The workes of that famous chirurgion Ambrose Parey translated out of Latin and compared with the French. by Tho: Johnson. Whereunto are added three tractates our of Adrianus Spigelius of the veines, arteries, & nerves, with large figures. Also a table of the bookes and chapters.

CHAP. XIIII. Of the Tumors of the Groins and Cods called Herniae, that is, Ruptures.

* 1.1THe ancient Physicians have made many kinds of Ruptures, yet indeed there are only three to be called by that name, that is, the Intestinalis, or that of the guts; the Zirba∣lis, or that of the kall; and, that which is mixed of them both. The other kinds of Rup∣tures have come into this order, rather by similitude, than any truth of the thing: for in them the gut or kall doe not forsake their places.

* 1.2The Greeks have given to all these several names, both from the seat of the tumor, as also from their matter. For thus they have called an unperfect rupture which descends not beyond the Groins, nor fals down into the Cods, Bubonocele: but the compleat which penetrates into the Cod, if it be by falling down of the gut, Enterocele: if from the kall, Epiplocele; if from them both toge∣ther,* 1.3 they name it Enter••-••piplocele: but if the tumor proceed from a waterish humor, they term it Hydrocele: if from wind, Physocele; if from both, Hydro-physocele; if a fleshly excrescence shall grow about the testicle, or in the substance thereof, it is named Sarcocele. If the veins interwoven,* 1.4 and divaricated divers ways, shall be swoln in the cod and testicles, the tumor ob∣tains the name of a Cirsocele. But if the humors shall be shut up or sent thither, the name is im∣posed upon the tumor,* 1.5 from the predominant humor, as we have noted in the beginning of our Tractate of Tumors. The causes are many, as, all too violent motions, a stroak, a fall from a high place, vomiting, a cough, leaping, riding upon a trotting horse, the sounding of trumpets, or sackbuts, the carrying or lifting up of a heavy burden, racking, also the too immoderate use of viscid and flatulent meats; for all such things may either relax or break the Peritonaeum, as that which is a thin and extended membrane. The signs of a Bubonocele are a round tumor in the groin, which pressed,* 1.6 is easily forced in. The signs of an Enterocele are a hard tumor in the cod, which forced, returneth back and departeth with a certain murmur and pain; but the tumor proceeding of the kall, is lax and feels soft like wool, and which is more difficultly forced in, than that which proceeds from the guts, but yet without murmuring and pain; for the substance of the guts, see∣ing it is one, and continued to it self, they do not only mutually succeed each other, but by a cer∣tain consequence doe, as in a dance, draw each other, so to avoid distention, which in their mem∣branous body cannot be without pain, by reason of their change of place from that which is na∣turall, into that against nature: none of all which can befall the kall, seeing it is a stupid body, and almost without sense, heavy, dull, and immoveable. The signs that the Peritonaeum is broken, are the

sudden increase of the tumor, and a sharp and cutting pain; for when the Peritonaeum is only re∣laxed, the tumor groweth by little and little, and so consequently with small pain; yet such pain re∣turns so often, as the tumor is renewed by the falling down of the Gut, or Kall, which happens not to the Peritonaeum being broken: for the way being once open, and passable to the falling body, the tumor is renewed without any distention, and so without any pain to speak of. The rest of the signs shall be handled in their places. Sometimes it happens that the Guts, and Kall, do firmly adhere to the process of the Peritonaeum, that they cannot be driven back into their proper seat. This stub∣born adhesion happens by the intervention of the viscid matter, or by means of some excoriation caused by the rude hand of a Chirurgeon, in too violently forcing of the Gut, or Kall, into their place. But also, too long stay of the Gut in the Cod, and the neglect of wearing a Truss, may give occasion to such adhesion. A perfect and inveterate Rupture by the breaking of the process of the Peritonaeum in men of full growth, never, or very seldom admits of cure. But you must note,* 1.7 that by great Ruptures of the Peritonaeum, the Guts may fall into the Cod, to the bigness of a mans head, without much pain and danger of life, because the excrements, as they may easily enter, by reason of the largeness of the place and Rupture, so also they may easily return.

Notes

• * 1.1

  These are only 3 sorts of Ruptures.
• * 1.2

  Bubonocele. Enterocele and Epiplocele.
• * 1.3

  Hydrocele. Physocele.
• * 1.4

  Sarcocele. Cirsocele.
• * 1.5

  The Causes.
• * 1.6

  The Signs.
• * 1.7

  What Rupture is uncureable.