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

Voyage of Flanders.

MOnsieur the Duke of Ascot did not faile to send a Gentleman to the King with a letter, humbly to beseech him to doe him so much good and honour, as to permit and command his cheefe Chirurgion to come see the Marquesse of Auret his brother; who had received a Musket shot neare the knee, with fracture of the bone, about seaven monthes since, with the Physitions and Chirurgions in those parts were much troubled to cure. The King sent for me, and commanded me to goe see the said Lord Auret, and to helpe him in all that I could for the cure of his hurt; I told him I would imploy all that little knowledge which it had pleased God to give me. I went then conducted by two Gentlemen to the Castle of Auret, which is a league and a halfe from Mounts in Hainaut, where the said Marquesse was: as soone as I arrived I visited him, and told him the King had commanded me to come see him, and to dresse him of his hurt; he told me he was glad of my comming, and was much bound to the King to have done him the honour, to have sent me to him. I found him in a great Feaver, his eyes very much sunke, with a countenance gastly and yellow, his tongue drie and rough, and all the body emaciated and leane, his speech low like that of a dying man: then I found his thigh much swelled, apo∣stemated, ulcerated, and casting out a greene stinking matter; I searcht it with a silver probe, and by the same I found a cavity neare the groyne, ending in the mid∣dle of the thigh, and others about the knee, sauious and cuniculous; also certaine scales of bones some separated, others not. The Legge was much tumified, and soaked with a pituitous humor, cold, moist, and flatulent; in so much that the natu∣rall heate was in the way to be suffocated, and extinguished, and the said Legge croo∣ked and retracted toward the buttockes, his rumpe ulcerated the breadth of the palme of an hand, and he said he felt there a great paine and smarting, and likewise in his reines, inso much that hee could not take any rest night or day; neither had hee any appetite to eate, but to drinke enough; it was told mee hee fell often into faintings and swoonings, and sometimes as it were into an Epilepsie, and had often-times desire to vomit, with such a trembling that hee could not carry his hands to his mouth. Seeing and considering all these great accidents, and the forces much abated; truly I was much grieved to have gone to him, because me thought there was little appearance that he could escape. Notwithstanding to give him courage and good hope, I told him, that I would quickly set him on foote by the grace of God, and the Physitions and Chirurgions helpe. Having seene him, I went a walk∣ing into a Garden, where I prayed to God that hee would give me the grace to cure him, and that hee would give a blessing to our hands, and medicaments, to com∣bate against so many complicated maladies. I bethought in my minde the wayes I must keepe to doe it. They called mee to dinner, I entred into the kitehin where I saw taken out of a great pot, halfe, a Mutton, a quarter of Veale, three great peeces of Beefe, and two Pullets, and a great peece of Bacon, with great store of good Hearbes. Then I said to my selfe this broth was full of juice, and of good nourish∣ment; After dinner all the Physitions and Chirurgions assembled, we entred into conference in the presence of Monsieur the Duke of Ascot, and some Gentlemen that did accompany him; I began to tell the Chirurgions that I mervailed much they had made no apertions in the Marquesses thigh; which was all apostema∣ted, and the matter which issued out was very foule and stinking, which shewed it had a long time lurked there, and that I had found with my probe a Caries in the bone, and small scales which were already separated; they made mee answer, hee would never give consent, and likewise it was almost two monthes since they could winne him to put on cleane sheets on his bed, neither dust one scarce touch the cover∣let, he feelt so great paine. Then said I, for to cure him, we must touch other things than the coverlet of the bed. Each one said what hee thought best of the Lords greefe, and for conclusion held it altogether deplorable. I told them there was yet some hope, because of his youth, and that God and nature doe sometime such things which seeme to Physitions and Chirurgions to bee impossible. My consultation

