To reduce this Dislocation, the Patient is to be set upon a low Seat, an Assistant leaning on his Shoulders, to keep his Body steady, whilst the Surgeon or Operator draws his Head upward, and turns it from one side to another: Then if the Accidents or Symptoms cease, the Cure is perform'd; so that Fomentations may be apply'd to the Part; and the Patient being laid in his Bed, must take care to avoid moving his Head.
When the Vertebra's of the Back or Loins are luxated on the inside, a sinking of the Bone is soon perceiv'd; whereupon the Patient being laid on his Belly, the Extension is to be made with Napkins pass'd under the Arm-Pits, and upon the Os Ileum, whilst the Surgeon with
a strong Extension makes some Efforts on the Spine, endeavouring to draw back the Vertebra. If that be not sufficient, an Incision is to be made upon the Apophysis Spinosa of the Vertebra; so that after having laid open this Process of the Bone, it may be taken out with a Pair of Forceps. Then the Wound is to be dress'd with Pledgets, a Plaister, and a Napkin, which must not be bound too close, for fear of pushing back the Spine.
When the Vertebra is luxated on the outside, a Prominence appears; so that to reduce this Dislocation, the Extension is to be made as before, the Patient lying in like manner upon his Belly; but in order to push back the Vertebra, two little Sticks trimm'd with Linnen-Cloth are to be prepar'd, and laid along the two sides of the Spine of the Vertebra; yet these Sticks ought to be thick enough to remain more elevated than the Apophysis Spinosa; and a large wooden Roller is to be often roll'd upon 'em, which by its turning backward and forward, may thrust the Vertebra's inward; so that when all the Vertebra's are of an equal height, the Reduction is finish'd. If the Vertebra's are luxated on the side, the same Extensions are to be made, and the Prominence is to be push'd, to re-establish the Vertebra in its place.
The Dressing and Bandage.
The Dressing is prepar'd by laying two thin Plates of Lead on each side of the Spinous Process of the Vertebra, to maintain it in its Place, and a long Bolster over 'em. The
proper Bandage is the Quadriga, which hath been before describ'd, in treating of the Fractures of the Breast-Bone.