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. XXXII. Of the Nature, Causes and Signes of a Pestilent Carbuncle.

A Pestilent Carbuncle is a small tumor, or rather a malign pustle, hot and raging,* 1.1 consisting of blood vitiated by the corruption of the proper substance. It often cometh to pass through the occasion of this untamable malignity, that the Carbuncle cannot be govern∣ed or contained within the dominion of nature. In the beginning it is scarce so big as a seed or grain of Millet or Pease, sticking firmly unto the part and immovable,* 1.2 so that the skin cannot be pulled from the flesh; but shortly after it increaseth like to a Bubo, unto a round and sharp head, with great heat, pricking paid, as if it were with needles, burning and intolerable, especially a little before night, and while the meat is in concocting, more then when it is perfectly concoct∣ed. In the midst thereof appeareth a bladder puffed up and filled with sanious matter. If you cut this bladder, you shall finde the flesh under it parched, burned and black; as if there had bin a

Burning cole laid there,* 1.3 whereby it seemeth that it took the name of Carbuncle; but the flesh that is about the place is like a Rain-Bow, of divers colours, as red, dark-green, purple, livid, and black; but yet alwaies with a shining blackness, like unto stone-Pitch, or like unto the true precious stone which they call a Carbuncle, whence some also say it took the name. Some call it a Nail, because it in••erreth like pain as a nail driven into the flesh. There are many carbuncles which take their beginning with a crusty ulcer without a pustle,* 1.4 like to the burning of an hot Iron: and these are of a black colour, they increase quickly, according to the condition of the matter whereof they are made. All pestilent Carbuncles have a Fever joyned with them, and the grieved part seemeth to be so heavy, as if it were covered or pressed with lead tied hard with a ligature: There cometh mortal swoundings, faintings, tossing, turning, idle talking, raging, gangrenes and mortifications; not only, to the part, but also to the whole body; by reason (as I think) of the oppression of the spirits of the part, and the suffocation of the natural heat, as we see also in many that have a pesti∣lent Bubo For a Bubo and Carbuncle are tumors of a near affinity, so that the one doth scarce come without the other,* 1.5 consisting of one kinde of matter, unless that which maketh the Bubo is more gross and clammy, and that which causeth the Carbuncle more sharp, burning and raging, by reason of its greater subtility, so that it maketh an Eschar on the place where it is, as we noted before.

Notes

• * 1.1

  What a Car∣buncle is.
• * 1.2

  The signs of a Carbuncle.
• * 1.3

  When so cal∣led.
• * 1.4

  Symptoms of Ca••buncles.
• * 1.5

  How the Mat∣ter of a B••bo and Carbuncle differ.