OF RUPTURES.

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part of the belly. Procure also a piece of strong shoe-sole leather ofthe size and shape of the Figure (see No. 2.), which leather must becovered and padded with chamois or doe-skin leather, in the mannerthat the heads of steel spring trusses are covered. At the button orlower part of the padded leather, fix a horn, or other small button, inthe place marked in the drawing. This padded head is then to be sewedby its top part to the tape belt, as is marked by the dotted lines inFigure No. 1.

Make also a back strap of soft and genteel or slight calf-skin, that willnot be liable to stretch by the moisture of the body; let this be abouthalf an inch broad, and seventeen inches long; it may be a little broaderat the ends: at one end it must have an eyelet-hole to hitch on the hornbutton annexed to the padded head. This strap is to be fixed about teninches from the end of the belt, and of such a length as to pass frombehind, under the hip, or upper part of the thigh, and to hitch on tbehorn button, so as to draw and keep the padded head close and tight tothe afflicted part of the body. By this means the gut will be kept in itsplace; and whether the patient be of a lax or weakly habit of body ornot, we recommend him to wear a suspensory bag to support the testes.The use of a suspensory prevents the distention of the spermatic chord,and likewise those disagreeable dragging pains of the back, of whichweakly persons often complain.

These hints, we presume, will be useful to persons who possess amechanical inventive mind, and can assist themselves in altering andamending their bandage as circumstances may require.

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