124 SUEGICAL THEBAPETTTICS. 



times act as mechanical bandages. But the name is more par- 

 ticularly applicable to certain more or less complicated apparatus- 

 es, whose special mechanical action has the effect of producing 

 some defined therapeutical result. The metallic plate used ia the 

 reduction of some forms of hernia; the metaUic spring apparatus 

 used ia applying pressure upon special regions, as, in orthopedic 

 surgery, or in the reduction of fractures or dislocations, like those 

 iavented by Bourgelat, Brogniez, Defays, and others, are of this 

 class, inasmuch as aU of these possess the constituent properties 

 which are understood to characterize the agencies belonging to 

 the category of mechanical bandages. 



These wQl be subjects for our consideration when we treat of 

 the various conditions in which they are indicated. 



