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I. IF it proceeds from serous Hu∣mors, the Eyes look red, and flow with Tears, not being able to endure the Light. If it be old, and included in a Cistis, divide the Skin, and take it out; on which apply Whites of Eggs beat with Rose-water.
II. If it be recent, fasting Spit∣tle may remove it, or it may be fomented with a Decoction of Worm∣wood and Camomil Flowers; after which apply Empl. de Ranis cum Mercurio, or Diachylum with Gums, into which a little Sal Armoniack is put.
III. It arises from thick Fleg∣matick Humors mixt with Blood; and is to be opened on the Inside of the Eye-lid, pressing out the Matter within; but some open it on the out-side; sometimes it is taken away by Application of a Plaster of Sagapenum.
IV. It arises on the Eye-lid, from a hard stony Matter: It is opened with a Lancet, and remo∣ved with its Cistis: Some mollifie and dissolve it, by applying Empl. de Galbano Crocatum Myn∣sichti; or a Plaster of Ammonia∣cum, or de Ranis cum Mercurio.
V. It may be caused either In∣ternally, by ill Conformation; or Externally, by Wounds, Burns, &c. If by the last ways, it is incu∣rable.
VI. If by the former, divide the Skin of the Eye-lid like a half Moon, with the Horns in this man∣ner ☽; keeping the Edge of the Incision open, and cure it as a green Wound; but in Cutting, beware of the Gristle.
VII. Others use the Dry Stitch, with Emplastrum Glutinos. lay∣ing on a Plaster on the Eye-lid; and another pretty low on the Cheek, that the Indents of each may answer; and then stitch them together, by which the Eye-lid will be drawn down to cover the Eye.
VIII. If it be so fallen down as it cannot be shut (which often happens to Aged People) it is curred by the Dry Stitch, as the former, only the one Plaster is there to be laid upon the lower Lid, and the other above the Eye-brows.
IX. The same observe if the upper Eye-lid be relaxed, so that it keeps shut, and cannot lift it self up.
X. This Emplastrum Glutino∣sum is thus made: ℞ Dragons∣blood, Frankincense, Sarcocol, Ma∣stich, a. ʒ ij. make a Pouder, which mix well with Whites of Eggs, to the thickness of Honey, as Scultetus has taught.
XI. It arises either from Inter∣nal or External Causes, as Inflam∣mations, Blows, Bruises, &c. After Universals premised, use Cup∣ping, with Scarification, Dige∣stives, and Anodyn Collyriums.
XII. When it is come to Matter, you must open the Cornea at the
Iris; then press out the Quitter, and cleanse the Ulcer with Hy∣dromel, or some such like.
XIII. Some Children are born Tongue-tied, whereby they are de∣prived, first of Sucking, then of Speaking: This is remedied by cutting the String of the Tongue transverse, with a pair Scissars, and besmearing it afterwards with Honey of Roses, three or four times a day.
XIV. In Cutting, the neighbour∣ing Parts and Veins must be care∣fully shunned; for sometimes the Nerve of the sixth Pair, or its Branches, run so near the string, that a deep Incision may easily do much hurt, and bring upon the Patient sad Accidents.
XV. But there is not one Child of an hundred, scarcely of two hundred, which needs this manual Operation: And those Midwives are Ignorant, who in all new∣born Children forthwith dila∣cerate this Fraenum or String, whereby the Parts being hurt, evil Symptoms succeed, and sometimes death.
XVI. The Gums in Infants are sometimes long in Cutting, where∣by Death oftentimes ensues: if extremity urge, make a gentle Apertion with your Incision-Knife; so may you haply save the Life of a Child, which other∣wise would be lost.
XVII. If the Fingers and Toes grow together, whether Naturally, or by Accident, you must divide them with an Incision-Knife, (un∣less conjoin'd by Nerves, Tendons, or Arteries) then strew them with some Astringent Pouder, laying over Cloths dipt in the white of an Egg, beaten with Rose Water and Oil of Earth∣worms, after which, perform the Cure, as in other Wounds.
XVIII. Where note, that in this and in all such like Operations, use preparatively, general Eva∣cuations.
This, though it is not a closed Part, yet is a contracted Part, and may well enough have place in this Chapter.
XIX. This Operation is per∣formed after two manners: The first is done by the Hook, the other without it.
XX. The Wry Neck is caused from the Contraction of one of the Muscles of the lower Jaw, called Musculus Latus, or Quadratus, which arises from the upper part of the Sternum, Clavicula, and Acromium, and is inserted into the inferior Jaw, and firm∣ly fixed in the middle of the Chin.
XXI. But where is this Muscle is very broad, so, seldom or never is it contracted in its whole Lati∣tude, but sometimes more for∣ward, sometimes more backward,
and sometimes more laterally, and accordingly the Seat of the Chord appears.
XXII. Adjacent to this Chord, are the Jugular Veins, the Ar∣teriae Musculae, the Recurrent Nerves, and Nerves of the hinder∣most Branch of the seventh Pair arising from the Neck.
XXIII. These in Cutting, ought all (if possible) to be avoided: chiefly the Jugular Veins, because of the mighty Flux of Blood, endangering the Patients Life: Also the Recurrent Nerves (which spring from the external Branch of the Par Vagum;) for that if they be wounded, or cut asunder, the Voice is lost, and the Crea∣ture becomes dumb.
XXIV. Now this Contraction seems for the most part to be in the Tendons of the Quadratus, chiefly where it is joined to the Clavi∣cula; but, by reason of the ex∣ceeding shortning thereof, the Muscle (in length) seems to be a continued Chord.
XXV. This Chord in many Persons (especially if grown into Years) becomes not only very hard, but perfectly Cartilaginous or Gristly: So that in Cutting, its hardness has caused a kind of cracking noise.
XXVI. The Cutting of a Wry Neck by the Hook. You must carefully avoid all the before-named Vessels, and make a Trans∣verse Apertion of the Skin over the Chord, about an Inch or somewhat more on each side; then with a Hook (made of Steel for this purpose) being put under the said Chord, you must gently pull the contracted part forth, which must immediate∣ly be cut compleatly through by an Incision-Knife, advising the Patient the while to hold his Neck up.
XXVII. This done, you must heal it as a Green-wound, com∣mitting withal the Sick to his Bed. This is the old Butcherly way, which puts the Patient to great pain and danger; and withal, a long Cure.
XXVIII. The Cutting of a Wry Neck, by a new way, without the Hook. Here you must strongly take hold of the Chord with your Thumb and Fore-finger, with which feeling for the Vessels (chiefly the Jugular Vein, whose Approximate is the Recurrent Nerve) you must carefully thrust it by, Then having fast hold of the Chord with your Thumb and Finger, you must warily thrust in your Incision-Knife, as it were beyond the Chord, and just above your Fingers; then making the Patient hold up his Head, the Chord will be a cut asunder, the outward Skin remaining whole; thus will the work be done, with no more but a prick appearing outwardly, and the Wound will be well in about twenty four hours, without any effusion of Blood.