was, that all these accidents were come by reason of the bullet hitting neare the joynt of the knee, which had broken the Ligaments, tendons, and aponeureses of the muscles which tye the sayd joynt together with the Os femoris; also nerves, veines, and arteries from whence had followed paine, inflammation, aposteme and ulcer: and that wee must begin the cure by the disease, which was the cause of all the sayd accidents, that is to say, to make apertions to give issue to the matter reteined in the interspaces of the muscles, and in the sub∣stance of them: Likewise to the bones which caused a great corruption in the whole thigh, from whence the vapors did arise and were carryed to the heart, which caused the sincope, and the feaver; and the feaver an universall heate through the whole body; and by consequent, depravation of the whole Occonomie; Like-wise that the said vapours were communicated to the braine, which caused the Epi∣lipsie, and trembling, and to the stomacke disdaine and loathing, and hindred it from doing his functions, which are cheefely to concoct and disgest the meate, and to convert it into Chylu••; which not being well concocted, they ingender crudities and obstructions, which makes that the parts are not nourished, and by consequent the body dryes, and growes leane; and because also it did not doe any exercise, for every part which hath not his motion remaineth languid, and atrophiated, be∣cause the heate & spirits are not sent or drawne thither, from whence followes mor∣tification. And to nourish and fatten the body, frictions must be made universally through the whole body, with warme linnen cloathes, above, below, on the right side, and left, and round about: to the end to draw the blood and spirits from with∣in outward, and to resolve any fuliginous vapours retained betweene the skinne, and the flesh; thereby the parts shall be nourished and restored, (as I have hereto∣fore sayd in the tenth booke treating of wounds of Gunshot) and wee must then cease when we see heate and rednesse in the skinne, for feare of resolving that wee have already drawne, and by consequent make it become more leane. As for the Vlcer which he had upon his rumpe, which came through too long lying upon it without being remooved, which was the cause that the spirits could not florish or shine in it; by the meanes of which there should bee inflammation, aposteme and then ulcer, yea with losse of substance of the subject flesh, with a very great paine; because of the nerves which are disseminated in this part. That wee must likewise put him into another soft bed, and give him a cleane shirt, and sheets; otherwise all that wee could doe would serve for nothing, because that those excrements and vapors of the matter retained so long in his bed, are drawne in by the Systole and Diastole of the Arteries which are disseminated through the skin, and cause the spirits to change and acquire an ill quality and corruption, which is seene in some that shall lye in a bed where one hath sweate for the Pox, who will get the Pox by the putrid vapours which shall remaine soaked in the sheets and coverlets. Now the cause why he could in no wise sleepe, and was as it were in a consumption, t'was because he eate little, and did not doe any exercise, and because hee was grieved with extreame paine. For there is nothing that abateth so much the strength as paine. The cause why his tongue was dry and fowle, was through the vehemence of the heate of the feaver, by the vapors which ascended through the whole body to the mouth. For as we say in a common proverbe, when an Oven is well heate, the throate feeles it. Having discoursed of the causes and accidents, I sayd they must be cured by their contraries, and first we must appease the paine, making apertions in the thigh to evacuate the matter retained, not evacuating all at a time for feare least by a sodaine great evacuation there might happen a great decay of spirits, which might much weaken the patient and shorten his dayes. Secondly, to looke unto the great swelling and cold in his Legge, fearing least it should fall into a Gan∣greene; and that actuall heate must bee applyed unto him because the potentiall could not reduce the intemperature, de potenti•• ad actum; for this cause hot brickes must bee applyed round about, on which should bee cast a decoction of nervall hearbes boyled in wine and Vinegar, then wrapt up in some napkin, and to the feete an earthen bottle filled with the sayd decoction, stopt and wrapt up with some linnen clothes; also that somentations much be made upon the thigh, and the whole

