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

CHAP. XXXI. Of the cure of Buboes, or Plague-sores.

SO soon as the Bubo appeares, apply a Cupping-glasse with a great * 1.1 flame unto it, unlesse it be that kinde of Bubo which will sudden∣ly have all the accidents of burning and swelling in the highest na∣ture; but first the skinne must be anointed with the oyle of lillies, that so it being made more loose, the Cupping-glasse may draw the stronger and more powerfully; it ought to sticke to the part for the space of a quarter of an houre, & be renewed and applyed again every three quarters of an houre, for so at length the venom shall be the better drawn forth from any noble part that is weak, and the work of suppuration or resolution, whichsoever nature hath assaied, will the better and sooner bee absolved and perfected: which may bee also done by the application of the following ointment.

Take of Uuguentum Dialthaea one ounce and a halfe; oile of Scorpions halfe an * 1.2 ounce; of Mithridate dissolved in Aquavitae, halfe a dramme; this liniment will ve∣ry well relaxe and loosen the skin, open the pores thereof, & spend forth portion of that matter which the Cupping-glasse hath drawne thither: in stead thereof molli∣fying fomentations may bee made, and other drawing and suppurating medicines, which shall be described hereafter.

A Vesicatory applied in a meet place below the Bubo profits them very much

but not above; as for example. If the Bubo be in the throat, the Vesicatory must be ap∣plied unto the shoulder-blade on the same side; if it be in the arme-holes, it must be applied in the midst of the arme, or of the shoulder-bone, on the inner side: if in the groin, in the midst of the thigh on the inner side, that by the double passage that is open for to draw out the matter, the part wherein the venome is gathered together, may be the better exonerated.

Spurge, Crow-foot, Arsemart, Beare-foot, Bridny, the middle barke of Travel∣lers-joy, the rindes of Mullet, Flammula or upright Virgins-bower, are fit for raising blisters. If you cannot come by those simple medicines, you may apply this which followeth, which may be prepared at all times.

Take Cantharides, Pepper, Euphorbium, Pellitory of Spain, of each halfe a dram; of soure leaven, two drammes; of Mustard one dramme, and a little Vinegar; the * 1.3 vinegar is added thereto to withhold or restraine the vehemency of the Canthari∣des; but in want of this medicine it shall suffice to drop scalding oyle or water, or a burning candle, or to lay a burning coale on the place: for so you may raise blisters, which must ptesently be cut away, and you must see that you keep the ulcers open & flowing as long as you can, by applying the leaves of red coleworts, Beetes, or Ivie dipped in warme water, and anointed with oyle or fresh butter. Some apply Caute∣ties, * 1.4 but Vesicatories work with more speed: for before the Eschar of the Cauteries will fall away, the patient may dye: therefore the ulcers that are made with Vesica∣tories will suffice to evacuate the pestilent venome, because that doth worke rather by its quality than its quantity. Let the abscesse bee fomented as is shewed before: and then let the medicine following, which hath vertue to draw, be applied.

Fill a great onion, being hollowed, with Treacle and the leaves of Rue, then roast it under the hot Embers, beat it with a little Leaven, and a little Swines grease, and * 1.5 so apply it warme unto the abscesse or sore; let it be changed every sixe houres. Or Take the roots of Marsh-mallowes and Lillies, of each halfe a pound; of Line, Foe∣nugreek, and Mustard seeds, of each halfe an ounce; of Treacle one dramme; ten Figges, and as much H••gges grease as shall suffice: make thereof a cataplasme ac∣cording to Art. Or, take of Onions and Garlicke roasted in the embers, of each three ounces: bruise them with one ounce of sower leaven, adding thereto Unguentum Ba∣silicon, one ounce; Treacle one dramme; Mithridate halfe a dramme; of old Hogs greace one ounce; of Cantharides in pouder one scruple; of Pigeons dung two drams: beat them and mixe them together into the forme of a cataplasme. Hereunto old Rennet is very profitable, for it is hot, and therfore attractive, being mixed with old Leaven and Basilicon: you ought to use these untill the abscesse be growne unto its full ripenesse and bignesse; but if presently after the beginning there bee great in∣flammation, with sharpe paine, as it often happeneth, especially when the abscesses be of the kinde of Carbuncles, wee must abstaine from those remedies that are hot and attractive, and also from those that are very emplasticke and clammy; because they doe altogether close the pores of the skin, or because they resolve the thinner part of the collected matter, which if it might remain, would bring the other sooner to suppuration: or else because they may perchance draw more quantity of the hot matter than the part can beare, whereof commeth rather corruption than maturati∣on: and last of all because they encrease the feaver and pain, which inferreth danger of a convulsion or mortall Gangrene. Therefore in such a case it is best to use cold and temperate locall medicines, as the leaves of Henbane and Sorrell roasted under the coales, Galens pultis, and such like.

