The surgeons mate or Military & domestique surgery Discouering faithfully & plainly ye method and order of ye surgeons chest, ye uses of the instruments, the vertues and operations of ye medicines, with ye exact cures of wounds made by gunshott, and otherwise as namely: wounds, apos fumes, ulcers, fistula's, fractures, dislocations, with ye most easie & safest wayes of amputation or dismembring. The cures of the scuruey, of ye fluxes of ye belly, of ye collicke and iliaca passio, of tenasmus and exitus ani, and of the calenture, with A treatise of ye cure of ye plague. Published for the service of his Ma. tie and of the com:wealth. By John Woodall Mr. in chyrurgerie.

Of the cauterizing Irons.

THe ancient Chirurgions of former ages used these instruments far more then in these our times: The necessary use of them in many cures is now forborn, by reason the terror thereof to the Patient is* 1.1 great, yet the use of them is very needful, as namely, to cauterize any vein or Artery in strong fluxes of blood, which cannot otherwise be stayed. And in the Epilepsie or falling sickness they are often used with* 1.2 good successe: also they are good to make a funtanel or Issue in the hinder part of the head, or in the neck; so likewise in the cure of the Lethargy or Apoplexy, if upon learned and good advice there be held just cause so to do. But they have been used commonly by the ancient Surgeons of former ages for the opening of Apostumes; and surely they are better in my judgement for the good of the Patient in many Apostumes then the Launcet: yet I confesse I make no use of them my* 1.3 self in that kinde, because of the fear they put the Patient into, and for speech of people, who are ready to scandalize an Arti•••• upon each light occasion. These instruments have likewise been commonly used by the ancients in dismembring, namely, to cauterize sometimes the whole end of the stump, and sometimes onely veins and arteries, and doubtlesse with good warrant they may yet be so used; but in that case they are wholly now forborn, for reasons aforesaid, and for that a more pleasant course is known both for the Patient and the Artist; yet I conclude it is very fit the Surgeons Chest be furnished with di∣vers sorts of them, if the allowance of the Surgeon will admit it.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The use.
• * 1.2

  When & where the use is re∣quired.
• * 1.3

  The benefit of the instrument, fear and scan∣dal hindereth.