Page Sixteen 



.sliowcd two breaks and extronio displaceinciil . Mr. Moniss description 

 of the skeleton as found, follows: 



"At least six splints surrounded the broken arm. The top two of 

 these were removed to give a better view of the region beneath. Since 

 it is to be assumed that there are two or three more splints hidden by the 

 undisturbed earth beneath the bones, the probable total number is eight 

 or nine. These splints are of wood, and average 7 inches in length, 3^ 

 inch in width and /le of an inch in thickness. They are of fairly uni- 

 form size throughout their length, being not mere si)linters, but pieces of 

 wood dressed to the desired form. Kach is fiat on its inner surface, and 

 curved on the outer side. All the bindings which had held them in place 

 were decayed beyond recognition. 



"From the condition of this skeleton, the conclusion may be drawn 

 that the treatment of the fracture of the pelvis, if it was recognized at 

 all, was beyond the skill of the primitive surgeon. The treatment of the 

 broken arm, however, w^as within his province. As death resulted before 

 sufficient time had elapsed to permit healing to begin, the skill of the 

 surgeon must remain in doubt. The bones overlap, at the points of 

 fracture, in a way to leave unsolved the question of the accuracy with 

 which they were set . In an ordinary fracture of ulna and radius, the tenr 

 sion of the muscles would not retract the extremities a full two inches. 

 But in a fracture resulting from a fall from a considerable height where 

 the force of impact w^as received by the palm of the open hand so that 

 the shafts of the bones might be driven out through the flesh, such ex- 

 treme disjilacement would not be unexpected. If the accident was of 

 this character, and the bones were left in their i)resent position, they are 

 eloquent of a crude and bungling technique. 



"There is equal probability, however, that the overlapping took 

 place after death. The bodj- reclined more or less upon the left side 

 when laid away, and in the course of disintegration of the soft parts 

 much of the trunk settled so far to the left that a distance of four to five 

 inches separates the ends of the ribs which articulated with the stermuii. 

 As this settling was in progress, there may easily have been a downward 

 thrust upon the bones of the arm which forced them i)ast their extremi- 

 ties, since the hand was weighted down by the pressure of the thigh. 



"Desirable as it would be to know definitely whether or not there 

 was an attempt to place the ends of the bones in apposition, in order that 

 an estimate might be made of the skill of the surpem, uncertainty in 



