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CHAP. V. By what meanes the contused part may be freed from the feare and imminent danger of a Gangreene.
GReat Contusions are dangerous even for this cause, for that a Gangreene * 1.1 and mortification sometimes followes them; which Hippocrates teacheth to happen, when as the affected part is growne very hard and liquide. Wherefore when the part growes livide and blacke, and the native co∣lour * 1.2 thereof, by reason of the affluxe of the concreate blood, is almost extinct; chiefe∣ly, to ease the part of that burden, cupping glasses and hornes shall be applyed to the part it selfe being first scarified with a Lancet, or else the following Instrument ter∣med a Scarificator, which hath 18 little wheeles sharpe and cutting like a razour, which * 1.3 may be straitened and slacked by the pins noted by D. and P. This instrument is to be commended for that it performes the operation quickly and gently, for it makes 18 incisiones in the space that you make one with a Lancet or knife.
A. Shewes the cover. B. The Boxe, or Case.
Then shall you foment the part with strong Venegar wherein the roootes of ra∣dish or of Dragons, Cuckow-pint, Saelomons Seale, Auripigmentum and the like have beene boyled; for such acride things doe powerfully heat, resolve and draw the * 1.4 concreate blood from the inner part of the body unto the skinne, which by its set∣ling in the part affected, prohibits the entrance of the vitall spirits, the preservers of its integrity; yea also extinguisheth the native heate of the same part. Now wee must not use these things but with great discretion, least so we draw not onely that blood which is poured forth of the vessels, but also the other which is contained in the vessels. Moreover also we must not use them, unlesse when the defluxion is stayed. For small contusions (which Galen judgeth by the softnesse of the contused part) it will bee sufficient to apply to discusse them, Virgins waxe dissolved and * 1.5 mixed with Cummim seedes, Cloves, the roote of blacke Briony, (which hath a wonderfull faculty to discusse all blackenesses and sugillations) for the same purpose, you may also apply wormewood brused and so warmed in a dish and sprinkled over with a little white wine. Also fry wormewood with oyle of cammomill, branne, the powder of Cloves, and Nutmegs, adding thereto a little aqua vitae, then put it all in a linnen cloth and apply it hot to the part. The following emplaster doth powerfully discusse congealed blood. ℞. Picis nigrae ℥ij. Gum. Elemi. ℥ij. styracis * 1.6 liquidae & terebinth. com. an. ℥ss. pul. sulphuris vivi. ℥j. Liquefiant simul, fiat Em∣plastrum; and let be spred upon leather and so applyed.