5. Sprains are produced when the ligaments which bind the bones of a joint are strained, twisted, or torn from their attachments. They are quite as serious as a broken bone, and require careful attention lest they lead to a crippling for life. By premature use a sprained limb may be permanently impaired. Hence, the joint should be kept quiet, even after the immediate pain is gone.
6. A Dislocation is the forcible displacement of a bone from its socket. It is, generally, the result of a fall or a violent blow. The tissues of the joint are often ruptured, while the contraction of the muscles prevents the easy return of the bone to its place. A dislocation should be reduced as soon as possible after the injury, before inflammation supervenes.
PRACTICAL QUESTIONS.
1. Why does not a fall hurt a child as much as it does a grown person?
2. Should a young child ever be urged to stand or walk?
3. What is meant by "breaking one's neck"?
4. Should chairs or benches have straight backs?
5. Should a child's feet be allowed to dangle from a high seat?
6. Why can we tell whether a fowl is young by pressing on the point of the breastbone?
7. What is the use of the marrow in the bones?