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. XLII. CROOKEDNESS of the FINGERS.

I. THE same Method that we have prescribed in softning the Contracted Nerves, Tendons, and Muscles of other Parts, must be taken here; after which an Extender ought to be fitted to the Finger or Fingers contract∣ed, to stretch them forth gra∣dually, (if the thing is to be done;) and the use thereof to be continued so long, till the Parts are restored to their natu∣ral Situation, conformation and Use.

II. Hildanus, Cent. 1. Observ. 83. has a famous Example. I had a Patient, (says he) a Child, about fourteen Months old, who, falling into the Fire, burnt his right hand.

III. His four Fingers, and the external Part of the Metacarpus were so burnt, that the ends of his Fingers were drawn back, to their first Articulation or Roots.

IV. The Father of the Child committed the Cure to Ignorant Persons; so that the Skin of the back of the Hand and Fingers was shrunk up, and grown to∣gether into a kind of Globular Form.

V. About Seven Months after

it was healed, the Child was brought to me: I first Purged it with Broth in which Manna was dissolved; then I used the fol∣lowing Emollient Decoction and Ointment, for several days.

VI. The Decoction. ℞ Al∣thaea, the whole Plant, Root and all, Roots of Bryony, of white Li∣lies a. ℥j. Flowers of Camomil, Melilot, Hypericon, Ground-pine, Germander a. M.j. Linseed, Foenu∣greek-seed a. ℥j. Broth made of a Wethers or Calves Feet and Head q.s. mix, and boil them together for a Fomentation.

VII. I anointed the whole Arm and Hand with this Ointment: ℞ Ointment of Marsh-mallows ℥j. Mans-grease, Hens, Goose and Bears-grease a. ℥ij. Mucilage of Earthworms ℥ss. mix, and make an Ointment.

VIII. After Anointing, I wrapt the Hand (says he) in Empla∣strum de Mucilaginibus; by which means the Contracted Sinews, and Callosity of the back of the Hand and Fingers, grown together on the said back of the Hand, were sufficiently mollified.

IX. I then with a Rasour cut away the Callus, between the Fin∣gers and Metacarpus, then I se∣parated the Fingers; after which I strewed on my Pouder to stop Bleeding, and applied Whites of Eggs mixt with Rose and Plantane-water, together with Oil of Roses.

X. Which done, I applied a De∣fensative to the Wrist, and A∣nointed the whole Arm with Oils of Roses, of Myrtles and Earthworms.

XI. The next Day was laid upon the Incisions this Digestive, with soft Lint. ℞ Turpentine wash∣ed in Rose and Plantane-waters ℥j. Oils of Roses and of Eggs, a. ℥ij. Saffron ℈ss. Yolk of one Egg, mix them. And withal, the Arm was Anointed with the a∣forementioned Oils.

XII. The Fifth Day I applied an Instrument, with which, by degrees, the Fingers were drawn and extended to their natural site.

XIII. It was made of a Splint three Inches broad, and long e∣nough to reach nearly from the Elbow to the Wrist: And at the end next the Wrist, it had a stick fastned a-cross it, with four round Pegs standing up.

XIV. The Splint was tied in two places round the Arm, with a Band; which being thus tied on, and well Lined with Lint or Cotton, Finger-stalls of Leather were put upon the Ends of the Fingers, with Strings to fasten them to the Four Pegs before-mentioned.

XV. Every Day they were bent more and more, which that it might be the better done, the Arm and Hand were Anointed with the Ointment at Sect. 7. above, as oft as the Wounds were dressed.

XVI. And that the Fingers might not grow together again, Plates of Lead were put between them: Thus were the Fingers, by little and little, restored to their natural Posture.

XVII. Mean season, the Wounds were healed and Cicatrized; not

with vehement Driers, but with things which were withal a lit∣tle Emollient; whereby, with the Blessing of God, the Hand was perfectly Cured.