The workes of that famous chirurgion Ambrose Parey translated out of Latine and compared with the French. by Th: Johnson

CHAP. II. Of the signes of wounds made by Gunshot.

WOunds made by Gunshot are knowne by their figure, which is usually round; by their colour, as when the native colour of the part decayes, and * 1.1 in stead thereof a livid, greenish, violet or other colour succeeds; by the feeling or sense of the stroke, when in the very instant of the receiving thereof, hee feeles a heavy sense as if some great stone, or peice of Timber, or some such other weightything had falne upon it; by the small quantity of blood which issues out thereat, for when the parts are contused, within some small while after the stroake * 1.2 they swell up, so that they will scarse admit a Tent, whence it is that the blood is stopped, which otherwise would flow forth of the orifice of the wound; by heate, * 1.3 which happens eyther by the violentnesse of the motion, or the vehement impulsion of the aire, or the attrition of the contused parts, as the flesh and nerves.

Also you may conjecture that the wounds have beene made by Gunshot, if the bones shall be broken, and the splinters thereof by pricking the neighbouring bo∣dies cause defluxion and inflammation. But the cause that the Bullet makes so great a contusion is, for that it enters the body not with any points or corners, but * 1.4 with its round and sphericall body, which cannot penetrate but with mighty force; whence it commeth to passe that the wound lookes blacke, and the ad∣jacent parts livid. Hence also proceede so many grievous symptomes, as paine, Defluxion, Inflammation, Apostumation, Convulsion, Phrensie, Palsie, Gangreen and mortification, whence lastly death ensues. Now the wounds doe often cast forth virulent and very much stincking filth, by reason of the great contusion, and the rending and tearing of the neighbouring particles. A great aboundance

of humors flow from the whole body, and fall downe upon the affected parts, which the native heate thereof being diminished forsakes, and presently an unnaturall heate seazes upon it. Hither also tend an universall or particular repletion of ill humours, chiefely if the wounds possesse the nervous parts as the joynts. Verily neither a Stagge with his horne, nor a flint out of a sling can give so great a blow, or make so large a wound, as a Leaden or Iron Bullet shot out of a Gun, as that which going with mighty violence, peirces the body like a Thunderbolt.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Signes of Wounds from their figure. From their colour. From the fee∣ling the blow.
• * 1.2

  From the bleeding.
• * 1.3

  From the heats of the Wound.
• * 1.4

  Whence these wounds are so much confu∣sed.