Skip to main content

25bc-50Celsus

 

Fragment from the treatise Celsus AC On Medicine (De Medicina, ca. 25-30). The author recommends specific treatment for the traumatic pathology of ligamentum capitis femoris (LCF). See our commentary at the link: 25bc-50Celsus [Rus], and  2020ArkhipovSV_ProlyginaIV.

Quote.

[Lat]

Liber octavus. Cp. XX. De Femore luxato.

Magnum autem femori periculum est, ne vel difficulter reponatur, vel repositum rursus excidat. Quidam semper iterum excidere contendunt: sed Hippocrates, et Diocles, et Philotimus, et Nileus, et Heraclides Tarentinus, clari admodum auctores, ex toto se restituisse memoriae prodiderunt. Neque tot genera machinamentorum quoque, ad extendendum in hoc casu femur, Hippocrates, Andreas, Nileus, Nymphodorus, Protarchus, Heraclides, faber quoque quidam reperissent, si id frustra esset. Sed ut haec falsa opinio est; sic illud verum est: cum ibi valentissimi nervi musculique sint, si suum robur habent, vix admittere; si non habent, postea non continere.

Tentandum igitur est, et, si tenerius membrum est, satis est habenam alteram ab inguine, aiteram a genu intendi: si validius, melius adducent, qui easdem habenas ad valida bacula deligarint; cumque eorum fustium imas partes oppositae morae objecerint, superiores ad se utraque manu traxernt. Etiamnum valentius intenditur membrum super scamnum, cui ab utraque parte axes sunt, ad quos habenae illae deligantur: qui, ut in torcularibus, conversi, rumpere quoque, si quis perseveraverit, non solum extendere, nervos et musculos possunt.

Collocandus autem homo super id scamnum est, aut pronus, aut supinus, aut in latus, sic, ut semper ea pars superior sit, in quam os prolapsum est; ea etiam inferior, a qua recessit. Nervis extentis, si in priorem partem os venit, rotundum aliquid super inguen ponendum; subitoque super id genu adducendum est eodem modo, eademque de causa, qua idem in brachio fit; protinusque, si complicari femur potest, intus est.

In ceteris vero casibus, ubi ossa per vim paulum inter se recesserunt, medicus debet id, quod eminet, retro cogere; minister contra coxam propellere. Reposito osse, nihil novi aliud curatio requirit, quam ut diutius is in lecto detineatur; ne, si motum adhuc nervis laxioribus femur fuerit, rursus erumpat. (original source: 1831CelsusAC, Vol. 2, pp. 442-444) + Potest tamen conditus articulus medius aut summus canaliculo, aliquo contineri. (original source: 1713CelsusAC, p. 555)

Translation

[Eng]

Book VIII. Chap. XX. Luxation of the Femur.

But the greatest danger is, in a luxation of the femur, lest there be a difficulty in replacing it, or, when reduced, it may slip out again. Some maintain that it always does so, but Hippocrates, Diocles, Philotinus, Nileus, and Heraclides the Tarentine, all very celebrated authors, have asserted that they have effected a perfect cure. Neither would Hippocrates, Andreas, Nileus, Nymphodorus, Protarcchus, Heraclides, and also a certain mechanician, have invented so many kinds of machines for extending the femur in this case, if it had been to no purpose. But as this opinion is false, so is the other true; since the ligaments and muscles there being very powerful, scarcely admit of reduction, if they retain their natural strength: if they do not, the femur cannot be maintained in its place, after it has been veduced.

Therefore it must be tried, and if the limb be tender, it will be sufficient for one strap to be extended from the groin, and another from the knee; if the person be muscular, the extension will be made better, by attaching these Straps to strong sticks, placing the lower end of these sticks against a fulcrum, and pulling the upper ends with both hands. The extension of the limb may be still more powerfully effected by placing it on a bench, with pulleys at each end, to which these straps are made fast; these being turned in the manner of a wine-press, they will not only extend the limb, but even rupture the ligaments and muscles, should the operator persevere.

Now the patient is to be placed on this bench, either prone or supine, or upon his side, provided that the part to which the bone has been impelled be always uppermost, and that from which it has slipped, the lowermost. The ligaments being put upon the stretch, if the bone be dislocated anteriorly, some rounded body is to be placed upon the groin, and the knee is to be drawn suddenly towards the abdomen in the same way, and for the same reason, that is directed for a luxation of the arm; and if the femur can be flexed, it will be immediately reduced.

