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.

THE OFFICE AND DƲTIE OF THE SURGEONS MATE.

HAving an intent to set down Instructi∣ons for Surgeons Mates, out of my love to them, I thought it meet in a word or two to put them in mind also of their duties. The office & dutie of a Surgeons Mate, may (in my opinion) well be di∣vided into three parts, whereof the first concerneth his dutie to God, who seeth not as man seeth, and who is the searcher of the heart, and knoweth mens thoughts long before, whom if he and I have the grace to honour with our whole hearts and fear, he wil direct our waies aright.

The second dutie of the Surgeons Mate, is concerning the chief Surgeon, towards whom he must be carefull to behave himself wisely, lovingly and diligently: and in many respects he is obliged to his▪ Mate as the wife to her husband; for he ought to be to him in every point readie to obey his reasonable will, I mean onely in things concerning his calling, dutifull, diligent, willing, carefull, secret, and loving, yea, and to shew his love in covering his Mates weakness: he ought also to be gentle, and kind in speech and actions towards all: pitifull to them that are diseased, and diligent in ministring to them such fitting remedies as he shall receive, or be di∣rected to give from his Mate; but none without his or∣der, for that his Mates order, I mean the Surgeons or∣der, is his discharge or warrant, whatever happen: yet let

him privately lend his best advise to his Mate, the prime Surgeon, upon every needfull occasion, kindly, submis∣sively and lovingly, ever as under correction; for if com∣parisons or opposition take place betwixt them, it is not onely dangerous to all the ships company, but also a disgrace to themselves, and a great scandal to their cal∣ling: for avoyding which, it is fit that the yonger obey the elder, and beware of the contrary, lest it be repented too late. S. Paul adviseth servants to obey froward Ma∣sters, so I advise Surgeons Mates to do the like to fro∣ward Surgeons: for it sheweth no excellent thing in a yong man to please an honest quiet man, but to live in love with an ambitious, or otherwise a froward vicious man, sheweth wisdom in the sufferer. I would not so stand upon this point, but that my experience hath known too much the great harm that hath ensued by the dissention of the Surgeon and his Mate in Iong voya∣ges, the which with discretion and love might have bin prevented, if but one of them both had bin wise. The Surgeons Mate ought also daily to visit the Cabins of men, to see who hath any sicknesse or imperfection: also to have ready against occasion lint made, Plaisters spred, splints armed, Needles prepared for stitching wounds, Rowlers and Boulsters, Dorsels, Tents, Buttons, Caps, Pledgents, Tape, rowling needles, and threed prepared, and each other needful thing for his calling, ready in their convenient places, fitted against occasion be. Like∣wise his care must be to keep all the instruments of the Chest, and of his own Box, clean from rusting, and to set his Lancets and Rasors as oft as need is. It may be he wil say to himself, it is a base office, belonging to meer Bar∣bers and Grinders, I never gave any mind to it, &c. But let me friendly tell the Surgeons Mate, it is the credit of a yong Artist to take a vein smoothly and neatly, as also to shave well is praise-worthy: wherefore I wish him to practise to do it, and to be ever learning; for I am sure he shall never know half he ought to know, though he do his best.

Thirdly, if he enter into consideration wherefore he goeth to Sea, and hazzardeth his life. I suppose it is to gain, or he is unwise: if to gain, the chief gain he can in∣tend, being a Mate, is knowledge in his calling. Then let him consider wisely how he may best apply himself to effect such gains, namely by observing the whole passa∣ges of the diseased people, considering both when they began to be sick, as near as he can, the causes thereof, what hath been applied either inwardly or outwardly, what operation the medicine had, and so of every diseased per∣son, and every medicine given; and to keep a Journall in writing of the daily passages of the voyage in that kind, and that as well of the unsuccessive applications, as of the successive, he shall find great benefit in both: Like∣wise what alterations of operations he findeth in each medicine, and what medicines keep their force longest, and what perish soonest; also what varietie the climate causeth, of the Doses as well of the laxative as opiate Medicines: I heartily wish each Surgeons Mate were carefull in these points. Another good way for him to learn is, to read much, I mean in Chyrurgery and Phy∣sick, and well to consider and bear in mind what he reads, that as he hath need of the help of his Books, he may again find the thing he once read, which will turn much to his profit: for otherwise what use hath a man of reading, if he forget it presently? If a Surgeons Mate spend his time wisely in the premises, he may do good service to God, his Countrie, and himself, and the bene∣fit will be his, namely, Gods favour, preferment, credit and reputation in the world will be gained thereby, which will bring abundance of good things with it, which God grant for his mercie sake. And were it not that I have intended this plain Treatise wholy to the Sur∣geons Mate, I would in a word or two put the young Sea-Surgeon himself in mind of his charge, by admo∣nishing him of some errors too grosse, which I have ob∣served to have been committed by some, that he might avoid the like in himself.

The first errour some yong Surgeons are possest with, from which infinite others grow, is the want of the service of God, the example whereof to their Mates is very infectious; and this bringeth with it a blaspheming the name of the Almightie, a general deboist and base kind of habit on them, ready for all unprofitable, idle, and unseemly actions, and unapt for to prosecute any good thing, either in their callings, or otherwise: and if they seem to be any thing, it is in bosting and brave phra∣ses, censuring other men in many things, but not percei∣ving their own wretchedness at all. Being given and de∣dicated to the Pot and tobacco-pipe in such an unreaso∣nable measure, that thereby they become in themselves base, despising vertue and commending vice; and to their Mates they shew themselves most unkind, keeping that little knowledge they have from them, not instructing them at all in their Science, and holding them in more base subiection then their masters ever did in their ap∣prentiship. Also of a proud lasie disposition command∣ing them (without due instructions) to do the whole bu∣siness, when indeed themselves ought to put their hands even to those parts of Surgery which they esteem basest; for the most lamentable diseases of poor men require the most care of the Surgeon, as for example, the ulcerati∣ons and slidings downof Ani or the Ars-gut, which some in disdaining to do their office of fomenting, comforting and restoring thereof to the due place, most inhumanely have cut it off, when with as good a conscience they might have cut their Patients his throat: and the same I say to him that is negligent, and suffereth such to perish in their infirmities, without doing his utmost diligence. I could name some of the parties who have much disgra∣ced themselves and the noble Science: but I will be cha∣ritable, hoping they will amend; and conclude with an old Grammer vers, worthy the remembrance of al men;

Foelix quem faciunt aliena pericula cautum.

Thine J. W.