The composition or making of the moste excellent and pretious oil called oleum magistrale First published by the commaundement of the King of Spain, vvith the maner hovv to apply it particulerly. The which oyl cureth these diseases folowi[n]g ... Also the third book of Galen of curing of pricks and wounds of sinowes. A method for curing of vvounds in the ioynts, and the maner how to place them. Abreef gathering togither of certain errours which the common chirurgians dayly vse ... Faithfully gathered and translated into English by George Baker chirurgian. 1574.

The third error is concerning wounds pearcing into the Brest.

IT fortuneth often times, that the wounds pearce the holownes of the brest, so that great quantitie of blood dooth fall down into the bottome of the

same, and there dooth stay vpon the Dia∣phragma, also the heuinesse of the said blood oppresseth the Diaphragma, and pu¦trifieth and ingendreth an euill qualti∣tie. The which putrifaction sending va∣pours to the hart: causeth a continuall fe¦uer, and commonly death within •• day∣es. Of the which the common Chirurgi∣ans haue no consideratiō or els by their ignoraunce they knowe not the cause, and so the Patient is destitute of all help.

Wherfore when you sée that the wound perceth into the Thorax or brest you shal take good aduisemēt, in searchīg out diligently, whether the blood be des∣cended into the lower parte of the Dia∣phragma, the whiche may bee knowen by the stinking of the breath, and by the relation of the Patient, which dooth féele the blood quiuering or shaking inward∣ly. And also commonly his face wil be of a reddish or hie coulour, by reason of the vapours which assend vp.

And note that at the which side the blood dooth moste remaine in lying vpon the same side: the patient shall feel lesse pain then vpon the other, because that the said blood oppresseth the Lungs and the Dia∣phragma,

the Chirurgian ought to haue a good respect to y^e signes aboue written, and whilst that the strength of y^e patient is yet remaining: it shall bee needful to make way for the said blood to be Euacu∣ated, betwéen the fourth & v. rib, a hand breadth or a little more from the Ridge of the back, and your incision knife shall be very sharp, also you shall doo it by lit∣tle and little very gentlely in cutting Mesopleuria or y^e muscles betwéen the ribs, it ought to be doon towarde the lo∣wer part of the said muscles, for the vain whiche nourisheth them and the liga∣ments which giueth them their mouing and féeling: are placed more abooue then belowe.

After that the incision is made: you shall let out the corrupted blood by little and little, according to your discretion, and it shall suffise to euacuate euery dre∣ssing v. or vi. vnces, this doon: it shalbe very profitabe to vse the wunted potions which you shall finde in the writings of learned practitioners which haue large¦ly written of the said potions, and by this meanes abooue written: I healed foure in one yéer. The whiche Cures, without the aforesaid remedyes: could

neuer haue béen holpen, for the whiche I giue vnto God moste harty thanks.

Notes

• Diaphrag¦ma 〈◊〉〈◊〉 two muscles which go 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 the ••••••st & seperateth the hart frō the Liuer.