But in the other accidents, where the bones have receded a little from each other by violence, the physician ought to force that back which projects, and an assistant should impel the pelvis in a contrary direction. The bone being replaced, the subsequent treatment requires nothing additional, except that the patient be detained in bed for a longer period, lest the femur being moved whilst the ligaments are yet very relaxed, it may again slip out. (original source: 1831CelsusAC, Vol. 2, pp. 442-444) + However, the reduced joint can be fixed with a medium or deep groove. (our translation of the final sentence of the paragraph from 1713CelsusAC, p. 555)





External links

Celsus AC. De medicina libri octo. Brevioribus Rob. Constntini, IS. Casauboni Aliorum que Scholiis ac locis parallelis illustrati. Cura c Studio TH. J. ae ALMELOVEEN… Amstelædami: Apud J. Wolters, 1713. [archive.org]

Celsus AC. On medicine, in eight books, Latin and English. Translated from L. Targa's edition, the words of the text being arranged in the order of construction. To which are prefixed, a life of the author, tables of weights and measures, with explanatory notes, etc. designed to facilitate the progress of medical students. By Alex. Lee, A.M., Surg. In two volumes. London: E. Cox, MDCCCXXXI [1831]. [archive.org1 , archive.org2]

Authors & Affiliations

Aulus Cornelius Celsus (ca. 25 BC – ca. 50) was a Roman encyclopaedist. [wikipedia.org]

Aulus Cornelius Celsus
Engraving from Acta Medicorum Berolinensium, in Incrementum Artis & Scientiarum collecta & digesta. Volume IV. Berlin: Gottfried Gedicke, 1719;
original in the 
wikimedia.org collection (CC0 – public domain, no changed).

Keywords

ligamentum capitis femoris, ligamentum teres, ligament of head of femur, synonym, dislocation, treatment, pathology, damage, Celsus

                                                                    

NB! Fair practice / use: copied for the purposes of criticism, review, comment, research and private study in accordance with Copyright Laws of the US: 17 U.S.C. §107; Copyright Law of the EU: Dir. 2001/29/EC, art.5/3a,d; Copyright Law of the RU: ГК РФ ст.1274/1.1-2,7

BLOG CONTENT

 ANCIENT MENTIONS

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

1948EpsteinI

  Content [i] Annotation [ii] Original text [iii] Illustration [iv] Source & links [v] Notes [vi] Authors & Affiliations [vii] Keywords [i] Annotation Fragments from the book: Epstein I. Babylonian Talmud. Seder Kodashim. Vol. 2. Hullin (1948). The editor comments on the words of Rabbi Samuel (Shmuel) in the tractate Hullin of the Babylonian Talmud, explaining the location of the ligamentum capitis femoris (LCF) in relation to the joint and its differences from the sciatic nerve. The original in Russian is available at: 1948EpsteinI . [ii] Original text Quote p. 500 Hullin. Chapter 7.89b MISHNAH. [THE PROHIBITION OF] THE SCIATIC NERVE(1) IS IN FORCE BOTH WITHIN THE HOLY LAND AND OUTSIDE IT, BOTH DURING THE EXISTENCE OF THE TEMPLE AND AFTER IT, IN RESPECT OP BOTH UNCONSECRATED AND CONSECRATED [ANIMALS]. IT APPLIES TO CATTLE AND TO WILD ANIMALS, TO THE RIGHT AND LEFT HIP, BUT IT DOES NOT APPLY TO BIRDS BECAUSE THEY HAVE NO SPOON-SHAPED HIP(2). IT ALSO APPLIES TO A F...

Vertebrates

VERTEBRATES According to the molecular clock, a specific method for dating phylogenetic events, vertebrates (Vertebrata) separated from arthropods (Arthropoda) 976±97 Ma (2004HedgesSB_ShoeJL). The latter began to dominate in species diversity with the Cambrian burst of radiation, which occurred 520 Ma (2010EdgecombeGD). This ratio in the fauna of the Earth is still preserved. Approximately 525 Ma, the phylum Chordates separated from the group of bilaterally symmetrical animals (1995ChenJY_ZhouGQ). In turn, the evolution of chordate organisms led to the formation of the first vertebrates at least 500 Ma, from which the jawed mouths 450-400 Ma descended, becoming the ancestors of the placoderms or "armored" fish (Placodermi) (1979 НаумовНП _ КарташевНН ). Sculptural reconstruction of the placoderm Coccosteus from the order Arthrodires, Middle Devonian, 393.3-382.7  Ma ; exposition of the Orlov Paleontological Museum (Moscow); photo by the author. The first cartilaginou...

