The whole course of chirurgerie wherein is briefly set downe the causes, signes, prognostications & curations of all sorts of tumors, wounds, vlcers, fractures, dislocations & all other diseases, vsually practiced by chirurgions, according to the opinion of all our auncient doctours in chirurgerie. Compiled by Peter Lowe Scotchman, Arellian, Doctor in the Facultie of Chirurgerie in Paris, and chirurgian ordinarie to the most victorious and christian King of Fraunce and Nauarre. Whereunto is annexed the presages of diuine Hippocrates.

The second Booke of the Presages of Hyppocrates, and first of Hidropsie. (Book 2)

ALl manner of Hydropsie with the hot feuer, is dange∣rous and mortall: For the Patient is molested and afflicted by any vehement feuer and grieuous dolour, and therefore dieth. This Maladie often proceedeth of the Hepatick passion which is the Maladie of the Liuer: It hapneth also by passions in the Guts, Intestines, and En∣trals, Meseraick, raynes or melt, & inferiour parts: That which comes by the Entrals or Meseraick and inferiour parts, is knowne by Inflation in the feet and by long and continuall flux of the body, albeit the dolor of the belly is not mitigated nor appeased, nor the belly diminished nor growen lesse. That which proceeds of the Liuer, is known by the signes following, viz, the Patient hath a drie cough and spitteth almost nothing, and his belly is hard & bound in such sort that there cometh nothing from it, but with great paine and trauell: also his feet are swollen: Moreo∣uer there are tumors and inflations sometime on the right side, sometime on the left: then they depart and dissipate, that is, they goe and retourne.

¶To presage of the signes of Life and Death in hot Feuers.

WHen the Patient is cold in the head, hands and feete, and that the sides and belly are burning & vehement hot, it is a signe of an euill and dangerous Malady. But when the sicke person doth easily turne himselfe from one

side to another without trouble: also when all the body is equally hot, and sauourie, it is a signe of salubritie. On the contrarie side, when all the members are heauy, as the armes, legges, and all the body, it is to be feared. And if the Nailes be therewith liuide or leaden, one may prog∣nosticate Death approaching. But if the Nailes, fingers and feet be altogether black, it is not so dangerous a signe especially when any other good signe doth appeare, as if the Patient feele no great dolour, and beareth it strongly, and endureth his sicknes without anguish, albeit that which is black will fall away, and the dimme will be e∣uacuated by Apostume.

¶ To presage by signes taken from the Geneters and Yarde.

ƲƲHen the Genitors and Yarde are shronke in and apparently diminished against nature, it is a signe of great dolour and present death.

¶ To presage by Sleeping and Dreaming.

AS for sleeping and slumbring, the one is naturall and healthfull, and the other vnnaturall and vitious. The naturall rest is taken in the night and waking in the day: And although it is not altogether wholesome to sleepe frō the breake of the day to 8 or 9 of the clocke at morning, yet notwithstanding it is more profitable then to sleepe in the rest of the day: But if one neither sleepe by night nor day, it is dangerous and a signe of great dolour, of folly, of alienation of sences, reason and vnderstanding present or future.

¶ To presage by purging of the belly or fecall excrements.

AS for easing of the Belly and euacuating of superflui∣ties and excrements, it is best when the sicke person follow the custome in Maladies which they did in health, and especially according to qualitie and quantitie of his di∣et. For how much the more it is dissonant and different, it is so much the worse. The naturall egestion ought not to be too liquide or adust, but indifferently proportioned & compounded in colour to the meates, and that the Patient goe to stoole without paine or dolour. And if the matter be liquide, it is not altogether to be disliked when it comes without ventositie or violence, & not often in a short time. For so it would make the person weake, debile, froward, and in danger of swoonding, and death: It is also to be allowed about the end of the Maladie, that the egestion & excrementall matter become thicke and not too dry and of a good colour, as drawing neere to red or browne, and be not very vnsauorie. Also if there come foorth wormes a∣bout the end of the sicknes with the excrements, it is a good signe. Likewise in euery Maladie the belly ought to be fleshie and not round, nor full of wind, otherwise it is no good signe. Furthermore the egestion and excrementall matter being liquide and waterie, white or pale, greatly red or froathy, is dangerous: the mortall is black and li∣uide or greene, vnsauorie and slimy. And if it be of diuers of the forenamed colours together, it is no lesse dangerous but of longer continuance: also when there is peeling of the guts or Carnuncles and little skinne, all such are mor∣tall.

