> hand and inside of the arm, from th 
fingers to the joint of the elbow. — 
The finger bones are frequently broken ; but when properly tre t 
ed, they readily unite, and the fingers become equally useful as be- 
fore. If a splint is necessary, pasteboard, softened in water and 
shaped to the finger is proper. 
FRACTURES OF THE THIGH BONE. ied th 
The middle or neck of this bone are the places most frequently _ 
broken. Fractures in the body of the bone are easily dis covered — 
by the usual grating noise ; if oblique, by the thigh being shorter 
or, if transverse, by the ends of the bone b 
pain, and the limb being unable to sustain wei a 
It is often difficult, however, to distinguish fractures of the neck 
of the bone from dislocations at the hip. When the neck of the 
thigh bene is broken, the bone is always drawn upwards by the 
power of the muscles, and the leg thereby rendered shorter by three 
or four inches ; the protuberance is not so great as in a dislocation, — 
and the grating noise may be heard. The joint is so thickly covered 
with muscles, however, that an accurate distinction cannot always 
be made; and for the same reason, we are often uncertain w ether 
the fractured bones are rightly replaced or not. nes > iis 
But even when we have reduced this fracture of the neck,it is 
very difficult to retain the parts in their situation, so. as to prevent 
deformity, for the action of the museles is continually dray it out 
of place. Se Se 
Tt may be proper for me here to remark, that whenever, either in 
setting fractured or dislocated bones, or in keeping them in place, — 
we find the contractility or resistance of the muscles sufficient to ee 
anyWise inconyenievt or troublesome, the application of “ Sweet’s 
Ointment,” for relaxing the muscles, proves a most effectual remedy. _ 
it relaxes and softens all the parts, and makes the reduction 
easy, with far less pain. This is the ointment used fo 
“by the bone setting family of Sweets’, the head of v 
lived in Rhode Island, and who have become so fame 
and ease which they replace and cure broken and di: 
I will also mention here, (although from what h 
fore, the practitioner may be fully aware of it,) that the yo 
Wash,” is peculiarly appropriate, from its cooling and soothing — 
power, to prevent inflammation, and relieve pain and tension, in any 
ease of surgery, and where the skin is unbroken. This hint will be 
sufficient to induce a trial, and in that case I am confident it will not 
disappoint expectation. SES ce alien a x is 
Till of late, it was the common custom in reducing fractures or 
dislocations of the thigh bone, to extend the leg at full length, b: 
which all the muscles of the limb were put upon the strete 3 and 
_in this manner the bone was drawn into its place with great fo 
frequently tearing the muscles asunder. The absurdity of 
tice is apparent. But if the muscles of the limb are 
g the thigh form an obtuse angle with the 
@.the joint of the knee is also mode 
