CHAP. III. How we must handle Contusions, when they are joyned with a wound.
EVery great Contusion forthwith requires blood-letting, or purging, or both; and these either for evacuation, or revulsion. For thus Hippocrates in a contusion of the Heele, gives a vomitory potion, the same day, or else * 1.1 the next day after the heele is broken. And then if the Contusion have a wound associating it, the defluxion must be stayed at the beginning, with an oynt∣ment made of Bole Armenicke, the whites of egges, and oyle of roses, and smyrtles, with the pouders of red roses, Allome and mastich. At the second dressing apply a digestive made of the yoalke of an egge, oyle of violets and Turpentine. This fol∣fowing Cataplasme shal be applyed to the neare parts to help forwards suppuration. ℞. * 1.2 rad althae, & lilio. an. ℥iiij. sol. malv. violar. senecionis, an. M. ss. coquantur complete, & passen∣tur per setaceum, addendo butyrirecentis & olei viol. an. ℥iij. farinae volatilis quant. sufficit; fiat cataplasma ad formam pultis liquidae. Yet have a care in using of Cataplasmes, that * 1.3 you do not too much exceede; for too frequent and immoderate use of them makes wounds plegmonous, sordide and putride. Wherefore the wound after it is come to suppuration must be cleansed, filled with flesh and cicatrized; unlesse haply the con∣tused flesh shall be very much torne, so that the native heate forsake it, for then it * 1.4 must be cut away. But if there be any hope to agglutinate it, let it be sowed, and other things performed according to Art; but the stitches must not be made so close to∣gether, as when the wound is simple, and without contusion; for such wounds are easily inflamed and swell up, which would occasion either the breaking of the thred or flesh, or tearing of the skinne.