CHAP. II. Of the signs of Wounds made by Gunshot.
WOunds made by Gunshot are known by their figure, which is usually round; by their colour, as when the native colour of the part decays, and in stead thereof a livid, greenish, violet, or other colour succeeds; by the feeling or sense of the stroke, when in the very instant of the receiving thereof, he feels a heavy sense, as if some great stone, or piece of timber, or some such other weighty thing had faln upon it; by the small quantity of bloud which issues out thereat, for when the parts are contused, within some small while after the stroke they swell up, so that they will scarse admit a Tent, whence it is that the bloud is stopped, which otherwise would flow forth of the orifice of the Wound; by heat, which happens eitner by the violentness of the motion, or the vehement impulsion of the air, or the attrition of the contused parts, as the flesh and nerves. Also you may conjecture that the wounds have been made by Gunshot, if the Bones shall be broken, and the splinters thereof by pricking the neighbouring bodies cause defluxion and inflammation. But the cause that the Bullet makes so great a contusion is, for that it enters the body without any points or corners, but with its round and spherical bo∣dy, which cannot penetrate but with mighty force; whence it cometh to pass that the wound looks black, and the adjacent parts livid: hence also proceed so many grievous symptoms, as Pain, Defluxion, Inflammation, Apostumation, Convulsion, Phrensie, Palsie, Gangrene, and Mortifica∣tion, whence lastly Death ensues. Now the Wounds do often cast forth virulent and very much stincking filth, by reason of the great contusion, and the rending and tearing of the neighbouring particles. A great abundance of humors flow from the whole Body, and fall down upon the af∣fected parts, which the native heat thereof being diminished, forsakes, and presently an unnatu∣ral heat seises upon it. Hither also tend an universal or particular repletion of ill humors, chiefly if the wounds possess the nervous parts, as the joynts. Verily neither a Stag with his horn, nor a Flint out of a sling can give so great a blow, or make so large a wound, as a Leaden or Iron Bullet shot out of a Gun; as that which going with mighty violence, pierces the body like a Thunderbolt.