MILITARY SURGERY AND MEDICINE. 



545 



extended across from one of the upper bars to 

 the other, and adapted to its inequalities. The 

 extension is made by means of adhesive straps, 

 and the pulley as in Dr. Hamilton's canvas frame, 

 and counter-extension by raising the foot of the 

 bed. Dr. Nathan E. Smith, of Baltimore, has 

 introduced to the profession a double inclined 

 plane made of wire and intended for suspension 

 (figs. 21 and 22). It is placed above the limb 

 instead of beneath it, and is therefore known as 

 " Smith's anterior splint." It is composed of 

 a frame made of 2STo. 10 wire, and must be long 

 enough to reach from the anterior superior spi- 

 nous process of the ilium to a point beyond the 



toes, the lateral bars being three inches apart at 

 the upper end, and two and three quarters at 

 the lower end. Before being used it is covered 

 with cotton cloth to protect the limb from di- 

 rect contact with the wire. The limb is then 

 secured to the splint by successive turns of a 

 roller from the foot to the groin. One of the 

 hooks to wbich the suspending cord is attached 

 should be made fast to the splint about oppo- 

 site to the seat of fracture, and the other a little 

 above the middle of the leg, and the point of 

 attachment in the ceiling or frame above should 

 be a little in advance of the knee and not per- 

 pendicularly above it, in order to secure a cer- 



FIG. 21. 



X. E. Smith's Anterior Splint. 

 FIG. 22. 



VOL. IT. 35 A 



N. R. Smith's Anterior Splint applied. 



