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 Cataplasmes.

OF all other necessaries in the Surgeons Chest, I confesse my deficiencie there in; for I ought to have had dryed hearbes of all sorts fitting, some store: but I pray you accept of my excuse. For at the Edition of this Ex temp••re, I had Surgeons Chests and parts of Chests, 60 at once to prepare, and had but ten dayes respit admitted me to make and to fit them all; and yet notwithstand∣ing, the said Chests contained herbs of divers sorts, as also Bean and Barly-meal, Linseed, Fenugreeke, Camomile flowers, Cuminseed, Fennel seed, and divers other things, that are helps that way. But what shall I say? To some foolish, contentious, vain-glorious persons, my best things fall too short for them; but to benevolent understand∣ing Artists, they can make and find many wayes and helps of fitting things in a Ship, and not alwayes charge the Surgeons Chest. Viz. If my selfe were at Sea, and put to it, I would find wast crums of Bisk∣et, and I would boyle them in Ship-Beer, and with some fat of the Beefe Kettles, or of the Porke Kettle, I would make up a suppurative, Cataplasme; and if it had not a fit consistence or body, I would deale with the steward for a little Meale, or take some of my owne stores, and according to my store, enrich that with other helps from the Chest: And if I need a discutient Cataplasme, and the Chest had not to help me to my will, being put to it, I would, as I said, make my ground of the Medicine to be of crums of Bisket, or of soft bread decocted in Beer; adding, when it had well sod, Vineger and honey, a fit quantity: these things, with other rationall additions, accord∣ing to several occasions, doe much comfort the weak patient, and also grace the Artist: Nam frustra fit per plura quod fieri potest per pauciora.

And to put young Surgeons in mind, what other Suppurative Me∣dicines are in the Surgeons Chest, there are either Unguents, Oyles, or Emplastick Medicaments divers, which my time will not admit me to informe you of, though I confesse I should advise young men in their necessities. But to be short, they shall find Vnguent Basilicon spread thick and applyed to an Apostume, doth well help to suppu∣rate; and the better, if the griefe were first embrocated with some Oleum Lili••rum, Lini, or the like: and you shall find, that Arceus Li∣nament is right good to suppurate a tumor, and likewise Empl. Meliloti: and who knoweth not, that Ship-pitch and a little fat mixed ripeneth a tumor, duly applyed; or Pix Graeca, with fat or turpentine; and divers other the like good things may be found, where the dis∣creet Surgeon is put to his shifts. But no more of that; for whereas Bees may suck Honey, even there Spiders will convert a plain stile into Poyson and Gall.

Non omnibus dormio.

A ready defensative powder to be applyed where Iust cause is for a defensative, either for wounds with Gun-shot, or other Wounds, which I have made use of, and will impart the secret to young practiti∣oners, and is as followeth.

R.

• Terra sigillat.
• Alumin.
• Vitriol.
• Tartar.
• Cerus. ana 1 li.
• Bol. Armen. 2 li.
• Aquae. 1 li. ss.

Take a new earthen pot of almost a Gallon and a half, put the water into the pot, and thereunto put the Allom and the Copperas, then powder the tartar, and put that in also, and then have ready the other ingrediences in powder, put them in by little and little, stirring them very well, until all be incorporated, and without seething keepe the Medicine on the fire till it be hard, and if you cannot make it hard e∣nough in that manner so that being cold, it will powder, then put it into some dreppin Pan, or the like, and into an oven, when the bread is drawn, and it will be hard, then being cold powder it and keep it to your use, for it will not decay, nor alter his Vertue in many years.

And when you would use it for a defensative, take of this powder, about halfe an ounce of Posca, I meane water and Vinegar mixed, foure ounces, put the powder therein which will almost melt, then dip clouts therein, and apply them. This medicine with moderation used, is a true and excellent defensative, and a very anodine.

Also it healeth all itchings, smartings, gaulings, or any Erisipelas or other excoriations speedily and safely, and dryeth it mightily, preven∣teth from accidents, either in great wounds, or fractures and being in small quantity used with faire water to ulcers, it cleanseth them well and healeth them.

And if you have whites of egges, mixed with a Posca, it▪ were the better, or in fractures with yolkes and whites together it is very good, onely let the care of the Surgeon be, that he apply it in his true nature, namely as a defensative in fit time and touching the rest of the uses thereof, he may presume he hath a very good Medicine, and so for this time I take my leave.

Vale in Christo Jesu.