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The Royal Society: Science in the Making

Paper, 'Of a luxated shoulder reduced by a newly improved machine' by Mr Becket [William Beckett?]

Reference number: CLP/12ii/9

Date: 1723

Description

Beckett describes a woman who dislocated her shoulder, which became very stiff. Two attempts to manually reset the shoulder were unsuccessful, so a machine consisting of small brass wheels, a bar, and a 'napkin' was used to reset the shoulder. Beckett then discusses previous methods for resetting shoulders and the reasons for difficulties encountered in these methods.

Subject: Medicine

Read to the Royal Society on 24 January 1723.

Reference number
CLP/12ii/9
Earliest possible date
1723
Physical description
Ink on paper
Page extent
6 pages
Format
Manuscript

Creator name

William Beckett

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Citation

William Beckett, Paper, 'Of a luxated shoulder reduced by a newly improved machine' by Mr Becket [William Beckett?], 1723, CLP/12ii/9, The Royal Society Archives, London, https://makingscience.royalsociety.org/items/clp_12ii_9/paper-of-a-luxated-shoulder-reduced-by-a-newly-improved-machine-by-mr-becket-william-beckett, accessed on 19 April 2026

Link to this record

https://makingscience.royalsociety.org/items/clp_12ii_9/paper-of-a-luxated-shoulder-reduced-by-a-newly-improved-machine-by-mr-becket-william-beckett

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  • Classified Papers

    The 'Classified Papers' of the Royal Society are papers from British and international natural philosophers and scholars categorised according to subject areas.

    Dates: 1592 - 1741

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