Part 7
When a
hedra, or dint of a weapon, takes place in a bone, there may
be a fracture combined with it; and provided there be a fracture,
contusion must necessarily be joined, to a greater or less extent,
in the seat of the dint and fracture, and in the bone which comprehends
them. This is the fourth mode. And there may be a
hedra, or indentation
of the bone, along with contusion of the surrounding bone, but without
any fracture either in the hedra or in the contusion inflicted by
the weapon. But the indentation of a weapon takes place in a bone,
and is called
hedra, when the bone remaining in its natural state,
the weapon which struck against the bone leaves its impression on
the part which it struck. In each of these modes there are many varieties,
with regard to the contusion and fracture, if both these be combined
with the
hedra, or if contusion alone, as it has been already stated
that there are many varieties of contusion and fracture. And the
hedra,
or dint, of itself may be longer and shorter, crooked, straight, and circular; and there are many varieties of this mode, according to
the shape of the weapon; and they may
[p. 149] be more or less deep, and narrower or broader, and extremely broad. When a part is cleft, the cleft or
notch which occurs in the bone, to whatever length or breadth, is
a
hedra, if the other bones comprehending the cleft remain in their
natural position, and be not driven inwards; for in this case it would
be a depression, and no longer a
hedra.