CHAP. XIII. Of salutarie signes in wounds of the head.
BVt on the contrary these are salutary signes, when the patient hath no fea∣ver, is in his right minde, is well at the application or taking of any thing, sleepes well, hath his belly soluble, the wound lookes with a fresh and lively colour, casts forth digested and laudible matter, the Crassa Meniux hath its motion free and no way hindered.
Yet we must note, which also is observed by the Ancients and confirmed by ex∣perience; that we must thinke none past danger, and free from all chance, untill the hundreth day be past. Wherefore the Physitian ought so long to have a care of his patient, that is, to consider how he behaves and governes himselfe in meate, drinke, sleepe, venerie and other things.
But let the Patient diligently avoyd and shunne cold, for many when they have beene cured of wounds of the head, by carelesse taking cold have beene brought in∣to danger of their lives. Also you must know that the Callus whereby the bones of the scull are knit together, requires almost the space of fortie or fifty dayes to its per∣fect coagmentation and concretion. Though in very deed one cannot set downe a certaine number of dayes, by reason of the variety of bodies, or tempers. For it is sooner finished in young men, and more slowly in old; And thus much may serve for prognostickes. Now will we treat as breefely and perspicuously as we can of the cure both in generall and particular; wherefore beginning with the generall we will first prescribe a convenient diet by the moderate use of the sixe things not naturall.