MEDICAL HINTS. 
221 
begun, in the joints above and below the injury, in about three weeks. 
While these are being carried out, the limb must be firmly supported to 
avoid interfering with the healing processes going on between the ends of 
the bones. 
Dislocations. 
Dislocations nearly always require skilled aid to reduce them. 
Shoulder-joint .—Patient cannot raise the arm to his head or perform 
any other shoulder movements freely. The shoulder is flattened, tho 
elbow sticks out, and the limb is usually lengthened. 
Treatment. —The patient should lie down. The operator removes his 
own boot on the same side as that of the patient’s dislocation, inserts his 
heel into the patient’s armpit and draws the arm steadily down, at the 
same time pressing the heel in an outward direction; the dislocated bone 
should slip back into its proper position. Put a pad in the armpit and 
bandage the arm to the side for a week; support arm in a sling for 
another week or two. 
Elbow-joint .—Dislocation of the bones of the forearm backwards at the 
elbow-joint is fairly common. 
Treatment. —This dislocation can usually be reduced by placing the 
knee in front of the patient’s elbow, and making firm traction on the 
forearm—which is at the same time bent a little around the operator’^ 
knee. The patient can be kept sitting in a chair while this is done, and 
the operator can get his knee into the required position by placing his 
foot on the side of the chair. 
Eip-joint. —Is the most common form of dislocation. The limb is 
shortened, bent at the knee and twisted inwards, the great toe of the 
injured limb resting on the instep of foot of the opposite limb. The 
outer side of the hip is swollen and distorted. 
Treatment. —Grasp the ankle with one hand and the knee with the 
other. Lift up the leg and bend it at the hip, then carry it as a whole 
away from the other limb as far as possible, rotate the toes and foot 
firmly outwards, and in that position bring the limb back parallel to the 
sound one. 
After-treatment of Dislocations .—After dislocations, gentle movement of 
the joints should be begun in two weeks, so as to prevent them becoming 
fixed. 
