When a person receives a severe contusion of the leg or foot, or
breaks his leg, or has painful ulcers over the leg, or is unable from
some cause to bear the pressure of the bedclothes, it is advisable to
know how to keep them from hurting the leg. This may be done by
bending up a fire-guard, or placing a chair, resting upon the edge of
its back and front of the seat, over the leg, or putting a box on each
side of it, and placing a plank ever them; but the best way is to make
a _cradle_, as it is called. This is done by getting three pieces of
wood, and three pieces of iron wire, and passing the wire or hoop
through the wood. This can be placed to any height, and is very useful
in all cases where pressure cannot be borne. Wooden hoops cut in
halves answer better than the wire.