A shortening of four inches distinguished the diseased thigh from the sound one. The overlapping was sensible to the touch: in the mean time, a slight mobility at the place of fracture, inspired a hope of being able, if not to restore to the limb its natural form, at least to diminish the contraction. Several efforts were made at first, but without success, as Desault foresaw. The apparatus for permanent extension was applied: on the day following, the extending rollers being a little relaxed, were again tightened. Fourth day, a sensible increase in the length of the limb; apparatus renewed. Ninth day, the left thigh but an inch longer than the other: eleventh day, equality in length almost re-established. After this, the apparatus was kept constantly applied and renewed from time to time. Fortieth day, consolidation already perceptible: forty-sixth day, symptoms of a putrid fever have made their appearance: fiftieth day, symptoms worse; fifty-second, something better: fifty-fifth, worse again: fifty-seventh, dead. On opening the body, an oblique fracture was found, its surfaces very nearly in apposition, and already united by a very solid callus. CASE IV. Joseph Maugrin, a saddler, broke his thigh in the month of July, 1793. A surgeon being called to him, placed his limb in an old form of apparatus, which did not prevent a shortening, to the extent of an inch and a half, from showing itself on the following day: hence a new reduction, and a new application of the apparatus: but soon afterwards, another shortening; the same means to remove it; the same failure of means. Weary of such trials, the surgeon abandoned the limb to its fate, contenting himself with merely keeping it in the apparatus. On the twenty-ninth day, Desault being called in consultation, and finding the thigh shorter by three inches than that on the opposite side, proposed permanent extension, persuaded that this expedient alone would soon be sufficient to re-establish the contact of the fragments. The proposal was acceded to. On the day following, the effects were already perceptible; the thigh was lengthened by almost an inch. By the sixth day, it was equal in length to the other: during this period, the extending rollers were tightened twice a day. At the end of two months the consolidation was complete, and the patient walked perfectly well, except that there was a little shortening of the limb, trifling though indeed, compared to what would have been the consequence, had the original treatment been continued. 76. The lengthening of the limb, in these cases, was evidently owing to the continued action of the apparatus, which effected, in a length of time, what the momentary efforts of the surgeon could not accomplish. This it did, by destroying or gradually lengthening the medium of union, which already connected the overlapping fragments, by that means bringing their separated surfaces or ends into contact, and almost restoring to the bone its primitive form.