Part 35
Of fractures of the nose there are more than one variety, but those
who, without judgment, delight in fine bandagings, do much mischief,
most especially in injuries about the nose. For this is the most complex
of all the forms of bandaging, having most of the turns of the bandage
called "ascia," and rhomboidal intervals and uncovered spaces of the
skin. As has been said, those who practice manipulation without judgment
are fond of meeting with a case of fractured nose, that they may apply
the bandage. For a day or two, then, the physician glories in his
performance, and the patient who has been bandaged is well pleased,
but speedily the patient complains of the incumbrance of the bandage,
and the physician is satisfied, because he has had an opportunity
of showing his skill in applying a complex bandage to the nose. Such
a bandaging does everything the very reverse of what is proper; for,
in the first place, those who have their nose flattened by the fracture,
will clearly have the part rendered
[p. 233]still more flat, if pressure above
be applied to it; and further, those cases in which the nose is distorted
to either side, whether at the cartilage or higher up, will evidently
derive no benefit from bandaging above it, but will rather be injured;
for it will not admit of having compresses properly arranged on either
side of the nose, and indeed, persons applying this bandage do not
seek to do this.