¶ To presage of Winde in the Intestines and Matrice.

THe ventositie enclosed in the bellie issuing foorth gent∣ly and voluntarily without making noyse or sound and with∣out

strayning the Fundament and inferiour partes, is the best and most wholesome. That which cometh foorth vn∣constrained making a noyse is better then to retaine it. But if it goeth out with sound and noyse against the Pati∣ents will, it signifieth dolorous tortion in the belly, or alie∣nation and confusion of reason.

¶To presage of Ʋentositie causing Inflation.

THe dolours Recent in the belly by Inflation and tu∣mors, and the Inflation, burning, and heate making noyse, rumbling, and motion in the belly, are cured especi∣ally by the benefit of the belly or by expulsion of winde downward, or by Vrine, or if they change the place and descend downeward.

¶ To presage by the Ʋrine.

THe Vrine that is healthfull in euery Maladie, ought to haue the Residence in the bottome white or pyrami∣dall, hauing the figure of a peare or little fine apple, being thick, then it signifieth breuitie of the sicknes, & the more that it perseuereth, the more it is to be allowed and sure. And if sometime and for certaine daies in the Maladie it be such and in some daies without Residence, it signifieth proli••itie of sicknes & lesse securitie, and the more it differs from the first, the worse it is. The Vrine being red or high coloured with the Hypostasie or light and equall residence signifieth the Maladie to bee longer then the precedent where there is no Hypostasie, but lesse dangerous. Also when there is grosse Resolutions as bran or dust in the bottome of the Vrine, it is an euill signe, and worse where they are like scales of fishe. The Vrine white and subtile is exceeding bad, albeit the forementioned is worse where there is grosse resolutions. The cloude hanging in the V∣rine signifieth securitie if it be white, for the black is dan∣gerous:

moreouer the Vrine being yellow and very cleare and subtill in the Maladie sheweth continuitie of sick∣nesse, grosse in digestion and crudity. Therefore it is to be feared least the sick person decay before the humors come to perfect concoction, and least the Patient die. The Vrine significatiue of certaine death & vnfallible is vnsauourie, slimy and muddy, as dirt and myre, and is tauny, browne, black, and thick. Furthermore the blacke as well in man as woman is alwaies bad, and the subtle and the cleare as water is also mortall in little children. The Vrine being raw, cleare and vndigested, perseuering so long in the ma∣ladie without other euill signes, but with good and health∣full, sheweth a future Apostume lower then the Dia∣phragme or ribbes: The Vrine hauing as it were a cob∣web swimming aboue signifieth that the person shall die, Dry and etick sheweth consumption of the body: you must also consider the place and colour of the cloude, for if it be neere the bottome of the Vrine it is a good signe hauing the colour neere vnto white. And if it be swimming aboue and on the top and blacke, it is dangerous and vncertaine. Finally as for the Iudgement of Vrines, take heed aboue all that you be not deceiued by the Bladder: For they may appeare such by the diseases of it: And if the Bladder bee not diseased, thy iudgement shalbe certaine, therefore take heed.

¶ To presage of Ʋomiting good and bad.

AS for Vomiting the most healthfull and allowable is composed of Phlegme and choiler not too thicke or too viscous or superfluous: The chollerick or phlegma∣tick onely, is vitious: the vomiting being greene, liuide, or black, is dangerous, and if it be compounded of greene liuide, and black altogether it is mortall. Likewise if it be vnsauourie with one of these forenamed colours, it sig∣nifieth death approching: For the Ius is vitious in all vo∣miting and euery excrement.

¶ To Presage of the Spittle.

