Orthopaedia or a practical treatise on the aberrations of the human form / by James Knight.

  • Knight, James, 1810-1887.
Date:
1874
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Orthopaedia or a practical treatise on the aberrations of the human form / by James Knight. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

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    turers, destitute of medical knowledge, to their great pecuniary- advantage and the discredit of the medical profession. There is another unfavorable circumstance, much to be regret- ted, as it seriously discourages those competent to attain a knowl- edge of orthopaedic surgery. It is in being deceived by the exaggerated laudations of inventions of no particular merit, devised by practitioners in medicine, and some of great notoriety. All appliances, however skilfully constructed, are only auxiliary means in the treatment of deformity, and may be used to greater advantage by the inventor than by even those quite as familiar vrith the treatment of these ailments; each having peculiarly devised or modified apparatus for the treatment of their patients. To give promise of success in the treatment of deformity, it is a most essential acquirement to the student, to have sufficient practi- cal knowledge to make a correct diagnosis of the case, then to care- fully consider the indications that present themselves, and rely upon his own judgment as to the means that will most readily apply to the redressing of the abnormal condition. Even then he may fail in his first attempts in treatment, but it will not be so discourag- ing, inasmuch as this has been his own device, tending necessarily to improvement. It would have been discouraging, however, had he failed in the treatment relied upon for some highly-extol- led appliance — the device of some reputable practitioner, and supposed to be perfect. The success in treatment is the result of practical skill, and not wholly in the well-designed apparatus, which will only meet certain indications for a time, and fail in the progress of treatment. From this fact, we became convinced of the impossibility of attaining success in orthopaedic practice, by an entire reliance upon the devices of surgical appliances, however skilfully constructed. All apparatus must be modified, and the judgment of the practitioner exercised, as to the modifi- cations that may be required from time to time, as successful progress is made in the treatment. Hence, the roller and its application claims important consideration, and practical skill in making it available in the redressing of deformity. Without knowledge of the application of the roller, or what is in some cases of greater utility in treatment, perfectly fitting, enveloping devices of woven fabric made to lace over large abscess develop-