Abstract
THE interesting article on “Bone-Setting” in NATURE for May 9 induces me to narrate my own experience. More than twenty years ago, in the city of New York, while swinging upon parallel bars in the gymnasium, I fell backwards, and to save my head threw out my left arm, thus catching the fall upon the palmer end of the radius, and, as it proved, fracturing the neck of the radius at the point of articulation with the ulna. I sent for one of the most eminent surgeons, then Professor and surgeon to a large hospital, but several hours elapsed before his arrival; and by that time the swelling and inflammation at the elbow had all the appearance of a sprain, and the fracture was not detected. Some days afterwards the surgeon discovered that there had been a fracture, and that a false adhesion had begun. This was broken up, and the arm set in splints, according to the approved method. After the usual time the bandages were removed, but the forearm was incapable of flexion, extension, or rotation. Every appliance was used to restore it to its normal condition, such as lifting, friction, sponging, &c., but without effect. The arm became useless, and began to shrivel. It was examined by the first surgeons of New York and other cities. Some thought that the radius had adhered to the ulna, others that there was a deposit of interosseous matter, but none could suggest a remedy.
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THOMPSON, J. A Scientific “Bone-Setter”. Nature 6, 82 (1872). https://doi.org/10.1038/006082a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/006082a0
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