Thus whilst the Assistants are employ'd in drawing, the Surgeon performs the Operation, by laying the ends of the Bones exactly against one another; and they are known to be reduc'd when the great Toe remains in its Natural Situation.
The Dressing and Bandage.
A simple Bolster dipt in a convenient Liquor is at first apply'd, and three Bands three Fingers broad are prepar'd, the first being two Ells long, the second three, and the third three and a half. Three very streight Circumvolutions are to be made upon the Fracture; the Band is also to be carry'd up with Rollers, and stay'd above the Knee. The Application of the second Band is to be begun upon the Fracture with two Circumvolutions; it is to be brought down with Rollers, to pass under the Foot, afterward carry'd up again, and stay'd where it is terminated. The Leg is to be fill'd with a Bolster thicker at the bottom than at the top; and then are to be laid on the four longitudinal Bolsters, two Fingers broad, and as long as the Leg; to which are to be apply'd the Splints of a plyable and thin Wood: These are wrapt up with a simple Bolster, and strengthen'd with the third Band, which is apply'd indifferently either at the top or bottom, opposite to the former; so that it is carry'd up or else down in making Rollers, and stay'd at its end. The whole Contexture is to be encompass'd with large Paste-boards made round at the Ends, which are not to cross one another,
but must be streighter at the bottom than at the top, and are to be ty'd with three Ribbands or pieces of Tape, beginning at the middle; so that the Knots be ty'd on the outside. Afterward the Leg is to be put into the Scarves, and the Heel is to be supported with a Linnen-Roll, to which are fasten'd two Ribbands that are ty'd upon the Scarves: These Rolls are made with a small piece of Cloth, which is doubl'd, and roll'd up with the ends, in which is contain'd some Straw, and a little Stick in the middle, to consolidate 'em. The Foot is supported with a Paste-board or Wooden Sole, trimm'd with a Bolster, or small Quilt sow'd over it. Divers Strings are also fasten'd to the middle of the sides of the Sole or Pump, which are cross'd to be joyn'd to the Scarves; and another is fixt at the end of the Sole, which is ty'd to a Ribband that binds the middle of the Scarf. These Scarves are likewise fasten'd with three Ribbands, beginning with that in the middle, the Knots being without, and trimm'd with four Bolsters, that is to say, two on each side, to fill up the Cavities that are below the Knee, and above the Ankle. Lastly, the Leg is to be plac'd somewhat high, and a Cradle to be laid upon it, to keep off the Bed-Cloaths, the Scarves passing over the Knee and Foot.
The Dressing of Complicated Fractures
Of the Arms, Legs, and Thighs is prepar'd with a Bandage having Eighteen Heads or Ends, in order to make which, a Linnen-Cloth is to
be taken of the length of the Part, and broad enough to cause it to be cross'd thereby: It is to be folded into three doubles, and cut in three places on each side, leaving the middle plain; so that eighteen Heads or small Bands are form'd, every one of which will be four fingers broad, the upper Heads being a little shorter than the lower. This Band of eighteen Heads is to be laid upon the Scarves, and a Bolster is to be apply'd to it four Fingers broad, as long as the Scarves. The Leg is laid upon this Bolster, and it hinders the corrupt Matter from falling on the Bandage.
When the Wound hath been dress'd, the fracture is to be incontinently surrounded with one of the Heads, which ought to cross one another: Then after the Leg hath been bound with the first Heads, two Longitudinal Bolsters are to be apply'd to the side of it; and the other Heads are to be rais'd up, with all the rest of the Dressing, which hath been describ'd in the simple Fracture.