Part 42
When the spine protrudes backward, in consequence of a fall, it seldom
happens that one succeeds in straightening it. Wherefore succussion
on a ladder has never straightened anybody, as far as I know, but
it is principally practiced by those
[p. 239]physicians who seek to astonish
the mob-for to such persons these things appear wonderful, for example,
if they see a man suspended or thrown down, or the like; and they
always extol such practices, and never give themselves any concern
whatever may result from the experiment, whether bad or good. But
the physicians who follow such practices, as far as I have known them,
are all stupid. The device, however, is an old one, and I give great
praise to him who first invented this, and any other mechanical contrivance
which is according to nature. For neither would I despair, but that
if succussion were properly gone about, the spine, in certain cases,
might be thereby rectified. But, indeed, for my own part, I have been
ashamed to treat all such cases in this way, because such modes of
procedure are generally practiced by charlatans.