Legge, of a decoction made of Sage, Rosemary, Time, Lavender, flowers of Camo∣mile, melilot, and red Roses boyled in white wine, and a Lixivium made with oake ashes with a little Vinegar, and halfe an handfull of salt. This decoction hath ver∣tue to attenuate, incise, resolve and drye the grosse viscous humor. The sayd fo∣mentations must bee used a long while, to the end there may bee a greater resolu∣tion; for being so done a long time together, more is resolved than attracted, be∣cause the humor contained in the part is liquified, the skin and the flesh of the mus∣cles is ratified. Thirdly, that there must be applyed upon the rumpe a great empla∣ster made of the red desiccative and Vnguentum Comitissae of each equall parts incor∣porated together, to the end to appease his paine and dry up the Vlcer, also to make him a little downe pillow which might beare his rumpe aloft without leaning upon it. Fourthly to refresh the heate of his kidneys one should apply the unguent cal∣led Refrigerans Galeni freshly made, and upon that the leaves of water Lillies. Then a napkin dipt in Oxycrate, wrung out and often renewed: and for the corroboration and strengthning of his heart a refreshing medicine should bee applyed made with oyle of nenuphar, and unguent of Roses and a little saffron dissolved in Rose Vine∣gar, and Treakle spread upon a peece of Scarlet: For the Sincope which proceded from the debilitation of the naturall strength troubling the braine. Also he must use good nourishment full of juice, as rere egges, Damaske prunes stewed in wine and sugar, also Panado made with the broth of the great pot (of which I have alrea∣dy spoken) with the white fleshy parts of Capons, and Partridge wings minced small, and other rostmeate easie of disgestion, as Veale, Goate, Pigeon, Partridge, and the like. The sauce should be Orenges, Verjuice, Sorrell, sharpe Pomegranets; and that he should likewise eate of them boyled with good hearbes; as Sorrell, Let∣tice, Purslan, Succory, Boglosse, Marygolds, and other the like. At night hee might use cleansed barley with juice of Nenuphar and Sorrell, of each two ounces, with five or six graines of Opium and of the foure cold seedes bruised, of each halfe an ounce, which is a remedy nourishing and medicinall, which will provoke him to sleepe: that his bread should be of Meslin, neither too new nor too stale; and for the great paine of his head, his haire must be cut, and rub his head with Oxirrhodi∣num luke warme, and leave a double cloth wet therein upon it; likewise should be made for him a frontall of oyle of Roses, Nenuphar, Poppies, and a little opium and Rose Vinegar, and a little Campher and to renew it sometimes. Moreover one should cause him to smell to the flowers of Henbane and Nenuphar bruised with Vi∣niger Rosewater, and a little campher wrapped in a handkercher, which shall be of∣ten and a long time held to his nose to the end that the smell may be communicated to the braine, and these things to be continned till that the great inflammation and paine be past, for feare of cooling the braine too much. Besides, one may cause it to raine artificially in powring downe from some high place into a kettle, and that it make such a noyse that the patient may heare it, by these meanes sleepe shall bee provoked on him. And as for the retraction of his Legge that there was hope to redresse it, when evacuation was made of the matter and other humors contained in the thigh, which by their extention (made by repletion) have drawne backe the Leg, which might be remedied in rubbing the whole joynt of the knee with Vnguen∣tum Dialth••a and oyle of Lillies, and a little aqu•• vitae, and upon it to be laid, blacke wooll with the grease thereof. Likewise putting in the hamme a feather-pillow foul∣ded in double, and by little and little to make his Leg to stretch out. All which my discourse was well approoved of by the Physitions and Chirurgions: the consultation ended wee went to the sicke patient, and I made him three apertions in his thigh, from whence issued out great quantity of matter and Sanies; and at the same time I drew out some scales of bones, nor would I let out too much aboundance of the said matter for feare of too much decaying his strength: Then two or three houres after I caused a bed to bee made neare his owne, where there were cleane white sheets then a strong man lifted him into it, and rejoyced much in that hee was taken out of his foule stinking bed. Soone after hee demanded to sleepe, which hee did al∣most foure houres, where all the people of the house began to rejoyce, cheefely Monsieur the Duke of Ascot his brother.

