arranged； if recourse is to be had at all to succussion on a ladder；
for it is disgraceful in every art； and more especially in medicine；
after much trouble； much display； and much talk； to do no good after
all。
45。 In the first place； the structure of the spine known； for this
knowledge is requisite in many diseases。 Wherefore； on the side turned
to the belly （the anterior？） the vertebrae are in a regular line；
and are united together by a pulpy and nervous band of connection；
originating from the cartilages； and extending to the spinal marrow。
There are certain other nervous cords which decussate； are attached
（to the vertebrae？）； and are extended from both sides of them。 But
we will describe in another work the connections of the veins and
arteries； their numbers； their qualities； their origin； their
functional offices in particular parts； in what sort of sheaths the
spinal marrow is inclosed； where they arise； where they terminate； how
they communicate； and what their uses。 On the opposite side
（behind？） the vertebrae are connected together by a ginglymoid
articulation。 Common cords （nerves？） are extended to all parts； both
those within and without。 There is an osseous process from the
posterior part of all and each of the vertebra； whether greater or
smaller； and upon these processes there are cartilaginous epiphyses；
and from them arise nervous productions （ligaments？）； akin to the
external nerves （tonoi）。 The ribs are united to them； having their
heads inclined rather to the inside than the out； and every one of
them is articulated with the vertebrae； and the ribs in man are very
curved； and； as it were； arched。 The space between the ribs and the
processes of the vertebrae is filled on both sides by muscles； which
arise from the neck and extend to the loins （？）。 The spine；
longitudinally； is a straight line slightly curved； from the os sacrum
to the great vertebra which is connected with the articulation of
the femur； the spine inclines backward； for the bladder； the organs of
generation； and the loose portion of the rectum； are situated there。
From this； to the attachment of the diaphragm； the spine inclines
inward； and this portion alone； from the internal parts； gives
origin to muscles； which are called psoae。 From this to the great
vertebra （seventh cervical？） which is above the tops of the shoulders；
it is convex behind lengthways； but it is more in appearance than it
really is； for the spinous processes are highest in the middle； and
less so above and below。 The region of the neck is convex before。
46。 In cases of displacement backward along the vertebrae； it does
not often happen； in fact； it is very rare； that one or more vertebrae
are torn from one another and displaced。 For such injuries do not
readily occur； as the spine could not easily be displaced backward but
by a severe injury on the fore part through the belly （which would
prove fatal）； or if a person falling from a height should pitch on the
nates； or shoulders （and even in this case he would die； but not
immediately）； and it also would not readily happen that such a
displacement could take place forward； unless some very heavy weight
should fall upon it behind； for each of the posterior spinal processes
is so constructed； that it would sooner be broken than undergo any
great inclination forward from a force which would have to overcome
the ligaments and the articulations mutually connecting them。 And
the spinal marrow would suffer； if from the displacement of a vertebra
it were to be bent even to a small extent； for the displaced
vertebra would compress the spinal marrow； if it did not break it； and
if compressed and strangled； it would induce insensibility of many
great and important parts； so that the physician need not give himself
any concern about rectifying the displacement of the vertebra；
accompanied； as it is； by many other ill consequences of a serious
nature。 It is evident； then； that such a case could not be reduced
either by succussion or by any other method； unless one were to cut
open the patient； and then； having introduced the hand into one of the
great cavities； were to push outward from within； which one might do
on the dead body； but not at all on the living。 Wherefore； then； do
I write all this？ Because certain persons fancy that they have cured
patients in whom the vertebra had undergone complete dislocation
forward。 Some； indeed； suppose that this is the easiest of all these
dislocations to be recovered from； and that such cases do not stand in
need of reduction； but get well spontaneously。 Many are ignorant；
and profit by their ignorance； for they obtain credit from those about
them。 These are deceived in this way； for they suppose the spinous
processes to be the vertebrae themselves； because every one of them
appears round to the touch； not knowing that these bones are processes
from the vertebrae； as formerly stated； but the vertebrae are at a
considerable distance before them； for of all animals； man； in
proportion to his bulk； has the belly （internal cavity？） the narrowest
