Ars chirurgica a compendium of the theory and practice of chirurgery in seven books ... shewing the names, causes, signs, differences, prognosticks, and various intentions of curing all kinds of chirurgick diseases ... : to which is added Pharmacopoeia chirurgica, or, The medical store, Latin and English ... / by William Salmon ...

CHAP. II. Of the Small Instruments.

I. THE Incision Knife is used to cut the Skin or Flesh, where need is; to pare away the putrid part of a gangrenous Member; in making Issues; o∣pening Apostems; in Scarifica∣tions and Cupping. Tab. 6. Let. F.

II. The Scissers are to cut Cloth for Rowlers, Lint and Emplasters: to clip off proud Flesh, or putrid loose Skin, ends of Sinews, &c. See Tab. 5. Let. R.

III. The Spatula is used to spread Emplasters, mingle Un∣guents on the palm of your Hand, or otherwise, cover the Pledgets, and to stir and min∣gle Ointments and Emplasters in the Composition. Tab. 5. Let. E.

IV. The small Probes are with one end to sound the depth of a Wound or Ulcer: with the o∣ther end (by arming the Eye thereof with Lint) to wipe or dry a Sore or Ulcer: Or by dip∣ping it in some Oil or Liquor, to convey it to the bottom of the Ulcer or Fistula, thereby to mundifie, corrode, or heal it, according as need requires. Tab. 5. Let. N. O.

V. The Ʋvula Spoon serveth to put Pouder or the like to the palate of the Mouth, (if it be sore, raw, or inflamed) blow∣ing the Pouder into the Cavity behind it, through the hollow Pipe: as also to melt Unguents, to dip Tents in: and to pour scalding Oil or Liquor into a Wound. Tab. 6. Let. Q.

VI. The Levatory is an Instru∣ment to raise up a depressed Skull, (but be not too rash on hasty in using of it, for if no

evil Symptoms appear, the de∣pressed Skull may rise, and scale of it self:) it serves also to take off the scale of a Bone after Amputation. Tab. 5. Let. LL. Tab. 6. Let. M. N.

VII. The Director is to guide and direct the Incision Knife in dilating or enlarging of a Wound, when you are near any Vessels, it is also used in Cut∣ting for the Stone. Tab. 4. D.

VIII. The Forceps are used to take off Emplasters, Pledgets, and Tents, the Spil of a Bone, to hold up the Flesh or Skin, the better to cut it with the Scissers or Incision Knife; to take out any thing which lyes in the Ears, Nostrils, Mouth or Throat, or a Bullet lying with∣in reach. Tab. 6. Let. G. H. I.

IX. The Speculum Linguae; the one end thereof is to hold the Tongue down, when you inject any Liquor into the Throat or Mouth, or apply any Medicine thereto; or when you would make any Inspection into the Mouth or Throat, as in Quin∣sies, Cankers, &c. The other end thereof is to scrape the Tongue, if it is furred in Fe∣vers, &c. Tab. 5. E.

X. The Fleame is used to o∣pen the Gums, and to separate them from the Tooth which you mean to pull out, compassing the Tooth with the round sharp end thereof, close to the Tooth; and piercing deeper by little and little, until you feel it as low as the Jaw-bone.

XI. The Rasour is used in shaving the Crown of the Head; and cutting Hair off of other places, where you intend to lay a Plaster, that so it might not hurt in pulling off. Tab. 5. F. G.

XII. The Stitching Quill is that which holds the Needles; the Needles must be ready armed with green or red Silk oiled, to sew up the Lips of Wounds, to fasten Rowlers, and other things which need sewing. Tab. 5. C.

XIII. The Case of Lancets must always be in a readiness, clean, well set, not too square poin∣ted, nor too thin, for then they will not make a good Orifice; their use is to let Blood withal.

XIV. The Salvatory is to keep Ointments in; and ought always to be furnished with these following, 1. Basilicon. 2. Apostolorum. 3. Aureum. 4. Album. 5. Dialthaea. 6. Li∣nimentum Arcaei. If you de∣sign eight places in your Salva∣tory, you may supply the two last with de Minio and Diapom∣pholigos.

XV. The Plaster Box consists of two principal parts. The first and largest place is to hold the afore-mentioned Instru∣ments; which is the upper part of the Box: The lower and lesser part is to hold Emplasters ready spread, with Lint and such like. The Emplasters most usual here are, Diacalciteos, Sti∣cticum Paracelsi, de Gummi E∣lemi, de Lapide Calaminari, Oxy∣croceum, de Meliloto simplex, de Mastiche, Catagmaticum.

XVI. The Incision-Knife is com∣monly put in the Case of Laun∣cets; so also the Rasour, or in a Case by it self.