The practice of physick in seventeen several books wherein is plainly set forth the nature, cause, differences, and several sorts of signs : together with the cure of all diseases in the body of man / by Nicholas Culpeper ... Abdiah Cole ... and William Rowland ; being chiefly a translation of the works of that learned and renowned doctor, Lazarus Riverius ...

Chap. 11. Of Mortification, or Gangrenation, and Spha∣celation, or Blasting of the Womb.

A Gangrene is the corruption or mortification of a part beginning; but when it is wholly cor∣rupted, and dead, it is said to be Sphacelated, or blasted.

In the Genital parts of Women, this Disease is easily bred, because those parts are moister and softer than ordinary, and do easily receive the Excrements of the whol Body.

It often follows an Inflamation, Imposthume, Ulcer, or Cancer il cured, when the vital heat of the part, is choaked or destroyed. It is choaked in great Inflamations, when more blood flows in than the Natural heat of the part can digest, or turn into Matter. It is destroyed, either by a cold di∣stemper extinguishing it, or by an hot one, dissipating and resolving the same.

A beginning Gangrene is known by an unusual heat felt in the part, a horror and trembling seizes upon the Patient, with a languishing and quick-beating pulse, and with fainting away, or swooning. And seeing this Disease doth for the most part happen to the Neck of the Womb, so that the part af∣fected may be perceived by the Eye; it is discovered to be soft, Lead-colored, black and carrion like, and may be prickt or cut, and the Patient never feel it; and it sends forth besides, a stinking and car∣rion-like smel.

As for the Prognostick or Predictions belonging to this Disease. It is a most grievous, most dan∣gerous Disease, and for the most part deadly: yet it hath been observed by very many Authors, That the Womb being putrefied and Gangrenated, hath either fallen away of it self, or been cut away, the womens lives being saved: which Observations of Authors, Schenkius hath collected to a great num∣ber, in the fourth Book of his Observations.

The Cure is performed with the same Remedies which are wont to be applied to other parts being Gangrenated, if it be in the Neck of the Womb, or tend toward the outward parts; as namely, with Scarrifications, and washings or bathings with a Decoction of Wormwood, Mirrh, and such like, with the Oyntment called Aegyptiacum, the Cataplasm called De Tribus farmis, which is thus made:

Take Barley meal, Bean meal, and Orobus meal, of each two ounces: Oxymel one pound: Boyl them to the thickness of a Pultiss or Cataplasm. Whereunto if there be added, meal of Lupines, Mirrh, Aloes, and Wormwood, it will be more effectual.

If any part of the Womb be wholly corrupt and dead, it must be cut off; or if the Womb fall down, it must be separated, by binding the Ligature every day faster and closer. Of which kind of Operations, there be many Examples collected by Schenkius in the fourth Book of his Observa∣tions.

Wierus also relates in his Observations, That he cured a woman of twenty five yeers of age, who

in the hottest of the Dog-daies, had a certain little bunch growing in her Water-Gate. Whereunto an unskilful Chyrurgion applying Pultisses that were not proper, within a few daies, all that part began to putrefie, grow black and dead, and the Disease past on with incredible swiftness towards the Dung-Gate. And Wierus undertook the Cure after this Method: First, he squirted good store of the Juyce of Nightshade and Plantane with a Syringe into both the Passages three or four times a day; between which times, he applyed a bolster wet with the foresaid Juyces, Vinegar being mixed therewith; which growing dry was wet again with the same Liquor. And in this course of reiterated Application he continued til the fervent heat was quenched, and the putrefaction began to cease. She took in the mean while, thrice every day a Potion, of the Decoction of Sorrel, Scabious, Burnet, Damask Prunes, the tops of Borrage and Bugloss, Marigold flowers, with Water, Sugar, and Vinegar, made in the manner of a long, acid, or sharp Syrup. Her Diet was spare, but cooling and tart, to prevent putrefaction. On the third day, the fury of the burning heat, and of the pu∣trefaction, was abated. Whereupon he commanded the black and dead flesh to be drawn or plucked out with a little Forceps [Chyrurgions Instrument, like Tongs or Pincers] and separated round about from the live flesh, without any pain, and so to be cut off. Then he consumed the reliques e∣ven to the live flesh with the Oyntment called Aegyptiacum. And proceeded to cicatrize, or bring it to a Scar, after the same manner which is used in other Ulcers.

In the whol course of the Cure, care must be had to strengthen the Heart, both by things given in, and applied outwardly: Likewise Emollient, Clensing, and Refrigerating Clysters, are frequently to be given, which do much help the part affected, by reason of Neighbor-hood.