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

CHAP. XXV. Of the Exostosis, bunches or knots growing upon the bones by reason of the Lues Venerea.

HArd Tumours, Exostoses and knots have their matter from thicke and tough phlegme, which cannot be dissolved, unlesse by hot medicines, * 1.1 which have a mollifying & dissolving faculty. For which purpose, be∣sides those medicines which usually are applyed to seirrous tumours, you must also make use of arg. viv. commonly after this manner. &. empl. filii Zach. & Ceronei, an. ℥ iii. euphorb. ℥ ss. euplast. de vigo, ℥ ii iter at aesyp. descript. Philagr. ℥ i. argent. vivi extinct. ℥ vi. fiat emplastrum. Spread it upon leather for your * 1.2 use. In the meane space let the patient observe a sparing dyet; for thus hee shall bee

helped, if so be that the substance of the bones be yet unperished. For if it be putre∣fyed & rotten, then the described medicines are of no use, but you must of necessity lay bare the bone, either by incision, or else by an actuall or potentiall cautery; but I had rather doe it with an actuall, for that it extracts the virulency impact in the bones, as also it hastens the abscesse, or falling away of the corrupted bone. It shall be of a convenient figure to cauterize the bone, as, round, square or long. I usually, before the application of such a Caustick, first divide the flesh that lyes over it with an incision knife, that so the paine may be the lesse, because the flesh cannot be burnt through but in a long time, by which the fire may come to the bone. But it will not bee amisse, before wee treat of this art, first to consider the nature of the rottennesse of the bones.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The matter of knots, and viru∣lent Tophi.
• * 1.2

  An emplaster against the bunching out of the bones.