CHAP. IV. Of Prognosticks to be made in Wounds.
THose Wounds are thought dangerous, wherein any large Nerve, vein, or Artery are hurt.* 1.1 From the first there is fear of Convulsion, but from the other large effusion of the vein∣ous, or arterious bloud, whence the powers are debilitated; also these are judged evil, which are upon the Arm-pits, groins, leggs, joynts, and between the fingers; and likewise those which hurt the head or tail of a Muscle. They are lest dangerous of all other which wound only the fleshy substance. But they are deadly which are inflicted upon the Bladder, Brain, Heart, Liver, Lungs, Stomach, and small guts. But if any Bone, Gristle, Nerve or portion of the cheek,* 1.2 or pre∣puce, shall be cut away, they cannot be restored. Contused wounds are more difficult to cure, than those which are from a simple solution of continuity; for before you must think to heal them up, you must suppurate and cleanse them; which cannot be done in a short time. Wounds which are round and circular are so much the worse; for there can be no unity unless by an angle that is, a meeting together of two lines, which can have no place in round wounds, because a cir∣cular figure consists of one oblique line. Besides, wounds are by so much thought the greater, by how much their extreams and lips are the further disjoyned, which happens to round wounds.* 1.3 Con∣trary to these are cornered wounds, or such as are made alongst the fibers, as such as may be healed.
Wounds may be more easily healed in young men, than in old, because in them Nature is more vigorous, and there is a greater plenty of fruitful, or good bloud, by which the loss of the flesh may be the better and more readily restored, which is slowlier done in old bodies, by reason their bloud is smaller in quantity and more dry, and the strength of nature more languid.
Wounds received in the Spring,* 1.4 are not altogether so difficult to heal as those taken in Winter or Summer. For all excess of heat and cold is hurtful to them, it is ill for a Convulsion to happen upon a Wound, for it is a sign that some Nervous body is hurt; the Brain suffering together therewith, as that which is the original of the Nerves. A Tumor coming upon great wounds is good; for it shews the force of nature is able to expel that which is harmful, and to ease the wounded part. The organical parts wholly cut off cannot again be united: because a vital part once severed and plucked from the trunk of the body, cannot any more receive influence from the heart as from a root without which there can be no life. The loosed continuity of the Nerves Veins, Arteries, and also the Bones, is sometimes restor'd, not truly, and, as they say, according to the first intention, but by the second, that is, by reposition of the like, but not of the same substance. The first intention takes place in the fleshy parts by converting the Alimentary bloud into the proper substance of the wounded part. But the second, in the spermatique in which the lost substance may be repaired by interposition of some heterogeneous body, which nature, diligent for its own preservation, substitutes in place of that which is lost: for thus the body, which