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 ...

I. Vesicatories, or Blistering.

II. It is done by Application of the common Epispastick or Vesica∣tory of the Shops, Examples e∣nough of which you may find in Our Pharmacopoeia's, Doron, Seplasium, and other Books. The Epispa∣stick is spread upon Leather, and laid on generally at going to sleep, that the Patient by sleep∣ing may be the less sensible of the pain: and it is continued on, sometimes 8, 10, 12 or 14 Hours, according to the Place and Na∣ture of the Part it is applied to.

III. At the time appointed, it is taken off, the Blister clipt, and the Water let out; at which time some Artists take off the Skin wholly, but others as Learned and Experienced in their Faculty, let it lye on, over which they lay a Melilot Emplaster which gene∣rally (better and more easily) pulls it off; or for want there∣of, the smooth side of a Cole∣wort Leaf, (which is said to be drawing, the contrary side dry∣ing and healing:) And with this Emplaster or Leaves it is drest first twice a day, till the chief of the running is over; after once a day, till it is whole.

IV. As for taking off the Skin when the Blister is drawn, they say they do it that the Sore might run the more plentifully, freely, and longer: To which we answer, 1. That the taking off the Skin puts the Patient to a vast deal of pain more, than the letting it lye on. 2. That we have tryed by many Experiments, that by Appli∣cation of the Emplaster or Colewort Leaves, we have found the run∣ning as free and plentiful as by the former way of taking the Skin off, and sometimes the running to last much longer. 3. That the pulling off the Skin by means of the Emplaster or the Leaves, is not the tenth part of the pain, which that is, that is taken off by the Hands at time of draw∣ing; for all which reasons that way is to be chosen, which being as advantageous to the Pa∣tients as any, puts them to the least pain.

V. The Ʋses of Blistering are manifold, (tho' we exclude their vulgar use in all sorts of Fevers, which we think not much less per∣nicious than the exhibition of Poy∣son:) 1. Where any vehement pain is setled in any Part. 2. Where any Tumor is fixed that cannot be otherwise mo∣ved. 3. For Derivation, where there is a Flux of Humours, that can no otherwise be mastered: As a Rheum falling upon the Eyes or Teeth; a Catarrh upon the Palate; a defluxion upon a∣ny particular Joint, &c.

VI. The place of their Applica∣tion is generally, 1. For the re∣moving of Pain, upon the very place pained, for if it be but two or three Inches, above, below, or on either side, I have expe∣rimentally found, that it does no good at all, whereas apply∣ed upon the very place, it gene∣rally does the work effectually. 2. Ʋpon the very place of the Tu∣mor afflicting. 3. If for Deriva∣tion, upon those parts which will easily derive from the Parts affect∣ed,

as upon the Nape of the Neck, for a Rheum in the Eyes, &c.

VII. How often they are to be applied. Many times the Disease is inveterate, and the Humour malign and stubborn, and it of∣ten falls out, that at once or twice blistering the Cure can∣not be done; and if any part of the malign Humour is left be∣hind, 'tis as good as doing no∣thing, for that will quickly in∣crease and grow as bad again; for this cause they must be so often applied till the Cause is wholly removed, which in some may be done at the first time, in others at the second, in others at the third or fourth Applica∣tion; and in some cases they may be applied five or six times.

VIII. If any shall object, that by this often Application, a Hu∣mour may possibly be drawn into a Part; we affirm from a large Experimental Knowledge the contrary: For a Vesicatory is so far from drawing an Humour into a Part, that it always draws the Humour out; for by its potency, and speedy way of Action, it draws with that vio∣lence, that it breaks, and as it were, disjoints the Humour, and so takes it forth; and not as other lazy Attractives, which by long lying, draw and affix Humours in a Part, without drawing them out at all.

IX. As to their use in Fevers, we have very much to say against them; but because we design brevity in this work, shall re∣fer it to another place, and in part mind you of what we have said already on this Subject, Chap. 12. Sect. 21. aforegoing.

X. The danger and ill effects of Vesicatories, are Heat and Scald∣ing of the Water, difficulty of Pis∣sing, and sometimes Pissing of Blood. This is remedied by plentifully drinking an Emulsi∣on of the four cold Seeds; or Barley Water mixt with Milk. Thus, ℞ hull'd Barley ℥viij. Wa∣ter three Pints or more, boil, and cast away the first Water; add two Quarts more, and boil till the Barley is broken, adding a double quantity of Milk; strain, and sweeten it a little with fine Sugar, of which let the Patient drink liberally.