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CHAP. IX. What remains for the Chirurgeon to do in this kind of Wounds.
THe Chirurgeon must first of all be skilfull and labour to asswage pain, hinder defluxi∣ons, prescribe a diet in those six things we call not-natural, forbidding the use of hot and acrid things, as also of Wine; for such attenuate humors and make them more apt for defluxion. Therefore at the first let his diet be slender, that so the course of the humors may be diverted from the affected part; for the stomach being empty and not well filled, draws from the parts about it, whereby it consequently follows, that the utmost and remotest parts are at the length evacuated; which is the cause, that such as are wounded, must keep so spare a diet for the next dayes following. Venery is very pernicious, for that it inflames the spirits and humors far be∣yond other motions; whereby it happens that the humors waxing hot, are too plentifully car∣ried to the wounded and over heated part. The bleeding must not be stanched presently upon receiving of the wound, for by the more plentiful efflux thereof the part is freed from danger of inflammation and fulness. Wherefore if the wound bleed not sufficiently at the first, you shall the next day open a vein, and take blood according to the strength and plenitude of the Patient: for there usually flows no great store of blood from wounds of this nature; for that by the greatness of the contusion and vehemency of the moved air, the spirits are forced in, as also I have obser∣ved in those who have one of their limbs taken away with a Cannon bullet. For in the time when the wound is received, there flows no great quantity of blood, although there be large veins and arteries torn in sunder thereby. But on the 4, 5, 6. or some more dayes after, the blood flows in greater abundance, and with more violence, the native heat and spirits returning into the part. The belly must be so qualified, that he may have at the least one stool a day, either by na∣ture, or Art; and if by Art, then rather with a Clyster than purging medicins taken by the mouth, for that the agitation of humors, chiefly in the first dayes of the disease, is to be suspected, lest we increase the defluxion falling down upon the wounded part. Yet Galen writes that both the evacuations are here needful, that is, Blood-letting and Purging; though the Patient be neither plethorick, nor repleat with ill humors. But the care hereof must be committed to the judgment of the learned Physitian; pain, if joyned with inflammation shall be mitigated, by anointing the parts neer unto the wound with unguent. nutritum, composed with the juice of Plantain, Housleek, Nightshade, and the like. Unguentum Diacalcitheos described by Galen dissolved with vinegar, oil of Poppyes and Roses, is of no less efficacy; nor ungent de bole, nor divers other things of the same faculty, though properly no anodynes, as those which are not hot and moist in the first degree, but rather cold, but yet not so as to have any narcotick faculty. Now these forementioned things asswage pain for that they correct the hot distemper, and stay the acrid and cholerick defluxions, whose violence is more than cold. After the use of repercussives, it will be good to apply this following cataplasm. ℞. Micae panis infusae in lacte vaccino lb j ss. bulliant parum, addendo olei vi••••a∣cei, & rosar. an ℥ iij. vicell. overum nu. iiij. pulver. rosar. rub. flor. chamem. & meliloti, an. ℥ ij. fa∣rin. fabar. & hordei an. ℥ j. misce, fiat cataplasma secundum artem. Also in this case you may easily make a medicine, of bread crums boyled in Oxycrate and oil of Roses. The cure of Tumors if any associate the wound, may be found in their proper place. Nature's motion, whether to suppuration, or any such thing, must still be observed, and helped by the Physitian and Chirurgeon, as the mini∣sters and servants thereof.