CHAP. XXI. How after the blood is stanched, you must dresse the wounded member.
WHen you have tyed the Vessells, loose you Ligature which you made above the place of amputation; then draw together the lippes of the * 1.1 wound with foure stitches made acrosse, having taken good hold of the flesh; for thus you shall draw over the bones that part of the skinne and cut muscles drawne upwards before the amputation, and cover them as close as you can, that so the ayre may the lesse come at them, and that so the wound may bee the more speedily agglutinated. But when wee say, draw together the lippes of the wound with foure sti••ches, you must not so understand it, as that you must endea∣vour, to draw them so close as to touch each other, for that is impossible; for the stitches would sooner breake out, and so the part would lye bare. Wherefore it will be sufficient to draw them indifferent close together, that so you may suffer the skinne and flesh thereunder to enjoy its former liberty which it possest before the drawing up, and so in fine by natures assistance, the wound may be the more easily agglutina∣ted.