from behind to before； especially at the breast。 When； therefore；
any of these processes are severely fractured； whether one or more；
the part there appears lower than on either side； and for that
reason they are deceived； supposing that the vertebrae are displaced
inward。 And the patient contribute also to deceive them； for if they
attempt to put themselves into a bent position； they are pained；
from the skin being stretched at the seat of the injury； and at the
same time the fragments of the bones wound the skin still more； but if
they bend forward； they feel easier； for the skin at the wound is thus
relaxed； and the bones are less disposed to hurt them； and if touched；
they shrink and bend forward； and the part which is touched appears
empty and soft。 All the circumstances now mentioned contribute to
deceive the physician。 Such patients speedily get well without any bad
effects； for callus readily forms in all such bones as are porous。
47。 There are many varieties of curvature of the spine even in
persons who are in good health； for it takes place from natural
conformation and from habit； and the spine is liable to be bent from
old age； and from pains。 Gibbosities （or projections backward） from
falls generally take place when one pitches on the nates； or falls
on the shoulders。 In this case some one of the vertebrae must
necessarily appear higher than natural； and those on either side to
a less degree； but yet no one generally has started out of the line of
the others； but every one has yielded a little； so that a considerable
extent of them is curved。 On this account the spinal marrow easily
bears such distortions； because they are of a circular shape； and
not angular。 The apparatus for the reduction in this case must be
managed in the following manner： a strong and broad board； having an
oblong furrow in it； is to be fastened in the ground； or； in place
of the board； we may scoop out an oblong furrow in the wall； about a
cubit above the floor； or at any suitable height； and then something
like an oaken bench； of a quadrangular shape； is to be laid along （the
wall？） at a distance from the wall； which will admit of persons to
pass round if necessary； and the bench is to be covered with robes； or
anything else which is soft； but does not yield much； and the
patient is to be stoved with vapor； if necessary； or bathed with
much hot water； and then he is to be stretched along the board on
his face； with his arms laid along and bound to his body； the
middle； then； of a thong which is soft； sufficiently broad and long；
and composed of two cross straps of leather； is to be twice carried
along the middle of the patient's breast； as near the armpits as
possible； then what is over of the thongs at the armpits is to be
carried round the shoulders； and afterward the ends of the thong are
to be fastened to a piece of wood resembling a pestle； they are to
be adapted to the length of the bench laid below the patient； and so
that the pestle…like piece of wood resting against this bench may make
extension。 Another such band is to be applied above the knees and
the ankles； and the ends of the thongs fastened to a similar piece
of wood； and another thong； broad； soft； and strong； in the form of
a swathe； having breadth and length sufficient； is to be bound tightly
round the loins； as near the hips as possible； and then what remains
of this swathelike thong； with the ends of the thongs； must be
fastened to the piece of wood placed at the patient's feet； and
extension in this fashion is to be made upward and downward； equally
and at the same time； in a straight line。 For extension thus made
could do no harm； if properly performed； unless one sought to do
mischief purposely。 But the physicians； or some person who is
strong； and not uninstructed； should apply the palm of one hand to the
hump； and then； having laid the other hand upon the former； he
should make pressure； attending whether this force should be applied
directly downward； or toward the head； or toward the hips。 This method
of applying force is particularly safe； and it is also safe for a
person to sit upon the hump while extension is made； and raising
himself up； to let himself fall again upon the patient。 And there is
nothing to prevent a person from placing a foot on the hump； and
supporting his weight on it； and making gentle pressure； one of the
men who is practiced in the palestra would be a proper person for
doing this in a suitable manner。 But the most powerful of the
mechanical means is this： if the hole in the wall； or in the piece
of wood fastened into the ground； be made as much below the man's back
as may be judged proper； and if a board； made of limetree； or any
other wood； and not too narrow； be put into the hole； then a rag；
folded several times or a small leather cushion； should be laid on the
hump； nothing large； however； should be laid on the back； but just
as much as may prevent the board from giving unnecessary pain by its
hardness； but the hump should be as much as possible on a line with
the hole made in the wall； so that the board introduced int