There are many that for feare of death, have with their owne hands pulled away the Bubo with a paire of Smithes Pincers: others have digged the flesh round about * 1.6 it, and so gotten it wholly out. And to conclude others have become so mad, that they have thrust an hot iron into it with their owne hand, that the venome might have a passage forth: of all which I doe not allow one; for such abscesses doe not come from without, as the bitings of virulent beasts, but from within, and moreo∣ver because pain is by these means encreased, and the humour is made more maligne and fierce. Therefore I think it sufficient to use medicines that relaxe, open the pores of the skinne, and digest portion of the venome by transpiration, as are these that

follow. Take the roots of Marsh-mallowes and Lillies, of each sixe ounces; of Cha∣momill * 1.7 and Melilote flowers, of each halfe a handfull; of Linseeds halfe an ounce; of the leaves of Rue halfe a handfull: boyle them and straine them, dip sponges in the straining, and therewith let the tumour bee fomented a long time. Or, Take the crum of hot bread, and sprinkle it with Treacle-water, or with aqua vitae, and Cowes * 1.8 milk or Goates milke, and the yolks of three egges, put them all one stupes or flaxe, and apply them warme unto the place. Or, Take of soure Rie leaven foure ounces; of Basilicon two ounces; three yolkes of egges; oyle of Lillies two ounces; Treacle one dram: let it be received on stupes, and applyed in like manner. Or, Take of Dia∣chylon and Basilicon, of each two ounces; oyle of Lillies one ounce and an halfe: let them be melted and mixed together, and let it be applyed as is abovesaid. When you see, feele and know, according to reason, that the Bubo is come to perfect suppurati∣on, it must be opened with an incision knife, or an actuall or potentiall Cautery, but * 1.9 it is best to be done with a potentiall Cautery, unlesse that happely there be great in∣flammation, because it doth draw the venome from beneath unto the superficiall parts, and maketh a larger orifice for the matter that is contained therein: neither must it be looked for, that nature should open it of her selfe, for then it were danger that lest while nature doth worke slowly, a venemous vapour should bee stirred up, which striking the heart by the arteries, the braine by the nerves, and the liver by the veines, should cause a new increase of the venemous infection. For feare whereof there be some that will not expect the perfect maturation and suppuration, but as it were in the midst of the crudity and maturity will make an orifice for it to passe forth at: yet if it be done before the tumour be at his perfect maturity, paine, a Fea∣ver, and all accidents are stirred up and enraged, whereof commeth a maligne ulcer that often degenerats into a Gangrene. For the most part about the tenth or eleventh day the work of suppuration seemeth perfected and finished; but it may be sooner or later by reason of the application of medicines, the condition of the matter, and state of the part: when the matter commeth forth, you must yet use suppurative and molli∣fying medicines, to maturate the remains thereof; in the mean while cleansing the ul∣cer by putting mundificatives into it, as we shall declare in the cure of Carbuncles. But if the tumour seeme to sinke in or hide it selfe again, it must be revoked and pro∣cured * 1.10 to come forth againe, by applying of Cupping-glasses with scarification, and with sharpe medicines, yea, and with Cauteries both actuall and potentiall.

When the Cauteries are applyed, it shall be very good to apply a vesicatory a lit∣tle below it, that there may be some passage open for the venome while the Eschar is in falling away. For so they that are troubled with the French Pocks, so long as they have open and flowing ulcers; so long are they voyd of any paine that is worth the speaking of; which ulcers being closed and cicatrized, they doe presently complain of great paine. If you suspect that the Bubo is more maligne by reason that it is of a greene, or blacke and inflamed colour, as are those that come of a melancho∣ly humour by adustion, turned into a grosse and rebellious melancholy hu∣mour, so that by the more copious influxe thereof into the part, there is danger of a gangrene and mortification; then the places about the abscesse must bee armed * 1.11 with repercussives, but not the abscesse it selfe: and this may be the forme of the re∣percussives: Take of the juice of house-leeke, Purslaine, Sorrell, Night-shade, of each two ounces, of Vinegar one ounce, the whites of three egges, of oyle of Roses and water-Lillies, of each two ounces and a halfe: stirre them together, and apply it about the Bubo, and renew it often: or boyle a Pomgranate in vinegar, beat it with Unguentum Rosatum, or Populeon newly made, and apply it as is aforesaid. If these things doe not stop the influxe of other humours, the abscesse it selfe and the places about it must bee scarified round about, if the part will permit it; that the part exo∣nerated of portion of the venome may not stand in danger of the extinction of the proper and naturall heat, by the greater quantity and malignity of the humours that flow unto it. In scarrifying you must have care of the great vessels, for feare of an ir∣repugnable * 1.12 fluxe of bloud, which in this case is very hard to bee stayed or resisted; both because the part it selfe is greatly inflamed, and the humour very fierce; for the expulsion whereof, nature, carefull for the preservation of the part and all the body