AS for Spittle it is said to be commendable in all pul∣monick diseases and Maladies vnder the Ribs when it commeth earely in the first dayes and beginneth after the maladie without great paine and labour beinge of a redd coulor or mingled with blood & well digested not viscous. But if it come not in the first dayes but afterward with a vehement cough it is no good signe, also the red not being mingled with the healthfull and commendable is perniti∣ous. The white spittle vitious and globy is dangerous, but the pure red 〈◊〉〈◊〉 worse. The greene and fleshie giueth notice of a dangerous and bad maladie. The blacke aboue all is mortall moreuoer when the matter which ought to be pur∣ged by spitting, remaineth within the Lights & troubleth the wind-pipe, there is no securitie: The spittle also being cleare or red, sanguinolent in apostume & pulmonick infla∣tion comming in the beginning of the malady promiseth in the first dayes security & health to the patient. But if such egestion continue to the seauenth day or more it is suspiti∣ous & vncertaine. Also spittle whereby the dolor doth not cease but perseuer is not commendable but vitious. And although the black as wee haue shewed before is mortall, notwithstanding if the dolor doe therby cease it is lesse dā∣gerous and more healthfull.

To presage of Neesing.

THe Neesing in all hot Maladies and other how dange∣rous soeuer they be (except they proceed of the Lights) at any time is commendable & profitable. But being with rume & distillation at the nose. In Maladies of the Lights whether it cometh in the maladie or presently after it, is dangerous.

¶ To Presage of Suppuration.

THe dolour aboue mentioned which ceaseth not by spit∣ting, nor by the benefit of the belly, nor by phleboto∣mie, nor by laxatiue Medicines, or good Regiment, sig∣nifieth that the Apostume commeth to Suppuration, and Matter. And when the Apostume breaketh and purgeth, the Spittle being cholericke, whether the matter of the Apostume come with the Spittle, or issueth out aboue it is perillous, especially when it commeth and beginneth in the 7 day or after, it is to be feared that the Patient shall die on the 14 day, if there happen no other healthfull and commendable signes.

¶ To Presage of the signes of good hope and com∣mendable in the foresaid Maladies & others.

WHen the sicke person doth strongly endure the griefe, and if hee drawe his breath lightly and at ease, if hee breath easily without dolour, if he feele not any paine, if he spit without difficultie, and remoue his whole body and all his members at his pleasure without griefe or weari∣nesse, and that he hath no exceading and supe••fluous heate in him without great thirst and drinesse: Moreouer if the Vrine and excrements in all the Conduits are in due quan∣titie, & qualitie of any commendable coloure & substance, as the matter fecal, also of good consistence & not too hard, but as in health: the sweat vniuersall is hot with ease, also the spittle gentle and commendable, the sleepe in the night and so of others as we haue spoken.

¶ To Presage of the signes opposite of despaire.

JF the sicknesse be intollerable and doloure insupporta∣ble, burning heate, extreame thrist, continuall cough,

stifnesse of members, languishing aspiration, filthy spittle, and vnsauourie Vrine of a small quantitie, the matter li∣uide, liquide, or watery and slimy, and often particuler sweat and cold without rest of the day or night, the hands, feet and forehead cold, tossing to and fro, and all other euill signes taken in the face: By all which, or many of them, thou shalt prognosticate suddaine or lingring death with∣out discredit or dishonor, but shalt be in great reputation and estimation.

¶ To Presage of the signes of the time and day of the Rupture of the Apostume.

SOme Apostumes breake and appeare on the 20 day, o∣thers differ vnto 40, others to 60 daies. Therefore to presage well thou shalt enquire out the first day and the be∣ginning of the Maladie, viz, when the Patient did firste feele heate and the feuer, also stifnesse and standing vp of the haire, heauines, and also dolour and pricking: Then thou shalt begin to reckon the daies, and by this meanes thou maist prognosticate infallibly. Thou shalt also pre∣sage if there be Apostume on the one side or both by this meanes: aske the Patient if he feele dolour on the one side more then the other, then cause him to lie on the side which is sound, and if he feele heauinesse and ponderositie, it fol∣loweth, that the same side where the ponderositie is, is A∣postumed, and there is the collection and matter: and if he feele dolour, heate, and heauines on both, it will follow, that both sides are Apostumed: Thou shalt knowe the A∣postume and collection to be ripe and broken, and the mat∣ter retayned in the part Apostumed, when the feuer doth not cease, and it is lesse by day then night, and that the Patient sweates aboundantly, and ceaseth not to cough, and voides not almost any thing: likewise if his eyes sinke in his head, and cheekes are red, the nailes crookes, & the ends and extremities of the fingers turne, and the appetite

