Part 44
But if the hump be situated very high up, and if succussion be by
all means to be used, it will be better to do it with the feet downward,
as has been said, for the force downward will be the greater in this
case. The patient is to be well fastened to the ladder by cords at
the breast, at the neck by means of a very loose shawl so as merely
to keep the part properly on the ladder, and the head is to be fastened
to the ladder at the forehead, the arms are to be stretched along
and attached to the patient's body, and not to the ladder, and the
rest of the body is not to be bound, except so as to keep it in place
by means of a loose shawl wrapped round it and the ladder; attention,
moreover, should be paid that these ligatures do not interfere with
the force of the succussion, and the legs are not to be fastened to
the ladder, but should be placed near one another, so as to be in
line with the spine. These matters should be thus 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.