How is the Fracture of a Bone discover'd?
Divers ways, viz. by the ill Disposition of the Part, which becomes shorter; by its want of Motion; by its flexibility or pliantness elsewhere than in its Articulations; by the unevenness that may be perceiv'd in its Continuity; by the cracking which is heard; sometimes also by the shooting forth of one of its ends thro' the Flesh which it hath open'd; and lastly by a Comparison made thereof with the sound Part on the other side, as that of the Right Arm with the Left.
What kind of Fracture is most difficult to be discern'd?
It is that which happens in the length of the Bone, commonly call'd a Cleft or Fissure, which gives occasion to very great Symptoms when it is unknown: But it may be found out by the Pain and Swelling felt at the bottom of the Cleft in touching it; besides the Conjectures which may be made from the Relation of the Person who hath had a Fall, and might have heard the cracking of the Bone.
What sort of Fracture is most difficult to be cur'd?
The shattering or splitting of a Bone in Pieces, by reason of the great Number of Splints which daily cause new Pains and Suppurations.
What is a simple and what is a complicated Fracture?
The simple Fracture is that whereby the Bone is broken, without any other Accident; and the complicated Fracture is that which is follow'd by some Accident; as that in which there is a splitting of the Bone in pieces, or
where the Bone is broken in two several places, or else when the Fracture is accompany'd with a Luxation, a Wound, an Inflammation, or other Circumstances of the like Nature.