CHAP. VI. Of that strange kind of symptom which happens upon Contusions of the Ribs.
* 1.1THe flesh contused sometimes by great violence, becomes mucous and swoln, or puffed up like Veal, which the Butchers blow up, the skin remaining whole. This is seen and happens chiefly in that flesh which is about the ribs; for this being bruised either by a blow, or fall, or renitency, or any other such like cause; if you press it with your hand, a certain windiness goeth out thereof with a small whizzing, which may be heard, and the print of your fingers will remain, as in oedema's. Unless you quickly make fit provision against this symptom, there is gathered in that space, which the flesh departing from the bones leaves, empty a certain puru∣lent sanies, which divers times fouls and corrupt the ribs. It will be cured, if the mucous tumor be presently pressed, and straitly bound with ligatures, yet so, that you hinder not the breathing, when as the affect happens upon the ribs and parts of the Chest.* 1.2 Then apply to the part a plaister of Oxycroceum, or Diachylon Ireatum with the emplaister de meliloto; also discussing fomentations shall be used. The cause of such a tumor is a certain mucous flegm; seeing that nature is so weak, that it cannot well digest the nourishment, and assimilate it to the part, but leaves something, as it were, half concocted. No otherwise than the conjunctive coat of the eye is sometime so lifted up,* 1.3 and swoln by a stroak, that it starts, as it were, out of the orb of the eye, leaving such filth, or matter, as we see those which are blear-eyed to be troubled withal; because the force and natu∣ral strength of the eyes is become more weak, either by the fault of the proper distemperature, or the abundance of moisture which flows thither, as it happens in those tumors which are against na∣ture. For flatulencies are easily raised from a waterish and phlegmatick humor wrought upon by weak heat, which mixed with the rest of the humor, the tumor becomes higher.