the knee。 Extension should be made and the bones adjusted at
every new bandaging； for； if properly treated； and if the swelling
progress in a suitable manner； the bandaged limb will have become more
slender and attenuated； and the bones will be more mobile； and yield
more readily to extension。 On the seventh； the ninth； or the
eleventh day； the splints should be applied as described in treating
of the other fractures。 Attention should be paid to the position of
the splints about the ankles and along the tendon of the foot which
runs up the leg。 The bones of the leg get consolidated in forty
days； if properly treated。 But if you suspect that anything is wanting
to the proper arrangement of the limb； or dread any ulceration； you
should loose the bandages in the interval； and having put everything
right； apply them again。
17。 But if the other bone （fibula？） of the leg be broken； less
powerful extension is required； and yet it must not be neglected；
nor be performed slovenly； more especially at the first bandaging。 For
in all cases of fracture this object should be attained then as
quickly as possible。 For when the bandage is applied tight while the
bones are not properly arranged； the properly arranged； the part
becomes more painful。 The treatment otherwise is the same。
18。 Of the bones of the leg； the inner one； called the tibia； is the
more troublesome to manage； and requires the greater extension； and if
the broken bones are not properly arranged； it is impossible to
conceal the distortion； for the bone is exposed and wholly uncovered
with flesh； and it is much longer before patients can walk on the
leg when this bone is broken。 But if the outer bone be broken； it
causes much less trouble； and the deformity； when the bones are not
properly set； is much more easily concealed； the bone being well
covered with flesh； and the patients speedily get on foot； for it is
the inner bone of the leg which supports the most of the weight of the
body。 For along with the thigh； as being in a line with weight
thrown upon the thigh； the inner bone has more work to sustain；
inasmuch as it is the head of the thigh…bone which sustains the
upper part of the body； and it is on the inner and not on the outer
side of the thigh； being in a line with the tibia； and the other
half of the body approximates more to this line than to the external
one； and at the same time the inner bone is larger than the outer；
as in the fore…arm the bone in the line of the little finger is the
slenderer and longer。 But in the joint of the inferior extremity；
the disposition of the longer bone is not alike； for the elbow and the
ham are bent differently。 For these reasons when the external bone
is broken； the patients can soon walk about； but in fractures of the
inner； it is a long time before they can walk。
19。 When the thigh…bone is broken； particular pains should be
taken with regard to the extension that it may not be insufficient；
for when excessive； no great harm results from it。 For； if one
should bandage a limb while the extremities of the bone are
separated to a distance from one another by the force of the
extension； the bandaging will not keep them separate； and so the bones
will come together again as soon as the persons stretching it let go
their hold； for the fleshy parts （muscles？） being thick and strong；
are more powerful than the bandaging； instead of being less so。 In the
case then which we are now treating of； nothing should be omitted in
order that the parts may be properly distended and put in a straight
line； for it is a great disgrace and an injury to exhibit a
shortened thigh。 For the arm； when shortened； might be concealed；
and the mistake would not be great； but a shortened thigh…bone would
exhibit the man maimed。 For when the sound limb is placed beside it；
being longer than the other； it exposes the mistake； and therefore
it would be to the advantage of a person who would be improperly
treated that both his legs should be broken； rather than either