besides, seemeth to labour and worke. But yet you must suffer so much of the bloud & humour to flow out as the patient is able to abide without the losse of his strength. Moreover, you may spend forth the superfluous portion of the malignity, with re∣laxing, mollifying and resolving fomentations: as, Take the roots of Marsh-Mal∣lowes, Lillies and Elicampaine, of each one pound, of Linseeds and Faenugreek, of each one ounce, of Fennell-seeds and Anise-seeds, of each halfe an ounce, of the leaves of Rue, Sage, Rosemary, of each one handfull, of Chamomill and Melilote flowers, of each three handfuls; boyle them all together, and make thereof a decocti∣on for a fomentation; use it with a spunge according to Art. Also after the aforesaid scarification, wee may put Hens, or Turkies that lay egs (which therefore have their fundaments more wide and open, and for the same purpose put a little salt into their fundaments) upon the sharpe top of the Bubo, that by shutting their bils at severall times they may draw and suck the venome into their bodies, farre more strongly and better than cupping-glasses, because they are endued with a naturall property against poyson, for they eat and concoct Toads, Efts, and such like virulent beasts: when one hen is killed with the poyson that she hath drawne into her body, you must ap∣ply another, and then the third, fourth, fift and sixt within the space of half an houre. There be some that will rather cut them, or else use whelps cut asunder in the midst, and applyed warme unto the place, that by the heate of the creature that is yet scarce dead, portion of the venome may be dissipated and exhaled. But if neverthelesse there be any feare of a Gangrene at hand, you must cut the flesh with a deeper scarification, not onely avoyding the greater vessels, but also the nerves, for feare of convulsion: and after the scarification and a sufficient flux of bloud, you must wash it with Aegyp∣tiacum, Treacle and Mithridate dissolved in sea-water, Aquavitae and Vinegar. For such a lotion hath vertue to stay putrefaction, repell the venome, and prohibite the bloud from concretion: but if the Gangrene cannot be avoyded so, cauteries may be applied to the part: especially actual, because they do more effectually repel the force of the poison, & strengthen the part. Presently after the impression of the hot iron, the eschar must bee cut away even unto the quicke flesh, that the venemous vapours and the humours may have a free passage forth, for it is not to bee looked for that they * 1.13 will come forth of themselves. With these inunctions they are wont to hasten the falling away of the Eschar. Take of the mucilage of Marsh-mallowes and Linseeds, of each two ounces, fresh butter or Hogs-grease one ounce, the yolks of three egges, incorporate them together, and make thereof an ointment: butter, Swines grease, oyle of Roses, with the yolks of egges, performe the selfe same thing. When the Es∣char is fallen away, we must use digestives. As take of the juice of Plantaine, water-Bettony, and Smallage, of each three ounces, hony of Roses foure ounces, Venice Turpentine five ounces, Barly-slower three drams, Aloes two drams, oyle of Roses foure ounces, Treacle halfe a dram, make a mundificative according to Art. Or, Take Venice Turpentine foure ounces, Syrupe of dryed Roses and Wormewood, of each one ounce, of the powder of Aloes, Mastick, Myrthe, Barly-flower, of each one dram, of Mithridate halfe an ounce, incorporate them together. This unguent that follow∣eth * 1.14 is very meet for putrefied and corroding ulcers: Takered Orpiment one ounce, of unquenched Lime, burnt Alome, Pomgranate pills, of each sixe drams, of Oliba∣num, Galls, of each two drams, of Waxe and Oile as much as shall suffice, make there∣of an unguent. This doth mundifie strongly, consume putrefied flesh, and dry up vi∣rulent * 1.15 humidities that engender Gangrenes. But there is not a more excellent un∣guent than Aegyptiacum encreased in strength, for besides many other vertues that it hath, it doth consume and waste the proud flesh, for there is neither oyle nor waxe that goeth into the composition thereof, with which things the vertue of sharpe me∣dicines convenient for such ulcers, is delayed, and as it were dulled and hindered from their perfect operation so long as the ulcer is kept open. There have bin many that being diseased with this disease, have had much matter & venemous filth come out at their abscesses, so that it seemed sufficient, and they have bin thought wel reco∣vered, yet have they dyed suddenly. In the mean while when these things are in do∣ing, cordial medicines are not to be omitted to strengthen the heart. And purgations must be renewed at certaine seasons, that nature may be every way unloaded of the burthen of the venenate humors.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The use of cup¦ping glasses in curing a Bubo.
• * 1.2

  A liniment
• * 1.3

  A compound 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.4

  Why vesicato∣ries are better than cau•…•… in a pestilent 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.5

  Strong drawing 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.6

  Against such as cut away plague 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.7

  A digestive fo∣mentation.
• * 1.8

  An anodine Cataplasme.
• * 1.9

  Why it is best to open a Plague-sore with a po∣tentiall cautery.
• * 1.10

  How to draw forth a sore that seems to goe in againe.
• * 1.11

  When repercus∣sives may be ap∣plyed.
• * 1.12

  Why too much bleeding is to be feared.
• * 1.13

  L••••iments to hasten the fal∣ling way of the Eschar.
• * 1.14

  Against ••ating ulcers.
• * 1.15

  The praise of Aegyptiacum.