Solution for massive body trauma, circa 1684

i-d4833e7168567b15ff871262ea5918aa-bibliosplinthiero.jpg
Illustration by John George
From Opera Chirurgica by Hieronymus Fabricius, 1684
From Sothebys via Bibliodyssey

When I saw this illustration over at Bibliodyssey, the first thing I thought of was the creepy Nazi henchman Kroenen in the film Hellboy. Shiver! But apparently it's a medical device - a full-body splinting apparatus. (At least, it's a concept drawing for such a device, since as Peacay points out, you probably wouldn't survive injuries extensive enogh to require full-body splinting in 1684.)

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Ooh...how comfortable looking! ;-) I can't imagine what conceptual injuries inspired this design, unless people were regularly launched from catapults in the 16oo's.