Inferior Portal. Part 1.

  Original in Russian is available at the link:  Нижний портал. Часть 1.  below is a machine translation edited by a non-native speaker  ( version dated 03/02/2025 ) .     INFERIOR PORTAL FOR HIP ARTHROSCOPY: A PILOT STUDY PART 1. Background and Hypothesis Arkhipov S.V., Independent Researcher, Joensuu, Finland Abstract: The article presents, theoretically and graphically substantiates the technique of a new arthroscopic approach to the central compartment of the hip joint. It is proposed to introduce the optical system of the arthroscope from below through the acetabular notch without traction. Similar approaches were used for puncture, arthroscopy, arthrography, and arthrotomy of the hip joint. Diagnostics using the described lower portal will exclude complications caused by distraction of the leg and compression of the perineal support during surgery.   CONTENTS PART 1. Background and Hypothesis [1] . Introduction [2] . Passage through t...

1753AstrucJ

  Content [i] Annotation [ii] Original text (in French) [iii] English translation [iv] Source & links [v] Notes [vi] Authors & Affiliations [vii] Keywords [i] Annotation Fragments from the book: Astruc J . Conjectures sur les memoires originaux dont il paroit que Moyse s'est servi pour composer le livre de la Genese (Conjectures on the Original Documents Which Moses Apparently Used in Compiling the Book of Genesis, 1753). In analyzing the book of Genesis, the author cites a French text mentioning a hip injury, damage to the ligamentum capitis femoris (LCF), and the consequences of an accident. An Russian translation is available at: 1753AstrucJ . [ii] Original text (in French) Quote p. 176 Genesis. Chap. XXXII A 25. Et quand cest hommeld vid qu’il ne le pouvoit vaincre, il toucha l'enrdroit de l'emboifiement de la hanche d'icelui: ainsi l'emboifiement de l'os de la hanche de Jacob fut entors quand l'homme luictoit avec lui.   Quote p. 177...

LCF in 2026 (May)

LCF in 2026 (May )  (Quotes from articles and books published in May   2026 mentioning the ligamentum capitis femoris)   Kim, P. S., Kang, C., Lee, J. K., & Hwang, J. M. (2026). Hip arthroscopy to treat symptomatic paralabral cysts: a retrospective analysis of clinical outcomes. Arthroscopy and Orthopedic Sports Medicine , 13 (1), 27-34.     [i]     e-aosm.org   Ko, H. Y. (2026). Vascular Anatomy of the Extremities and Lungs. In Practical Functional Anatomy for Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation: A Guide for Physiatrists and Rehabilitation Specialists (pp. 191-223). Singapore: Springer Nature Singapore.      [ii] link.springer.com   Aiba, H., Yamaguchi, M., Kimura, H., & Murakami, H. (2026). Advances in limb-salvage surgery and reconstruction for pediatric bone and soft tissue tumors. Frontiers in Pediatrics , 14 , 1817788.      [iii]     pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov   Bajwa, A., Villar, R., ...

1845HollsteinL

  Fragments from the book Hollstein L. Compendium der Anatomie des Menschen (1865). The author discusses the anatomy of the ligamentum capitis femoris (LCF), and mentions its synonyms. The text is prepared for machine translation using a service built into the blog from Google or your web browser.   Quote p. 144 Das Lig am. teres s. rotundum femoris (Fig. 50, 7.) hat eine dreieckige Gestalt, und ist mit seiner Basis in dem Fundus acetabuli, mit seiner rundlichen Spitze in der Fovea capitis ossis femoris befestigt. Es besteht aus einem Bündel Sehnenfasern, und erhält von der Synovialmembran einen scheidenformigen Ueberzug; bisweilen existirt letzterer allein, und manchmal felilt das Band ganz und gar. Fig. 50. Seitliche Ansicht der Bänder des Beckens und Hüftgelenks.   Quote p. 145 Die weite Synovialmembran überzieht den Schenkelkopf, geht alsdann als Scheide des Ligam. teres zur Gelenkpfanne über, welche sie ebenfalls auskleidet, und schlägt sich hierauf über die ...

