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 Close-stoole, with the Paile of Brasse, and the Bricks.

ALthough I know before hand, that I am to undergo many witty and Eloquent flouts from young gallants of my own profession, for mentioning so base an instrument to belong to the Surgeons charge, as this last mentioned Close-stoole, with his appurtenances, yet let them* 1.1 know, that neither can my book blush; neither shall my self, I hope, have cause; for I nothing doubt to yeeld each honest young Artist a suffici∣ent reason for to satisfie him herein: and (in a word) my reason for ap∣pointing to each ship, bound for the East-Indies, at the least one of these, is because the bloody, or other flixes, are so dangerous diseases, and so deadly amongst our men, that I hold it my duty to advise even the good* 1.2 use of a Close-stoole: and I have caused the stoole to have one door on the one side, that thereby either things to foment, fumigate, or other∣wise to comfort the weak part, might be the better applied, the Patient sitting at his ease thereon.

* 1.3 Also one especial reason, why I have appointed it, is, that a poor weak man in his extremities, should not continually go to the shrouds, or beak-head to ease himself; nor by noysome to his fellowes, but might by the help of his Mate through this mean instrument find comfort in his most pitiful distresse; whose miseries I heartily compassionate. Where∣fore, I admonish the Surgeons Mate in general, in the fear of God, not to be fine fingered, slothful, scornful to use every kind of good manual* 1.4 and other help, to save mens bloods in this fearful disease; for the omitting of their duties in helping men thus distressed, bringeth the bloods of those men without doubt upon their heads; and though peradventure they may carry it away for a while with men, yet the Al∣mighty, who seeth not as men see, will surely find them out.

* 1.5 The paile of brasse, under the stoole chiefly appointed for neatnesse, cleanlinesse, strength, and other good uses it hath, was alwayes to belong thereto, and not to any other use: It may also sometimes be whelmed down, and on the top thereof a hot brick be set, or the brick (if you find it too near) may stand lower, or be put into the paile; with hot* 1.6 brick with wine and vinegar or any other like fitting medicine of expe∣rience, may be sprinkled to comfort the part agrieved withall; for it is found by experience that the steem of wine-vineger, sprinkled on a hot brick doth much availe in the cure of the flix, & that simple remedy alone * 1.7

hath cured many; but when the Patient riseth from the said fume, if then a cloth be well heated over the said fume or over a fire, and put close to the part, it availeth much; and if you then likewise lay the Patient to rest, giving him three or four grains of Laudanum, you shall do the bet∣ter, and by Gods help, with other answerable good regiment of diet, make a quick and perfect cure of his disease. But I am not ignorant, that there is use for twenty close-stooles at once, in some one ship, which work the Cooper and Carpenter should take care of.

* 1.8 Thus having briefly run over the most necessary uses of the particu∣lar Instruments, and other necessarie appendixes to the Surgeons Chest; it followeth next to begin with medicines Physical and Chirurgical, aswell simple as compound, within the Chest; namely, somewhat, though very briefly, to touch their most common uses and vertues, for the help of young Practitioners.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Mean things sometimes are of great mo∣ment.
• * 1.2

  None worthy to be reputed ••rtists who disdain the meanest office of their profes∣sion.
• * 1.3

  The use of the Close-stool. The need of it is great.
• * 1.4

  Observe this, thou hast acon•• science.
• * 1.5

  The brasse paile
• * 1.6

  The use of bricks.
• * 1.7

  The cure of the flix.
• * 1.8

  The conclusion.