C H A P. III.
Of the Fracture of the Clavicle.
The Patient is to be set in a Chair, and his Arm is to be drawn backward, whilst an Assistant thrusts his Shoulder forward: In the mean time the Operator sets the Bones again in their place, by thrusting the Protuberances, and drawing out the sunk Bone.
Or else a Tennis-Ball may be taken, and put under the Patient's Arm-Pit, whose Elbow is then to be press'd against his Ribs, whilst the Surgeon reduceth the Fracture.
Otherwise, the Patient may be laid upon his Back, putting a Convex Body under both his Shoulders, as a Bowl, or large wooden Porrenger; and then the Shoulders may be prest, to raise up the two ends of the Bones, which the Surgeon must take care to reduce.
The Dressing and Bandage.
The Cavities which are above and below the Clavicle, are to be fill'd with Bolsters trimm'd with Paste-boards; another is to be also laid upon the Bone, which is almost of the same Figure with the Clavicle, and a large Bolster, to cover the three others: This Dressing is to be secur'd with the Bandage call'd the Capeline or Head-Bandage, provided the Fracture be in the middle of the Clavicle. A Band
being taken about six Ells long, and four fingers thick, roll'd with two Balls; it is apply'd in the middle to the Fracture; one of its Heads or Ends is let down upon the Breast, whilst the other is pass'd behind the Back, below the Arm-hole, opposite to the indispos'd Arm-hole and above the Breast, to be carry'd over the other end of the Band, which is rais'd up, to make a Roller or Bolster upon the Fracture: The other end is pass'd under the indispos'd Arm-pit, and upon the Band that made the Roller, which is elevated by making a third Roller upon the Clavicle: These Circumvolutions around about the Body are continu'd, as also these Rollers upon the Clavicle, till it be entirely cover'd. Some Circumvolutions are also made upon the upper part of the Arm, near its Head: The Space that lies between the Rollers and the Circumvolutions of the Arm, and which bears the Name of Geranium or Stork's-Bill, is likewise cover'd with some Circumvolutions, and the Band is stay'd by making Circumvolutions quite round about the Body.