It is that which happens in the length of the Bone, commonly call'd a Cleft or Fissure, which gives occasion to very great Symptoms when it is unknown: But it may be found out by the Pain and Swelling felt at the bottom of the Cleft in touching it; besides the Conjectures which may be made from the Relation of the Person who hath had a Fall, and might have heard the cracking of the Bone. _What sort of Fracture is most difficult to be cur'd?_ The shattering or splitting of a Bone in Pieces, by reason of the great Number of Splints which daily cause new Pains and Suppurations. _What is a simple and what is a complicated Fracture?_ The simple Fracture is that whereby the Bone is broken, without any other Accident; and the complicated Fracture is that which is follow'd by some Accident; as that in which there is a splitting of the Bone in pieces, or {189} where the Bone is broken in two several places, or else when the Fracture is accompany'd with a Luxation, a Wound, an Inflammation, or other Circumstances of the like Nature. _Are old Men or Children most subject to these Fractures of the Bones?_ Old Men, because their Bones are drier; whereas those of Infants are almost Cartilaginous, and yield or give way to the violence offer'd to 'em; from whence proceed the sinkings and hollowness that happen in their Skulls, especially in the Mould of their Heads, or elsewhere; for which a Remedy is found out by the means of Plaisters, Splints, and Bandages, fitted to the shape of the Parts. It is also on the same Account that Bones are more easily broken in the Winter than in the Summer. _In what Parts are the Fractures of Bones most dangerous?_ They are those that happen in the Skull and Joints; in the former by reason of the Brain; and in the latter in regard of the Nervous Parts. _What Course is to be taken by a Surgeon who is sent for to cure a Fracture?_ He ought to do three things, that is to say, at first he must incessantly endeavour to reduce it, to the end that Nature may re-unite the Parts with greater Facility, and that its Extremities may be brought together again with less trouble, before a Swelling, Inflammation, or Gangrene happen in the Part. Afterward he is to use means to retain the Parts in their proper Figure, and {190} natural Situation, and to prevent all sorts of Accidents. _How is the setting of a broken Bone to be perform'd?_ When the Fracture is Cross-wise, it must be reduc'd by Extension and contra-Extension; and when it is in length, the Coaptation or bringing together again of the Sides, is only necessary. _What is to be done in a Fracture complicated with a Wound?_ The Operator must first reduce it, and then administer the other Helps, as in a simple Fracture. _How may it be known that the reducing of the Fracture is well perform'd?_