Chirurgorum comes, or, The whole practice of chirurgery begun by the learned Dr. Read ; continued and completed by a Member of the College of physicians in London.

SECT. XVIII.

Some general Instructions very useful for Predi∣ctions.

BEfore I come particularly to speak of wounded parts, I would premise something in gene∣ral, which will be of use to what shall be said afterwards. This there∣fore, First of all I would advise you of, namely that all Wounds received in the outside, and fore∣part of the Body, do always hurt Extension; and what are received in the inside, Flexion. For Galen has abundantly demonstrated, that the internal Muscles serve for bend∣ing a part, and the external for stretching it out. A Muscle so long operates, as it is contracted towards its beginning, and draws the part moved toward that: whether it be done by drawing the whole Muscle to that they call the Head, or when it is drawn in a lump. Besides, this is to be taken special notice of, that whether it be the external or internal Muscles that are cut asunder, in both, the figure of the part remains immove∣able. For neither extension alone, nor flexion alone perishes in a part, but both thrive, and both perish together. Not that the operation really perishes, whose Muscles are entire; but because these motions succeed one another by turns. For if the internal Muscle, which bends the part, be whole, when the ex∣ternal which used to extend it, is cut; at first indeed it may bend the part; but it cannot bend it a∣gain, unless you extend it with something else; because Flexion is of a part extense. The case is the same, when the internal Muscle, which is the bender, is cut, if the external be not hurt; this will extend at first; but no more af∣terwards: Unless with your Hand you supply the lost operation of the wounded Muscle, by extend∣ing that which is bent, or by bending what is extended; for then the sound Muscle will perform its operation. This also I must not pass by in silence: since some parts of the Body are distinguished by many Joynts, that the function of that part where the Wound is made, is not always hurt; but of an adjoyning part, which is tied to the wounded part by Articulati∣on. For Muscles are derived from the superjacent Bones, wherein there are Cotyle, and are inserted after the beginnings of the subja∣cent, which are to be moved: and by these intense Muscles, when the Heads are drawn upwards, the

whole Member is drawn up with them. Wherefore if a Wound will hurt the Functions in the Cu∣bit, it must be inflicted in the Brachium; if it will hurt those of the Brachium, it must be Inflicted in the Scapula, or parts thereabout. And you must remember this also, that the use of a part does not al∣ways perish by the cutting of one Muscle: for if the use be peculiar to some one peculiar Muscle, and competent to no other, we must believe the part will be made use∣less, because deprived of the acti∣on of that one Muscle. But if se∣veral Muscles conspire to one acti∣on, the detriment of one of them is not sufficient to destroy the whole action of the part.