1665LindenJA

  Content [i] Annotation [ii] Original text (in Latin) [iii] English translation [iv] Source & links [v] Notes [vi] Authors & Affiliations [vii] Keywords [i] Annotation Fragment from the book: Linden JA . Magni Hippocratis Coi Opera Omnia Graece Et Latine Edita. Vol. I. (1665). This article presents an excerpt from the treatise «Mochlicus» (Instruments of Reductions) by  Hippocrates of Cos    (b. 460 BC), translated into Latin. The author describes for the first time the localization and area of distal attachment of the ligamentum capitis femoris (LCF) describit, mentionem in alio tractatu ponens. A translation of this article into Russian is available at the link: 1665LindenJA .  The original source in Greek sees at the link: 1844LittreE , and in English at: 1886AdamsF . [ii] Original text (in Latin) Quote pp. 294-295 Vol. I. Ossium natura II. Ipsum aurem femur foras, & in anteriore parte incurvum est. Caput autem ejus appendix eft r...

Inferior Portal. Part 2.

  Original in Russian is available at the link:  Нижний портал. Часть 2.  below is a machine translation edited by a non-native speaker.     INFERIOR PORTAL FOR HIP ARTHROSCOPY: A PILOT STUDY PART 2.  Inferior Portal Prototypes Arkhipov S.V., Independent Researcher, Joensuu, Finland   CONTENTS PART 1.  Background and Hypothesis [1] . Introduction [2] .  Passage through the Inferior Portal [3] .  Main Advantages of the Proposed Technique [4] .  Specific Risks of the Proposed Technique [5] .  Main Limitations of the Proposed Technique [6] . References (Part 1)   PART 2. Inferior Portal Prototypes [7] . Open Reduction [8] .  Puncture and Arthrography [9] . Arthroscopy and Debridement [10] . References (Part 2)   [7] . Open  R eduction   Our idea to reduce the trauma of hip joint surgery through an inferior approach has a rich history. In the spring of 1907, Professor Karl Rudolf Ludloff (1864-1945, photo )...

CATALOG OF LITERATURE ON THE LCF

  Catalog of literature on the LCF (Books, articles, links, reference, mention …) NEOLITHIC AND BRONZE (8,000 to 2,000 years BCE)  https://roundligament.blogspot.com/2024/10/neolithic-and-bronze.html   IRON AGE (10th-1st century BCE) https://roundligament.blogspot.com/2024/10/iron-age.html   1st-10th Century https://roundligament.blogspot.com/2024/10/1st-10th-century.html   11th-15th Century https://roundligament.blogspot.com/2024/10/11th-15th-century.html   16th Century https://roundligament.blogspot.com/2024/10/16th-century.html   17th Century https://roundligament.blogspot.com/2024/10/17th-century.html   18th Century https :// roundligament . blogspot . com /2024/10/18 th - century . html   19th Century https://roundligament.blogspot.com/2024/10/19th-century.html   20th Century https://roundligament.blogspot.com/2024/10/20th-century.html   21st Century https://roundligament.blogspot.com/2024/10/21st-century.html BLOG CONTENT TH...

1914RickettsCS

   Ricketts C.S. , Jacob Wrestling with the Angel (before 1914).   Depicting the circumstances and mechanism of the ligamentum capitis femoris (LCF) injury based on the description in the Book of Genesis:  25 And Ja cob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day.  26 And when he saw that he could not pre vail against him, he struck against the hollow of his thigh ; and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was put out of joint, as he was wrestling with him. … 33 Therefore do the children of Israel not eat the sinew which shrank, which is upon the hollow of the thigh, unto this day; because he struck against the hollow of Jacob's thigh on the sinew that shrank. ( 1922LeeserI , Genesis (Bereshit) 32:25-26,33) More about the plot in our work: Ninth month, eleventh day ( 2024АрхиповСВ. Девятый месяц, одиннадцатый день ). Charles S. Ricketts – Jacob Wrestling with the Angel (before 1914). Presented by Miss Katherine Harris Bradley, origina...