From this description it would seem that the bladder had consisted of some small skin such as that of a kid.
Fig. 31. Glossocomum of Nymphodorus. Two views, one showing it closed and ready for use, the other with the lid removed, to show the principle. A crank drives a shaft with a worm thread on it. The threads of the worm engage in notches in a drum. Ropes pass from the axle on which the cogged wheel drum is carried, to drums carried on a second axle. Below are parts of the machine showing its structure and also the method of fixing the rope ends. After Vidius. Power, one turn of axle only moves the cogged wheel one notch—great power therefore varying with length of crank. Power still further increased by lower axle being smaller than drums of upper.
Fig. 32. Trispastum of Apelles or Archimedes with the sides removed to show the works. The power depends on ratio of diameter of axle to length of crank in this figure. But if the lower drums were made smaller than upper as in Fig. 31, power would be further augmented accordingly.
Fig. 33. Succussion on a ladder for dislocation of the spine. The patient is bound to the ladder by the lower part of the body, the upper hanging free. The ladder is raised by the pulleys and suddenly allowed to drop.
Succussion, or Suspension on a Ladder. This was done for dislocation of the spine, and usually to astonish the mob, Hippocrates says, although so far as he was aware, the method had never straightened anybody yet. To the mob, however, things of this sort are wonderful, and they never give a thought as to their utility.