Cleft palate; treatment of simple fractures by operation; diseases of joints; antrectomy; hernia, etc / W. Arbuthnot Lane.

  • Lane, William Arbuthnot, 1856-1943.
Date:
[1897]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Cleft palate; treatment of simple fractures by operation; diseases of joints; antrectomy; hernia, etc / W. Arbuthnot Lane. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Leeds Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Leeds Library.

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    that one portion of a growing line is exposed to an abnormal amount of pressure, while another portion is exposed to a much less or even subnormal amount of pressure. The frequent assumption of a single attitude of rest, not corrected by suitable variations in the attitudes of activity and rest, results finally in a progressive alteration in the form and function of the bones and joints. The soft parts intervening between portions of bone which habitually transmit an abnormal amount of pressure, first become thinned and fibrous, and later may be completely removed. If the bones move freely upon one another, the exposed osseous surfaces become dense and eburnated; but if very httle movement takes place the opposing surfaces of bone may unite. It is obvious that when these changes have advanced to any extent, they cannot be obliterated by treatment, the original form of the skeleton being lost for ever. This law has a most important bearing on the evolution and treatment of acquired deformities. One knows also that the more vigorous and robust the child, the less likely he is to assume attitudes of rest for any time; while the feeble- bodied and frail is but little disposed to expend his scanty muscular power in activity, but prefers to assume such easy postures as make as little demand as possible upon his store of energy, the particular variety of resting posture varying to some extent with the age, surroundings, and often also with the occupation of the individual.