decayeth, and the feete swell, and there is almost through all the body pimples and pustules, these signes do appeare when the matter and Apostume is of longe continuance, & are certaine signes of future health. Therefore to progno∣sticate whether the Apostume will breake soone or late, consider that spoken of before: for if the cough in the be∣ginning and first daies doe oppresse the sicke person with dolour and often spitting and egestion with difficultie of breth, I iudge that the Apostume will breake within 20 daies, and if the contrarie happen that the signes be hinde∣red, the rupture will be prolonged: and as the signes bee strong or feeble, so the ruption is inueterated or shortened. And to know if there be perill or danger, or probabilitie of health, consider the day whereon the Apostume breakes, if the feuer and thirst cease, and the appetite returne, and if the fecall matter be solide, & if the matter of the Apostume be white and equally soft, and come foorth without doloure and without coughing: these things are faithfull signes of health. Otherwise when the feuer doth not cease, or pre∣sently retourne with great thirst, without appetite, and the fecall matter be watery, the spittle liuide, greene, and slimie, and in part phlegmatick, thou mayest prognosti∣cate death. And if there happen some good signes, some bad compare the one with the other, and diligently aduise be∣fore thou presage, to the end thou maiest auoide infamy. For some die presently, others are prolonged and then die in the end, others at length retourne to their health.

¶ To Presage of Apostumes that come about the Eares in pulmonick passions.

WHen the Apostume happeneth betweene or vnder the Eares to the sicke person with difficultie of b••••ath and that the same Apostume cometh to maturation and pur∣geth and ingendereth a Fistule, it saueth the Patient. And

to prognosticate when it will come, note this which fol∣loweth: when the Feuer continueth in the said Maladie, and the colour is permanent, the Spittle impertinent and not commendable, and the belly doe not his dutie, euacu∣ating the choller or liquide matter, and the Vrine is in small quantitie with aboundance of Residence, but all o∣ther good signes shewing securitie are present, then thou shalt presage the future Apostumes to be neere the Eare, especiallie when there is Inflammation vnder the sides and Diaphragme. And if there be no Inflammation nor doloure in the said place, but the Patient hath difficultie of breath, the which goeth away without manifest cause, then the Apostume comes aboue the Eare.

¶ To Presage of Pustules or Apostumes that come in the Feet.

JN vehement and perillous Maladies of the Lights, there happeneth for the profit and health of the Pati∣ent little pustules in the Feet, and especially when the spi∣tle is sodainlie changed from red to white, it is a most certaine signe of health, for by such spittle the pustule and dolour ceaseth, but if the spittle turne not frō red to white, and that the Vrine be not good, nor the Residence com∣mendable, the Patient shall be in danger to become lame by contraction of the nerues and iointures where the same pustule is. If the said pustule or little Apostume in the feete be hidden and vanish away, or that it goe and come without purgation or maturation: Or els if the Apostume in the side called Periplineumonia (for it is in the Lights) be not purged by commendable spittle, and that the Feuer remaine, the Patient is in daunger to loose his vnderstan∣ding, & therafter to die. Furthermore of the aforesaid pul∣monick maladies those which are aged, but not extremely (as of 50 yeres) die more often then they who are yonger.

And young persons die most commonly of another kinde of Apostume: Moreouer the person hauing great doloure in the belly lower then the Nauill, or drawing neere vpon the thigh with any feuer: if the dolour leauing his place, doe ascend vp towards the Ribbes, it is very dangerous. For then one or two euill signes doe foreshew death, but if there be many good, as easie spitting, white and not vnsa∣uourie, it is a signe of euasion: the red and vnsauourie is mortall: and if there be not any euill signe, there is hope that the thing will come to suppuration and matter.

¶ To Presage by the signes of the Bladder.

THe hardnesse and great dolour of the Bladder is mor∣tall specially with quotidian feuer, and it is often with constipation, therefore it is mortall without Remission: But if the Vrine be like the matter of the Apostume with Residence white and pointed, and thereby the dolour cea∣seth, there is hope. But if the dolour be not asswaged, and the bladder mollified, and the feuer taken away, by such Vrine iudge present death: and this happeneth more to Children of Seauen or Foureteene yeeres of age, than to any others.

Heere endeth the second Booke.