placed. This piece of iron is so bent, that the centre of motion of the upper joint of the male screw (N) and the centre of motion of the joint of the fracture box at the nee (A. Fig. 3) are exactly the same, and is designed to prevent any alteration of the length between the knee and hip-joints when the base of the triangle is lengthened or shortened; a thing highly necessary to prevent anchylosis when the fracture is at the neck of the bone. The upper part of this frame (AA. Fig. 2) is reduced, to admit it between the socket, when the screws are let completely down, to reduce the triangle for the smallest sized fracture boxes. To each of the lower corners of this frame (P Fig. 1, and BB. Fig. 2) is fastened a bolt (Q) with a spring behind it, with notches to regulate its projection, and the extremity of the bolt made to fit the notches or rack work (R) on the main frame. This rack work is about fifteen inches long, the bolts are eight inches long. Thus a sort of triangular elevation is formed, the sides of which may be increased or diminished at pleasure. To prevent the bolts from slipping up and becoming shorter by any accident, a small screw on the top of the frame (P. Fig. 1) is visible, just below (P) and immediately over the upper part of the bolt. Upon this triangular or wedge-shaped elevation is placed a pair of leg and thigh fracture boxes, of a suitable size (Fig. 3 large size) near to, or as distant from each other by the use of thumb screws (4 Fig. 1 and Fig. 3) through the opening (C. Fig. 2) as the surgeon may think proper. The patient is laid upon his back, and when his legs and thighs are in the boxes, by means of the elevating screws (N and O. Fig. 1) in the socket (L) the side of the triangle parallel with the thighs may be with the greatest ease regulated, so as to suit the length of the limb, or to produce any degree of extension the surgeon may think necessary, in the most gentle and accurate manner; the equal length of the screws (N) being ascertained by means of a graduated measure. Before the involuntary action of the muscles ceases, the principal part of the extending force will be upon the upper portion of the gastrocnemius muscle. If this muscle be large, the heel will be considerably elevated from the right line. To support the heel and the lower part of the leg, the elevating screw (U. Fig. 1 and Fig. 3) is used to raise the lower part of the fracture box from (V) to (W) as much as may be needful; but when this elevation is considerable, as the extremities. of the splints (which form the sides of the fracture boxes) will be relatively depressed, and their upper straps apt to

press

press upon the knee and instep, the buckles (1, 1, T. Fig. 1), must be loosened sufficiently to remedy this inconvenience, and the restraining button (2) will then prevent the too great separation of the splints at their lower edge. It will be necessary for the accommodation of different sized limbs, from the age of six or seven years to the largest adult size, to have three sets of fracture boxes. The part which supports the leg and thigh, viz. the bottom of the fracture box, is made of deal, about one inch thick, with what the carpenters call a rule joint (A. Fig. 3) at the bend of the knee, and turned without the usual angular projection. This supporting part of the two limbs is hollowed out a little, and the inequalities of the joint (occasioned by the hollowing out) rounded off. There is also a sliding footboard (X. Fig. 1, 3, 4, and 6) made to slide over: bottom cushion; and as the hollow for the heel is abou four inches long, it will accommodate legs of different lengths with the same cushion. There are also a pair of leg and a pair of thigh splints, forming the sides of the fracture boxes, (S and T. Fig. 1) made of thin American deal (which is the best, because most free from knots) half split through its substance in several places on the outside, with leather straps and buckles sewed to them. The buckles are all upon the outer splints, and the lower straps of the inner splints pass under the supporters (b. b. b. Fig. 3) and behind pieces of stout wire, like flat staples, as there represented. The inner thigh splint of the large size is of a proportionable width, but only ten inches and a half long; the outer (S. Fig. 1) fifteen inches and a half by nine, and six inches wide. The leg splints, of the large size also, (T. Fig. 1) are twenty-one inches at the top, and eighteen at the bottom in length, and five and a half wide. The supporter of the thigh (D. Fig. 3 and Fig. 6) is thirteen inches and a half long and five and a half wide in the widest part. The inner and lower part of this supporter is cut out, in the form of a quarter of a circle, as at (D. Fig. 6) for the convenience of the patient, and the edge thinned and smoothed off. The supporter of the leg from A to W (Fig. 3 and 6) when the lower part is not elevated, is nineteen inches long, and (except the narrowed part, where the foot board slides up and down) four and a half wide in the narrowest part. So that the sides of the supporters, when not bent at the joint (A. Fig. 3 and 6) form two right lines gradually approximating from D to W. The splints and the supporters, properly lined with wool, compresses, or cushions tacked to them, form

