Chap. XXXII Operations Required in Cohering and Crooked Fingers
If the fingers, either from the birth, or by an ulceration in their opposite sides, have afterwards adhered together, they are separated by the knife; round each of them a plaister, not greasy, is put on, and thus they heal separately.
But if there has been an ulcer in a finger, and afterwards a cicatrix injudiciously brought on, has rendered it crooked; in the first place a malagma must be tried. If that does no good (which generally happens both in an old cicatrix, and where the tendons are hurt) then we ought to see whether the fault be in the tendon or the skin. If in the tendon, it ought not to be touched, for it is not curable: if in the skin, the whole cicatrix must be cut off, which being generally callous, prevents the fingers from being extended. Then being kept extended, it must be brought to cicatrize afresh.