Part 10
In the first place, one must examine the wounded person, in what part
of the head the wound is situated, whether in the stronger or weaker
parts; and ascertain respecting the hairs about the wound, whether
they have been cut off by the instrument, and have gone into the wound;
and if so, one should declare that the bone runs the risk of being
denuded of flesh, and of having sustained some injury from the weapon.
These things one should say from a distant inspection, and before
laying a hand on the man; but on a close examination one should endeavor
to ascertain clearly whether the bone be denuded of flesh or not;
and if the denuded bone be visible to the eyes, this will be enough;
but otherwise an examination must be made with the sound.
And if you find the bone denuded of the flesh,
[p. 150] and not safe from the
wound, you must first ascertain the state of the bone, and the extent
of the mischief, and of what assistance it stands in need. One should
also inquire of the wounded person how and in what way he sustained
the injury; and if it be not apparent whether the bone has sustained
an injury or not, it will be still more necessary, provided the bone
be denuded, to make inquiry how the wound occurred, and in what manner;
for when contusions and fractures existin the bone, but are not apparent,
we must ascertain, in the first place from the patient's answers,
whether or not the bone has sustained any such injuries, and then
find out the nature of the case by word and deed, with the exception
of sounding. For sounding does not discover to us whether the bone
has sustained any of these injuries or not; but sounding discovers
to us an indentation inflicted by a weapon, and whether a bone be
depressed from its natural position, and whether the bone be strongly
fractured; all which may also be ascertained visibly with the eyes.