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Show FRAUL'URE OF HIE FIBULA» 1-n.te"rL‘nL‘ or "me rum. let-E great toe, as the heel bone does not stand perpendicularly under the tibia, the end of the tibia, which forms the mallcolus informs, bursts, or at least strains the deltoid ligament, which unites it to the astragulus. Then the point of the fibula, B, forming the malleolixs arternexs, preserves the joint ; or if the violence be 3 'eat, it falls on this small bone in the direction of the dotted line, C, C -, so that it yields and breaks a few inches above the anltle, as at D. It follows from this, that when we meow mun ‘ _:~--- - r» .V p a". it i i‘ll.\CTITI‘.E 01‘ THE FIBULA» in this sketch we may discover the nature of the case of u'actured fibula. In the first place, it brings to our recollection that the fibula does not support the weight of the b0» dy, and that it will never be broken by the shock of the body on the leg, unless the tibia first gives way. But remembering the constitution of the ancle joint, and that the fibula reaches down upon the outside of that joint, it is pretty evident that the fibula can be broken only by a force directly applied to it, or by a. twist of the foot. The first example, is when a r wen-V's? -<.-;,-..4-.~ -.-.h ,AM.‘ man falls, and the side of the fibula strikes a stone, over which it is broken ; or when he receives a blow on it ; or when his leg is pressed betwixt his horse's side and the ground: this is the simplest case. On the contrary, the fibula fractured in consequence of the foot being wrenehed on an uneven pave. ment, is bad, because it is complicated with a strain, if not absolutely a dislocation of the uncle joint. When the heel only touches the ground, and the balance at the foot is not preserved by the resistance of the ball of the find a patient complaining of a strain of the inner uncle, we examine the fibula, See. if in any other instance no see plainly that the fibula is broken, we are careful to examine th \ inner ancle knowing that it must have suffered in some degree, though there may not be a subluxation. A splint, which will reach from the knee along,y the outside of the foot is prepared. In the hollow of the splint, sol't lint is placed, so that it equally supports the limb, an eighteen-tailed bandage is put under the splint; and this apparatus is so placed on the mattress, that the patient's leg being laid upon it, rests on the outside of the leg and foot. Having laid down the leg on the splint, we examine again the degree 01 prominence of the inner ancle, and see that there is no twist or obliquity of the foot. We are careful to notice, that the lower head of the fibula, and the side of the foot, are equally su; ported ; that the side of the foot is neither allowed to hang over the end of the splint, nor too much pressed up; the bandage is then applied. From- time to time we must exa» mine, lest the integuments of the inner ancle indicate too great a degree prominence in the tibia ; and also to see that the heads of the fibula, on which the limb now lies, are no} sullering by the pressure. or THE rnacrunn or Inn 'l‘IBIA. Tuna}; is no difficulty in ascertaining the nature of the can:J when the tibia is fractured. The splints to be applied are, first, one strong splint of wood and leat ter, or of tin, which is to reach from the out»- |