The dayes following I made injections into the bottome and cavities of the Vlcer, made with Aegyptiacum, dissolved sometimes in aqu•• vitae, and sometimes in wine. I applyed to mundifie and dry the spongie and loose flesh, bolsters, at the bottome of the sinuosityes hollow tents of Lead, that the Sanies might have passage out; and up∣on it a great Emplaster of Diacalcitheos dissolved in wine: likewise I did rowle it with such dexterity, that he had no paine, which being appea••ed the fever began much to diminish. Then I made him drinke wine moderately allayed with water, knowing that it restores and quickens the spirits: and all the things which we rested on in the consultation were accomplisht, according to time, and order; and his paines and fever ceased, he began to grow better, and discharged two of his Chirurgions, and one of his Physitions, so that we were but three with him. Now I remained thereabout two monethes, which was not without seeing divers sicke people, as well rich as poore which came to me three or foure leagues about. They gave meate and drinke to the needy, all which he recommended to me, and prayed me also for his sake to helpe them. I protest I did not refuse any one, and did to them what I possibly could, whereof he was joyfull. Then when I saw he began to mend, I told him hee must have a consort of Violons & a jester to make him merry, which he did: in one moneth we so wrought, that he could hold himselfe up in a chaire, and made himselfe to be carried and walke in his garden, and at the gate of his Castle to see the people passe by. The Countrey people of two or three leagues about, knowing they could see him, came the feast day male and female, to sing and dance pell mell, in joy of his amendment, allbeing very glad to see him, which was not done without good laugh∣ing and drinking. He caus'd still a barrell of beere to be given them, and they dranke all merrily to his good health. And the Cittizens of Mont Hainaut and other gentle∣men neighbours came to see him in admiration, as a man coming from the tombe. And as soone as he began to mend, he was not without company, and as one went out another came in, to visite him: his table was alwayes well covered. Hee was greatly loved of the Nobility, and of the common people, as well for his liberality as by reason of his beauty, and honesty, having a pleasant looke and a gracious speech, insomuch that those that beheld his face were constrained to love him. The cheefe of the Citty of Monts came on Saturday to beseech him to permit mee to goe to Monts, where they had a great desire to feast, and make me good cheere for his sake. He told them he would pray me to goe there, which he did. But I made them an∣swere that they should not doe me so much honour, as also that they could not give me better cheere than I had with him. And he prayed mee againe affectionately to goe thither, and that I should doe that for his sake, to which I agreed. The day af∣ter they fetcht me with two Coaches, and being arrived at Monts we found the din∣ner ready, and the cheefe of the Citty with their wives, stayed for mee with a good will. We went to the Table and they placed me at the upper end, and dranke all to me, and to the health of Monsieur D'auret, saying that he was very happy, and they likewise to have obtained me to take him in hand, for that they knew that in this com∣pany, he was greatly honoured and loved. After dinner they led mee backe to the Castle of Auret, where Monsieur the Marquesse stayd for me with great expectation to recount unto him, what we had done in our banquet, I told him that all the com∣pany had dranke divers times to his health in 6 weekes he began to uphold himselfe a little with crutches, and to grow very fat and get a lively naturall colour. Now he had a desire to goe to Beaumont which is the dwelling place of Monsieur the Duke of Ascot, and made himselfe be carried in a great chaire with eight men by turnes, and the Country folkes where we passed along, knowing 'twas Monsieur the Marquesse fought and strove together who should carry him, and constrained us to drinke, but it was but Beere, but I beleeve had it beene Wine or Hippocras they would have given it us with a very good will, so much did they shew themselves joyfull to see the sayd Marquesse, and prayd all to God for him. Being arrived at Beaumont all the people came before us to doe him reverence, and prayed God to blesse him, and keepe him in good health. We entred into the Castle where there was more than 50 gentlemen which the Duke of Ascot had sent for to come make good cheere with his brother, who kept his table furnisht three dayes together. After dinner the

gentlemen runne at the Ring, playd at Foyles, and rejoyced greatly to see Monsieur Auret, because they had heard he would never come out of his bed againe, or be cu∣red of his hurt. I was alwayes at the upper end of the table, where every one draul•••• ••arouses to him, & me, thinking to make me foxt, which they could not do: for I drank but according to my old custome. A few dayes after wee returned backe and tooke leave of Madam the Dutchesse of Ascot, who tooke a Diamond ring from her finger which she gave me, acknowledging I had very well drest her brother; which Dia∣mond was more worth than fifty Crownes. Monsieur Auret grew still better and bet∣ter, and walked all alone round about his garden with crutches. I beg'd leave of him divers times, to come away to Paris, declaring that his Physition, and Chirurgion, would well doe the rest that remained, for the cure of his greefe. And now to begin a little to estrange my selfe from him, I prayd him to give me leave to goe see the Citty of Antwerp, which he willingly accorded to: and commanded his Steward to conduct me thither accompanied with two Pages: we passed through Malign••s and Bruxelle, where the cheefe of the Citty prayed the sayd Steward, that at our returne they might heare of it; and that they had a great desire to feast me, as they of Monts had done. I thank't them most kindly, and told them that I was not worthy of such honour; I was two dayes and a halfe to see the Citty of Antwerp, where some Mer∣chants knowing the Steward, prayd him to doe them the honour, that they might be∣stow a dinner or supper upon us. There was striving who should have us, and were all very joyfull to heare of the good health of the Marquesse of Auret, doing me more honour than I expected. To conclude, we came backe to the Marquesse ma∣king good cheere, and within five or sixe dayes I asked my leave of him, which he granted with great greefe, and gave me an honest Present, and of great valew, and made me be conducted by the sayd master of his house and two Pages, even to my house at Paris.

I have forgot to tell you, that the Spaniards have since ruined, and demolisht his Castle of Auret, sack't, pillag'd, rifled and burnt all the houses, and Villages belong∣ing unto him, because he would not be of their side, in the slaughters and ruines of the Low Countryes.