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CHAP. X. Of Bullets which remaine in the body, for a long time after the wound is healed up.
LEaden Bullets lye in some parts of the body some whiles seaven, eight or more yeares, so that they neither hinder the agglutination of the wound, neither doth any other symptome happen thereupon, as I have diverse * 1.1 times observed; untill at length by the strength of nature forcing them, and their proper weightines bearing them downewards, they shew themselves in some lower part, by their swelling or bunching forth, and so must be taken forth by the hand of the Chirurgion. For they say Lead hath a certaine sympathy and fa∣miliarity with mans body, chiefely the fleshy parts thereof. Wherefore it neither pu∣trifies its selfe, nor causeth the flesh to putrifie; besides it hath an excellent faculty in cicatrizing old ulcers. But bullets of stone, Iron and of any other mettall, are of ano∣ther nature, for they cannot remaine any long time in the body without hurt; for Iron will grow rusty, and so corrode the neighbouring bodyes, and bring other maligne symptomes. Yet a Leaden bullet cannot remaine any long time in nervous, or noble parts without danger.