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

CHAP. XXIX. Of those things which may hinder the generation of a Callus, and how to correct the faults thereof, if it be ill formed.

HAving already spoken of the signes of a Callus beginning to concrete, of its generation and the manner thereof: it now remaines, that wee treat of those things which hinder the generation thereof; and what on the contrarie helpe forwards the conformation and concretion thereof. Now these things which either wholly hinder, or else retarde the generation of a Callus, have a strong and powerfull discussive and attenuating * 1.1 facultie; or else they are unctuous, oyly and moist. For, by such the juice, wherof the Callus ought to be, is eyther melted and consumed, or else growes soft, and is relaxed. But on the contrarie, those things which helpe forwards a Callus must bee drying, incrassating, thickening, hardening and emplasticke, moderately hot and * 1.2 astringent. But for moist and relaxing medicines, they ought to have no place here, unlesse when it happens that the Callus is ill formed, that is, too thicke, or crooked, or otherwise ill shapen, whereby it may be wasted and broken, so to bee restored a∣gaine after a better manner. Yet notwithstanding, such things are not to be attemp∣ted, unlesse when the Callus is yet greene, and so depraved, that the fault therof doth very much pervert the native conformation of the part, and exceedingly offend the action. Then therefore in such a case, the place must be fomented with a decoction of a sheeps head and guts, wherein shall be boyled the roots of Marsh-mallowes, of Brionie, the seeds of Line, of Faenugreeke, Pigeons dung, Bay-berries, and the like. You shall also use this following oyntment and plaister.

℞. unguenti de Althaea ℥iiii. olei liliorum, & axungiae anseris an. ℥i. aquae vitae pa∣rum, liquefiant simul, fiat linimentum quo liniatur pars. Then apply this following emplaister.

℞. emplast. de Vigo cum mercurio, cerati oesypati descriptione Philagrii, an. ℥iii. olei anethini & liliorum an. ℥i. liquefiant omnia simul, fiat emplastrum; let it bee spred upon leather for the foresaid use. When by this meanes the Callus shall seeme to be sufficiently mollified, it shal be broken, and the bones restored to their naturall state, and the cure of the fracture to be followed as at the beginning. If the Callus be be∣come too hard through age, it is better not to break it, but to let it alone, lest some * 1.3 worse accident befall the Patient. For it may so fall out, that by your labouring to breake it, the bone may breake in some other part, before it break in that which is knit by the Callus. Therefore the discreet Patient had rather live lame, than for es∣chewing it, to undergoe the hazzard of his life. If the Callus be too grosse, it shalbe diminished (if it be as yet fresh) with emollient, resolving, and powerfully astrin∣gent medicines, which have force to dissolve, dry and exhaust. It will also bee good strongly to rubb the Callus with oyle of Bayes, wherein Salt-peter, or some other kinde of Salt hath been dissolved, then wrapped about with a Rowler, to binde it ve∣ry straitly, putting a leaden plate thereon, whereby the flowing downe of the nou∣rishing humor into the part, may be forbidden; that thus by little and little the Cal∣lus may decay and diminish. If on the contrarie, it any waies happen, that the Callus * 1.4 be more thin and slender, or grows more slowly, for that it is too straitly bound, or because the idle part is longer kept in quiet than is fit, without exercising of its pro∣per function (which cause is to be reckoned amongst the chiefe causes of the leane∣ness,

even for this reason, for that exercise stirres up the native heat of the part, the worker of digestion and nutrition) or else for that they feed upon such nourishments as offend in quality, or quantity, or both, or for that the ligature used to the part is too often loosed, or because the part its selfe is too hastily and before the time put to undergoe solid offices and motions. According to the variety of causes, medi∣cines shall bee applyed. For if the ligature of the part bee too strait, it shall bee loo∣sed, * 1.5 yea verily the fractured place, the ligature being taken away, shall be quite freed from ligation, and a new kind of ligature must bee made, which must be row∣led downe from the roote of the vessels, that is, from the armepitts, if the arme; or from the groine, if the legge be broken, to the fracture: yet so, as that you may leave it untouched or taken in, for thus the blood is pressed from the fountain and spring, and forced into the affected part, by a way quite contrary to that, whereby we have formerly taught in feare of inflammation, to hinder it from entrance into the affe∣cted part. Also gentle frictions and fomentations with warme water may be profita∣bly made, from which you must then disist when the part shall begin to grow hot and swell. If any too long continue these frictions and fomentations, hee shall re∣solve * 1.6 that which he hath drawne thither. For this we have often times observed, that frictions & fomentations have contrary effects, according to the shortness and con∣tinuance of time. Pications wil also conduce to this purpose, and other things which customarily are used to members troubled with an atrophi••, or want of nourishment.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Discussing and unctuous medi∣cines hinder the generation of a Callus.
• * 1.2

  What helps forward the ge∣neration thereof.
• * 1.3

  What Callus must not be broken, though distorte, or otherwise ill conformed.
• * 1.4

  The causes of too slender a Callus.
• * 1.5

  Remedies therefore.
• * 1.6

  When we must desist from fo∣menting and frictions.