CHAP. VIII. Of Combustions and their differences.
ALL Combustions whether occasioned by Gun-powder, or by scalding oyle, water, some mettall or what things soever else, differ onely in * 1.1 magnitude. These first cause paine in the part, and imprint in it an un∣naturall heate. Which savouring of the fire, leaves that impression, which the Greekes call Empyreuma. There are more or lesse signes of this impression, according to the efficacie of the thing burning, the condition of the part burned, and stay upon the same. If the Combustion be superficiary, the skin rises into pustles and blisters, unlesse it be speedily prevented. If it below or deepe in, it is covered with an Eschar or crust, the burnt flesh by the force of the fire turning into that crusty hardnesse. The burning force of the fire, upon whatsoever part it falls, leaves a hot distemper therein, condensates, contracts, and thickens the skinne, * 1.2 whence paine proceedes; from paine there comes an attraction of humors, from the adjacent and remote parts. These humors presently turned into watrish or serous moysture, whilest they seeke to passe forth, and are hindred thereof by the skinne condensated by the action of the fire, they lift it up higher, and rayse the blisters which we see. Hence diverse Indications are drawne, whence proceedes the varie∣ty of medicines for burnes. For some take away the Empyreuma, that is, the heate of the fire (as we terme it) and asswage the paine; other hinder the rising of blisters; o∣thersome are fit, to cure the ulcer, first to procure the falling away of the Eschar, then to clense, generate flesh and cicatrize it. Remedyes fit to asswage paine, and take a∣way * 1.3 the fiery heate, are of two kindes; for some doe it by a cooling faculty, by which they extinguish the preternaturall heate, and represse or keepe backe the blood and humors, which flow into the parts by reason of heat & paine. Others endued with contrary faculties, are hot and attractive; as which by relaxing the skin, and opening the pores, resolve and dissipate the serous humors, which yeeld both beginning, and matter to the pustles, and so by accident asswage the paine and heat. Refrigerating things, are cold water, the water of Plantaine, Night-shade, Henbane, Hemlocke; the juyces of cooling hearbes, as Purselaine, Lettuce, Plantaine, Housleeke, Poppye, Mandrake and the like. Of these some may be compounded, as some of the fore-na∣med juyces beaten with the white of an egge; Clay beaten and dissolved in strong Venegar; roch Alome dissolved in water, with the whites of egges beaten therein; writing inke mixed with Venegar and a little Camphire; Vnguentum nutritum, and also Populeon newly made. These and the like shall be now and then renewed chiefe∣ly at the first, untill the heate and paine be gone. But these same remedyes must be applyed warme, for if they should be layd, or put to cold, they would cause paine, and consequently defluxion; besides also their strength could not passe, or enter in∣to the part, or be brought into action; but so applyed they asswage paine, hinder in∣flammation and the rising of blisters.