muscles, and total inability to extend the leg is generally observed. The mus cles should be relaxed, by extending the knee, and bending the thigh on the pelvis: they may also be surrounded with a roller, a compress being placed just above the upper portion of the broken bone. The newly-formed substance which unites the broken ends is of a ligamentous or cartilaginous nature, and not bony.

Fractures of the leg. If they affect both bones, there can be no doubt of the nature of the case; but the symptoms are more uncertain, when the fibula alone is broken. The limb should be laid on its outside, with the knee moderately bent. Japanned iron, or wooden splints shaped to the part, and covered with soft pads, are employed. The leg having been placed in the above mentioned position, extension is made, if necessary; and the under splint, covered with its pad, and having an eighteen-tailed bandage laid on it, is passed under the limb. Having observed that the ends of the bones are in exact contact, the surgeon places his soap plaster over the fractured portion, and

lays down the bandage. Another soft pad is then put over the upper surface of the leg, and the other splint applied. The leather straps attached to the splints are fastened with sufficient tightness, to prevent any motion of the fractured part. When the pressure of the splints is painful, soft pads are necessary.

Ruptured tendo Achillis. The large tendon of the muscles of the calf of the leg is sometimes torn asunder by the violent exertion of those muscles. An inability to extend the ankle, and a consequent impaired power of progression, follows. The ends of the tendon may be approximated by straightening the ankle and bending the knee. The foot may be kept in this position by the assistance of bandages. The case requires about the same degree of confinement as a fracture. Some persons have not kept their bed for this accident, but have walked about with a high-heeled shoe. The tendon of the plantaris muscle is sometimes ruptured, and the accident is attended with the symptoms as if the tendo Achillis were torn.