pneumonia may follow. Three
weeks are required for firm union to be established in broken ribs.

=COLLAR-BONE FRACTURE.=

_First Aid Rule.--Put patient flat on back, on level bed, with small
pillow between his shoulders; place forearm of injured side across
chest, and retain it so with bandage about chest and arm._

[Illustration: FIG. 9.

A BROKEN COLLAR BONE (SCUDDER).

Usual attitude of patient with a fracture of this kind; note lowering
and narrowed appearance of left shoulder.]

Fracture of the collar bone is one of the commonest accidents. The
bone is usually broken in the middle third. A swelling often appears
at this point, and there is pain there, especially on lifting the arm
up and away from the body. It will be noticed that the shoulder, on
the side of the injury, seems narrower and also lower than its fellow.
The head is often bent toward the injured side, and the arm of the
same side is grasped below the elbow by the other hand of the patient
and supported as in a sling. (See Fig. 9.) In examining an apparently
broken bone _the utmost gentleness may be used_ or serious damage may
result.

=Treatment.=--The best treatment consists in rest in bed on a hard
mattress; the patient lying flat on the back with a small pillow
between the shoulders and the forearm of the injured side across the
chest. This is a wearisome process, as it takes from two to three
weeks to secure repair of the break. On the other hand, if the forearm
is carried in a sling, so as to raise and support the shoulder, while
the patient walks about, a serviceable result is usually obtained; the
only drawback being that an unsightly swelling remains at the seat of
the break. To make a sling, a piece of strong cotton cloth a yard
square should be cut diagonally from corner to corner, making two
right-angled triangles. Each of these will make a properly shaped
piece for a sling. (See Figs. 10 and 11.)

Fracture of the collar bone happens very often in little children,
and is commonly only a partial break or splitting of the bone, not
extending wholly through the shaft so as to divide it into two
fragments, but causing little more than bending of the bone (the
"green-stick fracture").

[Illustration: FIG. 10.

HOW TO MAKE A SLING (SCUDDER).

In Fig. 10 note three-cornered bandage; No. 2 end is carried over
right shoulder, No. 1 over left, then both fastened behind neck; No. 3
brought over and pinned.]

[Illustration: FIG. 11.