Credit: © The Royal Society
Image number: RS.10367
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‘Ambe of Hippocrates’: contraption for repairing dislocated shoulders
Date
1742
Creator
Claude-Nicolas Le Cat (1700 - 1768, French) , Surgeon
Object type
Archive reference number
Material
Dimensions
height (drawing): 210mm
width (drawing): 235mm
width (drawing): 235mm
Subject
Content object
Description
Illustration of the ‘Ambe of Hippocrates’, described a most ‘ancient and famous’ contraption. It was designed for correcting luxated (dislocated) shoulders/ arms.
This is a ‘new Ambe’ modified and improved by Le Cat and presented to the Royal Society.
The lever at A has the injured arm rest upon it, whilst the vertical piece of wood at B rests alongside the patient’s body- the two pieces joining and forming a hinge in the patient’s armpit. The patient is tied to the chair in order to provide support.
An assistant would then ‘bear on the scapula and the clavicle’ whilst another pressed down the lever (A). Thus ‘making the bone come into its place again’. It was thought that this position was favourable as it relaxed the muscles and allowed them to stretch equally.
This method was though most effective and reduced recurring luxations (dislocations).
Image 1 from Ambi Nouveau (for reducing luxations of the arm with the shoulders rectified) by Claude Le Cat FRS, 17th Feb 1742/3. Ph. Tr. 42 387.
This is a ‘new Ambe’ modified and improved by Le Cat and presented to the Royal Society.
The lever at A has the injured arm rest upon it, whilst the vertical piece of wood at B rests alongside the patient’s body- the two pieces joining and forming a hinge in the patient’s armpit. The patient is tied to the chair in order to provide support.
An assistant would then ‘bear on the scapula and the clavicle’ whilst another pressed down the lever (A). Thus ‘making the bone come into its place again’. It was thought that this position was favourable as it relaxed the muscles and allowed them to stretch equally.
This method was though most effective and reduced recurring luxations (dislocations).
Image 1 from Ambi Nouveau (for reducing luxations of the arm with the shoulders rectified) by Claude Le Cat FRS, 17th Feb 1742/3. Ph. Tr. 42 387.
Object history
Le Cat (1700-1768) was Royal Demonstrator in Anatomy and Surgery (France).
Associated place