FRACTURES 329 



strong enough, however, to tear away sufficient of the 

 protecting ligaments to allow the ends of the bones 

 to slip by each other. Dislocation can ordinarily be 

 easily detected by the deformity and stiffness of the 

 joint. 



Treatment: A physician should be called at once, as it 

 usually requires experience to replace the bones. There 

 should be no unnecessary delay, as the subsequent swell- 

 ing makes the operation more difficult. Pending the 

 physician's arrival, the dislocated joint should be pro- 

 tected by support upon a high pillow, in as comfortable 

 an attitude as possible. If a physician cannot be got 

 within an hour or so, and if the dislocation is fairly 

 simple, as that of a finger, an ankle, or a shoulder, an 

 attempt should be made to reduce it by pulling the limb, 

 finger, or foot strongly in the direction of its length, with 

 the injured part held in its normal position. Reduction 

 takes place with a snap, which is easily recognized. 



Fractures. Fractures are more frequent than dislo- 

 cations but ordinarily are not more serious. They 

 usually involve the bones of the limbs, the collar bone, 

 or ribs. Fractures of the spine, pelvis and skull are com- 

 paratively rare. A fracture can usually be easily rec- 

 ognized because the fractured bone becomes movable 

 where there is no joint. The ends of the bones when 

 moved upon each other give a characteristic grating feel- 

 ing. Perforation of the skin may also be caused by the 

 force which produced the fracture or by the projection 

 of the bones through it, in which case the fracture is 

 said to be compound. Compound fractures are usually 

 much more serious than simple fractures, as there is a 

 probability of infection. 



Treatment: As in a dislocation, a physician should be 

 called at once. The treatment depends largely upon 



