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 Ulcers in those that have the Scurvie.

THe Vlcers which happen to them which have this disease are many wayes different from the gene∣rall formes and differences of ordinary Ulcers in bodies not touched with this disease, the severall definitions of all which I have here no time to* 1.1 amplifie. But because this disease hath two gene∣rall and principall differences of appearance, namely, some men diseased with the Scurvie are swolne exceed∣ingly, even as in the Dropsie: and others have their outward limbs withered, comsumed, and dried up, their sinewes shrunk and grown hard, though the Vlcers in the one and the other should be like in shew, yet doubtlesse the healing of the▪ Vlcers will be found very* 1.2 much different, wherefore for one generall note remember that the Vlcers in the full and hydropicall bodies will require more de∣siccative

medicines, as namely the Vnguentum Diapompholigos, de mi∣nio. Vnguentum album Camphoratum and the like: And the other kind the Vnguentum basilicon incarnativum, and the Arceus liniment and the like to those. Some Sea-Chirurgions have commended to me of* 1.3 their practise the use of Vesicatory medicines; namely, Cantharides in painfull swolne limbs, which I leave to the practise of others further to commend the same, my self having received it as a great secret from a Chirurgion my friend, but made no such experiences thereof my self.

* 1.4 And further touching the Cure of Ulcers in this disease untill the obstructions of the Liver and Spleen be removed, those Ulcers give no place to good healing; wherefore since notwithstanding they must be carefully attended for conscience sake, I advise that all sharp and violent medicines be shunned, and all soft and anodine things applied that you know or can learn, provided they be warrantable medicines, for otherwise they not onely strive against a stream, but* 1.5 put your Patient to needlesse disquiet, and thereby increase this disease.

I have here in part shewed the Chirurgions Mate my opinion con∣cerning the cure of the Scurvie, to which he may joyn his own and other mens experiences, where he can gain instructions worth fol∣lowing, together with his own daily practise, which if he be wise, he may likewise set down, only let me advise the young practitioner that* 1.6 sometimes (as my self have experienced) the Scurvie produceth such extream costiveness, as neither suppositorie, glister, or any Laxative me∣dicine whatsoever will avail, but that the excrements must be drawn out of the Longanum, or the Intestinum rectum with an instrument, for they will be like dry lumps of clay, or hard Sheeps treckles, as they term them, the which instrument I have invented, and is an easie and a fit instrument, called by me Spatula Mundani, which instrument be∣ing a little warmed, is then to be anointed with oyle, and so gently put into Ano to draw out the excrements, and to make way for the glister-pipe, which, when it hath cleansed some foure inches, or five inches, you may assay by a glister again. Furthermore, it sometime happeneth, that by the long remaining of the excrements in the Lon∣ganum, the gut is either excoriated, or at the least inflamed. In such a case you may take notice that you forbear Salt, as is said, and all sharp heating things in your glisters, as Coloquintida, Hiera pigra, Scam∣mony, Agaricum, Euphorbium, and the like; and content your self to* 1.7 administer for the first, a glister made onely of a decoction of Bran alone, or of Mallowes, or of Comfry roots small cut, or Lintseeds bruised with ℥ij. of Deer suet, Vnguentum Diapompholigos, or as much* 1.8 Populeon or Vnguentum album, as is said, and rather if you find that help not, give a dose of Aquilla Laxativa which will purge easily with∣out any offence at all, and help to heal the gut, and this course is better then by sharp glisters to purge, which will offend the gut, and after the said purge it will not be amisse if you see occasion, to give a like* 1.9 glister again as before, and note that if in the glister some of the

ingredients should be wanting, you may neverthelesse proceed with the rest with good profit, provided if you have better you use them, neither do I here intend strictly to enjoyne the Chirurgions Mate to my rule, but if he have better, let him use it, and forget mine in the Name of God.

Moreover, if the Patient his disease be in the form of a Consump∣tion▪* 1.10 the body being dried up as it were, or with shrinking of the Si∣newes: then if you intend to purge the partie, give him pils called Pillulae▪ Ruffi for the first remedy, but if he complain much of pains in his joints, then a dose of Pulvis Arthretieus will do best, or purge him* 1.11 with Aquilla Laxativa, it is also a general good purge at all times, and almost in all cases, though best in the French Pox and Dropsie. And though I have formerly touched the forms of some Cataplasmes, yet for that there hath been much good found in the application of this* 1.12 Cataplasme made, being of warming, conforting and anodine me∣dicines, I thought good to note it, which is as followeth ℞ the flow∣ers of Cammomil, Mellilot flowers, Worm wood, also Hipericon and Balm, of each M. j. Bran M. j. ij. Linseed, Fenigreek, of each ℥ss. Com∣frey and Mallow roots, of each ℥ss, Barley meal ℥ij. bruise the hearbs, and boyl these in milk, beere, or water, then adde of oyle of Cammo∣mil, Dialthae, oyle of Dill, of each ℥ij, Axungiae ℥ij. apply it warm: note likewise, that where you have not all these recited ingredients, yet that you take so many of them as you have, and trie their force, for if a few will doe the businesse, as sometimes it will, it were vain and waste to use many.

Sometimes for a need you may make good use of a decoction of Bisket in Wine or Beere, which warm applied will wonderfully com∣fort a weak limb, and asswage the pain, for sometimes the very good warmth with good ligature availeth much: fattie things must be for∣born in some cases; namely, when the pain is sharp and quick, lest* 1.13 you cause putrifaction and suppuration of humours against your wil, yea and rather use Acetosous medicines, and Anodine sometime, also musslagy medicines are to be forborn, for like reasons: in all which cases, confer with other Writers: aske counsel of thy Elders, and keepe ever in writing thy own good observations from time to time.

A word or two to conclude for the young Chirurgions concerning the cure of this disease, when they come upon a coast where they may have some helps, let them use some one of these following, they shall find them good upon trial.

* 1.14 ℞. Absinthiae, Juniper Berries of each M. j. Goats milk, lib. 4. boyle this together, the hearbs and berries well bruised till a third part be consumed, then strain it, and adde of Saffron in pouder ʒj. stir it on the fire till it have boyled a very little, and set it to clear, and give the sick thereof three times a day at the least, viz. morning, noon and night, this drink hath cured many in great distress: if you have no Goats milk, Sheeps milk, or for a need, Cowes milk will serve.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Two strange effects the Scurvie ••••use∣eth, the first an Hydropicall in∣flation of the whole body.
• * 1.2

  A second is consumption of the body.
• * 1.3

  Experience the best prayser.
• * 1.4

  Obstructions of the Liver must be removed be∣fore the Vlcers can be cured.
• * 1.5

  A Caveat.
• * 1.6

  How to help the body ex∣tremely bound through the Scurvy.
• * 1.7

  What must be done for the cure thereof. A glyster.
• * 1.8

  Aquilla Laxa∣tiva.
• * 1.9

  The aforesaid glister repeated
• * 1.10

  The cure if the body be consu∣med by the Scurvy.
• * 1.11

  wherein the vertue of A∣quilla ••axati∣va consists.
• * 1.12

  Cataplasmes excellent in this case. How to make the Cataplasm
• * 1.13

  Sowre things better then fatty in this disease.
• * 1.14

  Counsel dire∣cting what to be done if means may be had.