CHAP. I. What Chirurgery is.
CHIRURGERY is an Art, which teacheth the way by reason,* 1.1 how by the operation of the hand we may cure, prevent, and mitigate diseases, which accidentally happen unto us. Others have thought good to describe it otherwise; as that, It is that part of Physick which undertaketh the cure of Diseases by the sole industry of the Hand: as, by cutting, burning, sawing off, uniting fractures, restoring dislocations, and performing other works, of which we shall hereafter treat. Chirurgery also is thus defined by the Author of the Medicinal Definitions; The quick motion of an intre∣pid hand joyned with experience; or, An artificial action by the hand used in Physick,* 1.2 for some convenient intent. Yet none must think to attain to any great perfection in this Art, without the help of the other two parts of Physick; I say, of Dyet and Pharmacie, and the divers applica∣tions, of proper Medicines, respecting the condition of the Causes, Diseases, Symptoms, and the like Circumstances, which comprehended under the names of things natural, not natural, and beside nature, (as they commonly call them) we intend to describe in their proper place. But if any reply, that there be many which do the works of Chirurgery, without any knowledg of such like things, who notwithstanding have cured desperate Diseases with happy success: Let them take this for an answer, That such things happen rather by chance, than by the in∣dustry of the Art; and that they are not provident that commit themselves to such. Because that for some one happy chance, a thousand dangerous errors happen afterwards, as Galen (in divers places of his Method) speaks against the Empericks. Wherefore seeing we have set down Chirurgery to be, A diligent operation of the hands, strengthened by the assistance of Diet and Pharmacy, we will now shew what, and of what nature the operations of it are.