very easy beds for the limbs, and by means of the straps and buckles, secure them in the shortest time imaginable. The machine stands upon six legs, which in the figure done in perspective are made to take off occasionally; and the lower ends being put into staples, as there delineated, were designed to be used as handles, to move a patient some distance when necessary. It was also made to double for occasional package, which at the same time admitted of the elevation of the patient's shoulders, which is better done at B (Fig. 1). About three inches seems a pleasant elevation; a greater might perhaps occasion too much pressure upon the lower part of the spine. In this machine if both legs as well as both thighs were broken, they might I think be set with a fair chance of success, so far as the fractures merely are concerned; and by unbuckling two buckles only, the surgeon may dress a wound of any limb. I now come to the explanation of the use of the lever M (Fig. 1.) As it is of great consequence in fractures of or near the neck of the thigh-bone, that occasional flexion and extension of the knee and hip-joints should be made to prevent anchylosis; so is it of consequence that this should be done with as little motion of any other kind as possible. To prevent this injurious motion, it is necessary that the hinges of the sockets (L. Fig. 1) should be exactly level with the lower part of the patient; but as any kind of bedding, even a hair mattrass, must be more or less compressible, and that in proportion to the weight of the patient; it is also necessary that there should be some means. of elevating and depressing the hinge part of the sockets, according to circumstances. The diagram (Fig. 7) will perhaps explain this necessity most clearly. The space between the parallel lines ED and CB may be considered as the mattrass. The line A B the socket and screw fixed to the main frame (without the intervention of a lever) at B; and the line AD the under part of the patient's thigh. Now if the limb be depressed to F, the sides of the angle EDA being less than the sides of the angle CBA, it will, on depression through the arc AF, approach to a right line more rapidly than the other; and unless the patient slides down after the fracture box, the lower part of his body will be raised from the mattrass from D to G, and the fracture box will be separated from the thigh from M to G.

Let AB and AD be two parallel lines, and let CB and ED be also two parallel lines. Let AF be the arc of the radius AB, and let B and F be united. Let IH be the arc of the radius ED, and let KL be the arc of the radius AD

from

from the point F; then let a line be drawn from E to the point where the circles cut each other at G, and let another line be drawn from G to F; then the sides of the angle EGF will be equal to the sides of the angle EDA, and the sides of the angle CBF will be equal to the sides of the angle CBA. Then the parallel lines AB and AD will form the triangle GMF, and the lines EG and ED will form the triangle EGD.

Military surgeons will be the best judges of the useful ness of this machine on service. There can be no doubt of its usefulness, unless I am greatly deceived, in military and other hospitals. On board ship, where the manage ment of fractured thighs must, I imagine, be still more difficult than elsewhere, this machine, without any legs, might be fitted up in what is called a cot, with a part of the bottom and the sides of the cot to open occasionally. It might be made more than twenty inches wide, and more than six feet long, if thought necessary; for having as I hope, established the principles of its action, the detail of dimensions may be varied at pleasure. In all large ships, but more especially in his Majesty's service, such a machine must be very desirable, and would occupy no room worth mentioning, little more indeed than a hammock; and where it is not likely to be wanted for children, two sets of fracture boxes would be sufficient. The screws, &c. must of course, for this purpose, be made of brass, unless the Norwich composition of iron, &c. which is said not to rust, should be found strong enough to answer the purpose.

For hospital practice, two or three iron bedsteads, upon the same plan, might be fitted up, and (if the fracture boxes were kept ready lined) as soon as a patient's clothes were off, his limbs might be set completely in a few mi

nutes.

It would be found not only useful, but (what is sometimes thought of greater consequence) economical for every parish work-house to be provided with such an apparatus, for if after a serious accident a man remain lame for life, he will most likely continue to be chargeable as long as he lives. Such a misfortune might sometimes be prevented by this means, and the parish relieved from the burthen of maintaining a disabled pauper.

Most surgeons have probably experienced the trouble occasioned by the splints being frequently displaced in fractures of the thigh; in this contrivance they will find no trouble of that sort.

I have not mentioned the two projecting parts CC (Fig. 6), they are designed to prevent the edges of the splints sinking below the edge of the support. Where the thigh is so muscular as to rise above the splint, by means of the two lower buckles S (Fig. 1) the splints S may be raised sufficiently. As the inner thigh splint is too short to be opposite the lower strap of the outer, a strap goes across from one outside splint to the other. In Fig. 6, at b. b. b. are the places where the long straps of the inside splints pass under the supporters; at D a short strap is fastened to a button or pin, and the upper straps of the splints S (Fig. 1) are fastened in the same manner above A (Fig. 6), it being unnecessary for them to pass under the support.

I shall make no apology for the want of elegance in this description, my principal aim has been at perspicuity, which, on this occasion, I think of much more importance, Cheshunt, Herts. I am, &c. Oct. 25, 1805.

E. HARROLD.

ON SPIRIT OF TURPENTINE IN THE YELLOW FEVER.

THERE is

HERE is a period in this formidable disease, when suddenly the forces of the patient are entirely exhausted; and a disorganization of the solids, together with a decomposition of the fluids take place. Complete jaundice, the absolute insensibility of the stomach, singultus, vomiting of a black, fœtid matter, and a trembling pulse, are the dreadful diagnostic signs of this state. The medicines hitherto used for it, have seldom had the desired effect; Dr. HOLST therefore recommends the Spirit of Turpentine. He has had an opportunity of administering this medicine internally as well as externally, in some of the worst species of typhus, and he thinks with better effect than the other medicines generally used, seemed to pro-. duce. In particular, the turpentine revives the function of the liver, and also promotes the action of the organs of digestion. In a chemical respect the spirit of turpentine consists of hydrogen and carbon, which elements are slightly combined together, and easily to be separated; the spirit therefore enters into many combinations, and penetrates the whole frame; hence the great affinity with the napthe. It may be applied internally, and likewise in injections and frictions; and seems to deserve the attention of the profession, who have an opportunity of submitting theoretical reasoning to the test of experience.

To