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FIrst, it is conuenient that the Chirurgian shold amplifie the wound (if the part offended doe permit the same) for these causes: that is, both to giue free ••ssue vnto the Sanies, as also to giue am∣ple passage vnto all such straunge bodyes which might haue bene conueyed in with the shot, and to draw them forth (if any there be) as any porti∣on of the apparrell, wad, paper, peeces of Har∣nesse,
Maile, Bullets, Shot, Splinters of bones, dilacerated flesh, and other things that shall bee found therein; and this to bee done at the first dressing if it be possible. For the accidents of pain and sensibility are not so great in the beginning, as they are afterwards.
Now for the better extraction of the aforesaid things, you ought to place the Patient in the same situation that he was at the time when he was first shot, because that the Muscles and other parts be∣ing otherwaies situate, may stop and hinder the way; and for the better finding of the saide Bul∣lets, and other things, it is fitting that search bee made with the finger (if it be possible) rather then with any Instrument, because that the sense of fee∣ling is more certaine then any Probe, or other insensible thing. But if the bullet haue pierced farre into the body, there it may be reached with a Probe, round in the end thereof, for feare of causing paine: neuerthelesse it hapneth somtimes that the Bullet cannot be found by the Probe, as it hapned in the campe of Parpignan, to my Lord the Marshall of Brissac, who was wounded with a Musket shot neere to the right Omopl••••e or shoul∣der-blade, where many Chirurgians because they could not finde the saide Bullet, affirmed that it was entered into the capacity of the body, but I ••ot hauing that opinion, came to seeke for the Bullet, where first without vsing any Probe, I cau∣sed him to be placed in the same gesture of bodie as he was at that time when he was Wounded:
then I began wi••h my fingers gently to compresse about the neighbouring parts of the wound; in doing wh••reof, I found a tumor and hardnesse in ••he flesh, with the sense of paine, and liuiditie of colour in the place where the Bullet was, which was betwixt the lower part of the Omoplate, and the seuenth and eight Vertebre or turning ioynt of the backe. In which place, incision was made to draw forth the shot, whereby he was shortly after cured. Wherefore it is very conuenient to search for the Bullet not onely with the Probe, but (as I saide before) with the fingers, by handling and feeling the part and places about the same where you may coniecture the Bullet to haue penetrated
The s••tuati∣on of the Patient to ext••act vn∣na••urall things.