OF
Straps, Swathing-Bands, Bandages, Bolsters, Splints, Tents, Vesicatories,
Setons, Cauteries, Leeches, Cupping-Glasses, and Phlebotomy.
C H A P. XVI.
Of Straps, Swathing-Bands, Bandages, and Bolsters.
What is a Strap?
It is a kind of Band commonly made use of for the Extension of the Members in the reducing of Fractures and Luxations; or else in binding Patients, when it is necessary to confine them, for the more secure performing of some painful Operation: These sorts of Ligatures have different Names,
according to their several Uses, and often bear that of their Inventer.
What is the Matter whereof these Straps are compos'd?
They may be of divers sorts, but are usually made of Silk, Wooll, or Leather.
What is a Swathing-Band?
It is a long and broad Band, that serves to wrap up and contain the Parts with the Surgeons Dressings or Preparatives.
Of what Matter are these Swathing-Bands made?
They are made at present of Linnen-Cloth but in the time of Hippocrates, were made of Leather or Woollen-Stuff.
How many sorts of Swathing-Bands are there in general?
There are two sorts, viz. the Simple and Compound; the former are those that are smooth, having only two ends; and the other are those which are trimm'd with Wooll, Cotton, or Felt, or that have many Heads, that is to say, Ends, fasten'd or cut in divers places according as different Occasions require.
What are the Conditions requisite in the Linen-Cloth, whereof the Swathing-Bands are made?
It must be clean, and half worn out, not having any manner of Hem or Lift.
What are the Names of the different Swathing-Bands?
There are innumerable, but the greater part them take their Denominations from their Figure or Shape; as the Long, Streight, Triangular, and those which have many Heads, or are trimm'd.
What is A Bandage?
It is the Application of a Swathing-Band to any Part.
How many sorts of Bandages are there?
As many as there are different Parts to be bound; some of them being Simple, and others Compound: The former are those that are made with an uniform Band; as the Bandage call'd the Truss, and divers other sorts: The Compound are those that consist of many Bands set one upon another, or sew'd together; or else those that have many Heads. They have also particular Names taken from the Inventers of them, or from their Effect; as Expulsive Bandages to drive back, Attractive to draw forward, Contentive to contain, Retentive to restrain, Divulsive to remove, Agglutinative to rejoin, &c.
There are others whereto certain peculiar Names are appropriated; as Bridles for the lower Jaw, Slings for the Chin, the back part of the Head, Shoulder, and Perinæum; Scapularies for the Body, after the manner of the Scapularies of Monks; Trusses for Ruptures; Stirrups for the Ankle-Bones of the Feet, in letting Blood, and upon other Occasions. Lastly, there are an infinite Number of Bandages, the Structure whereof is learnt by Practice, in observing the Methods of able Surgeons, who invent them daily, according to their several Manners; and the first Ideas of these can only be taken in reading Authors that have treated of them.
What are the general Conditions to be observ'd in the Bandages?
There are many, viz. 1. Care must be taken that the Bands be roll'd firm, and that they be not too streight nor too loose. 2. They are to be untied from time to time in Fractures, they must also be taken away every three or four Days, to be refitted. 3. They must be neatly and conveniently roll'd, that the Patient may not be uneasie or disquieted.
What ought to be observ'd in fitting the Bolsters?
Care must be taken to make them even, soft, and proportionable to the bigness of the Part affected; to trimm them most in the uneven places, that the Bands may be better roll'd over them, and to keep them continually moisten'd with some Liquor proper for the Disease as well as the Bands.
In treating of every Disease in particular, we shall shew the manner of making the particular Bandage that is convenient for it.