A manual of minor surgery and bandaging for the use of house surgeons, dressers and junior practitioners.

  • Christopher Heath
Date:
1862
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A manual of minor surgery and bandaging for the use of house surgeons, dressers and junior practitioners. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Leeds Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Leeds Library.

    185/256 (page 161)
    enougli to envelope more than half of the circumference of the limb, and long enough to extend from a little helow the under surface of the knee to about five inches below the heel. The solution of plaster is then to be prepared. Equal parts of water aud plaster are the best proportions, and the plaster is sprinkled in the water and gradually mixed with it. The cloth having been unfolded, is immersed in the solution and well saturated; it is then to be quickly folded as be- fore arranged, and laid on a flat surface, such as a board or a table, and smoothed once or twice with the hand in order to remove any irregailarities of its sur- face, and, with the help of an assistant, applied to the posterior sxu'face of the limb. The portion extending below the heel is turned up on the sole of the foot, and ■ the sides folded over the dorsum, and a fold made at ■ the ankle on either side. A bandage is to be applied pretty firmly over all, and the limb is then to be held in a proper position (extension being made if neces- isary by the surgeon), until the plaster becomes hard. ' The time requ.ired in preparing the cloth, mixing the ] plaster, and applying the casing to the limb, need not itake more than fifteen minutes. After the plaster is I firm, and the bandage removed, we shall have a solid !plaster-of-Paris case partially enveloping the limb, ileaving a portion of its anterior surface exposed to \view. If any swelling occurs, evap)orating lotions can Ibe applied to the exposed surface, and we can always eeasily determine the relation of the fractm-ed ends, llf necessary, an anterior splint, made of the same ma- iterial, can be applied aud then both bound together mith adhesive plaster, and, if desirable, a roller bandage ' Over all. If the anterior splint is not used, two or •three strips of adhesive plaster, one inch wide, or bands of any kind, may be applied around the casing, and \'will serve to keep it firmly adjusted to the limb. TThus applied, we have a most beautiful splint, partially oenveloping the limb, making equal pressure, light, and ;iallowing the patient to chauge his position in bed, or 11