DISLOCATION OF THE ELBOW.
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Should this method not succeed, the arm of die disordered side may besuspended over a gate or ladder, and, while the ribs are thus stretchedassunder, the heads of such as are out of place may be thrust into theirformer situation. .
Those dislocations wherein the heads of the ribs are forced inwardsare bom more dangerous and the'most difficult to reduce, as neither thehand nor any instrument can be applied internally to direct the luxatedheads of the ribs. Almost the only thing that can be done, is, to laythe patient upon his belly over a cask, or some gibbous body, and tomove the fore-part of the rib inward toward the back, sometimes shakingit; by this means the heads of the luxated ribs may slip into their formerI lace.
DISLOCATION OF THE SHOULDER.
The humerus or upper bone of the arm may be dislocated in variousdirections; it happens however most frequently downwards, but veryseldom directly upwards. From the nature of its articulation, as well asfrom its exposure to external injuries, this bone is the most subject todislocation of any in the body. A dislocation of the humerus may beknown by a depression or cavity on the top of the shoulder, and aninability to move the arm. When the dislocation is downward or for-ward, the arm is elongated, and a ball or lump is perceived under thearm-pit; but when it is backward, there appears a protuberance behindthe shoulder, and the arm is thrown forwards towards the breast.
The usual method of reducing dislocations of the shoulder is to seatthe patient upon a low stool, and to cause an assistant to hold his body-so that it may not give way to the extension, while another lays hold ofthe arm a little above the elbow, and gradually extends it. The operatorthen puts a napkin under the patient's arm, and causes it to be tied abouthis own neck: by this, while a sufficient extension is made, he lifts Uj,the head of the bone, and with his hands directs it into its proper place.
There are various machines invented for facilitating this operation,out the hand of an expert surgeon is always more safe. In young anddelicate patients, 1 have generally found it a very easy matter to reducethe shoulder, by extending the arm with one hand, and thrusting in thehead of the bone with the other. In making the extension, the armought always to be a little bent.
DISLOCATION OF THE ELBOW.
Th e bones of the fore-arm may be dislocated m any direction. Whenthis is the case, a protuberance may be observed on that side of the armtowards which the bone is pushed, from which, and the patient's inabilityto be d his arm, a dislocation of this joint may be easily known.
Xwo assistants are generally necessary for reducing a dislocation ofthe e j bo w; one o<" them must laj hold of the arm above and the other