Fractures and dislocations / by T. Pickering Pick.

  • Thomas Pickering Pick
Date:
1885
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Fractures and dislocations / by T. Pickering Pick. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    63/548 (page 51)
    laid on the calico and the leg on the blanket, and the fracture having been reduced, the spliiit is strapped tightly round the limb with two straps, one at the ankle, tlie other at the knee. On an emergency, many articles generally to be found in any house may be utilised in forming a very serviceable splint; a piece of deal plank, the sides and lid of a cigar box, a bandbox, a piece of cardboard, and even an old hat, will often be found extremely useful in forming an impromptu splint. All splints must be carefully padded with cotton- wool or tow, or, what is perhaps better, on account of its gi-eater elasticity, sheep's wool. The padding must be evenly distributed, so as not to be lumpy and un- comfortable and should ovei'lap somewhat the edges of the splint. Splints are generally fastened to the limb by web- bing or bandages. The former is the preferable material in most cases. A stout piece of webbing, with a buckle attached at one end, is made to encircle the limb above and below the fracture. By tightening the buckles the splints are attached to the limb with any degree of firmness required, and if two splints only be used the seat of the fractui'e is exposed to view, and any dis- placement, should it occur, is at once detected. In selecting and applying the proper splints for any case the follov/ing rules should be borne in mind. (1) 7'hat they should be as simple as possible, so long a.s they are efficient; (2) that they should be suffi- ciently broad to extend beyond the limb, when applied, .so as not to press upon it; (3) that, as far as possible, they .should be sufficiently long to embrace the joint aVjove and below the seat of fracture ; for instance, in fracture of the leg the splints should extend aljove the knee and below the ankle. This rule, however, is not capable of imiversal application; as, for instance, in the humerus, where the necessary flexion of the elbow