“Then taking four equal rods of the wood of the cornel tree, each of the thickness of a finger, and of such a length that they can be fitted into the loops by bending, adjust them, two on the inside of the leg and two on the outside.
“They should be of such a length that suitable extension may be kept up.
“The two which are uppermost (as the patient lies on his back) may be tied together. ([Fig. 7.])
“If the apparatus does not fit properly it will do more harm than good, as indeed any other contrivance will.”
Galen, commenting on this passage, says that the pads which Hippocrates describes as round are really like snakes or like the sausages which butchers make, by filling intestines with chopped meat or other such food.
Minor Splints. In fracture of the lower jaw Hippocrates bound the teeth together with gold wire, and applied a light splint of moulded leather on the outside of the jaw.
In fracture of the nose, Paulus Ægineta says that tents of cloth were applied to each nostril. Some sewed into these the quills of goose feathers, so that the patient could breathe through these.
Box Splints. Hippocrates says that he is rather at a loss whether to recommend box splints or not. They are of some use, but not of so much as many suppose, and a board, unless padded, is rather an uncomfortable thing for a limb to lie on. ([Fig. 8.]) However, the common people have more confidence in the treatment where they are used; and they are useful in such times as the bed requires rearranging or the patient has the bowels moved.
If used at all they should be of sufficient length. Those for fracture of the thigh should reach from the hip to the heel, for, if flexion of the knee be allowed, distortion of the part is caused.