Part 3
Those who attempt to perform reduction with the heel, operate in a
manner which is an approach to the natural. The patient must lie on
the ground upon his back, while the person who is to effect the reduction
is seated on the ground upon the side of the dislocation; then the
operator, seizing with his hand the affected arm, is to pull it, while
with his heel in the armpit he pushes in the contrary direction, the
right heel being placed in the right armpit, and the left heel in
the left armpit. But a round ball of a suitable size must be placed
in the hollow of the armpit; the most convenient are very small and
hard balls, formed from
[p. 212]several pieces of
leather sewed together.
For without something of the kind the heel cannot reach to the head
of the humerus, since, when the arm is stretched, the armpit becomes
hollow, the tendons on both sides of the armpit making counter-contraction
so as to oppose the reduction. But another person should be seated
on the other side of the patient to hold the sound shoulder, so that
the body may not be dragged along when the arm of the affected side
is pulled; and then, when the ball is placed in the armpit, a supple
piece of thong sufficiently broad is to be placed round it, and some
person taking hold of its two ends is to seat himself above the patient's
head to made counter-extension, while at the same time he pushes with
his foot against the bone at the top of the shoulder. The ball should
be placed as much on the inside as possible, upon the ribs, and not
upon the head of the humerus.
