Improved appliances for the mechanical treatment of joints / by Charles Frederick Stillman.

  • Stillman, Charles F. (Charles Frederick)
Date:
1878
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Improved appliances for the mechanical treatment of joints / by Charles Frederick Stillman. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

    8/32 (page 4)
    Fig. 5. a The second ratchet was devised by Mr. F. A. Stohlmann, and is exact, without being complex. It consists of two overriding flat strips, each provided with graduated slots, one strip on one side of the slotted space being dentated and the other strip on the other. A screw, fitted with a cog sufficiently deep to engage both, is now placed in the centre, so that by simply turning the screw the bridge is either lengthened or shortened (see Fig. 4). The writer modified this by. introducing a dove-tailed connection between the two strips, which allows them to slide easily upon each other and yet prevents displacement (see Fig. 5). A limb is prepared for the reception of the plastered bandage by one of four methods: 1st. The hair is carefully shaved off the entire limb and the surface well oiled. This is very convenient and satisfactory if the bandage be well applied, as the splint is certain to fit accurately and evenly. Its disadvantage is, that a rough plaster surface lies in contact with the skin. 2d. A covering of thin and, if possible, seamless gauze or flannel is drawn over the surface to which the bandage is to be applied. It must fit accurately and evenly, avoiding all wrinkles and creases, as otherwise discomfort will ensue for the patient. The thin gauze underwear, so much worn in summer, furnishes a very good article for this purpose. * 3d. Rollers of thin soft muslin bandage may be applied. 4th. The surface may be sheathed in layers of cotton wadding. Preparation of the Limb. We shall confine ourselves in this essay to discussing the mechanical treat- ment of abnormal conditions of the joints.