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 ...

XXX. The incision of a Nerve is either streight and direct, or transverse; if it is transverse, it is cut either quite asunder, or but in part: now a Nerve quite divided, is less dangerous than that which is only cut in part; as Galen, Meth. Med. lib. 6. cap. 2. and Guido, Magn. Chir. Tract. 4. doct. 1. cap. 4. affirms: the rea∣son is, because a Nerve quite cut asunder, cannot cause any hurt in the Brain.

XXXI. Yet being cut quite asunder, it can never be consoli∣dated again, according to the first Intention; as we have hinted at Sect. 4. aforegoing: and so says Hippocrates, Sect. 6. Aph. 19. When the Bone is wounded, or the Cartilages, or a Nerve, or the thin part of the Cheek, or the Praepu∣tium, it does not unite, or grow together again.

XXXII. As to the Cure of these Wounds, Galen, de Comp. Med. lib. 3. cap. 2. & Meth. Med. lib. 6. cap. 3. advises to Topicks which dry with little biting; as Ʋng. de Calce lota, Ʋng. Dia∣pompholigos, and the like.

XXXIII. If the whole Nerve is cut asunder, no Convulsion can ensue, because both ends give way: this kind is cured by Sarcoticks, of which we have wrote abun∣dantly before, in Cap. 2. Sect. 31. ad 46. now in this kind of Wound, the motion of the Part into which the Nerve is im∣planted to move, is abolished.

XXXIV. If the Nerve is cut asunder, but in part, it is first to be dressed with the Medicaments afore prescribed: but if Pain, Inflammation, Putrefaction, Fe∣ver, or Convulsion are like to ensue; the best course is to cut the Nerve or Tendon asunder, rather than by deferring the Incision, to hazard the Life of the Patient.

XXXV. This being done, you must apply anodyn and drying Me∣dicaments, and the Wound being dressed, apply over the Dossels or Pledgets, Diapalma, or Dia∣chylon simplex, softned with Oil of Myrtles, Quinces or Roses;

because the tenderness of the Part will scarcely admit of any stiff Emplaster.

XXXVI. Then rowl up the Part with the Fascia Expulsiva, of which we have treated before in its proper place; that thereby, the Sanies which does gather in the place, and a new afflux of Humors may be prevented.

XXXVII. If a Nerve, &c. is contused without a Wound, foment it with hot Oil-olive, applying over a Sheeps or Lambs Skin, new taken off: but if it is with a Solution of Unity, then Medicaments anodyn, drying, and congluti∣nating are to be imposed; as Ceratum Album, Emplast. Cata∣gmaticum, malaxed with Oil of Hypericon.

XXXVIII. If the Nerve is dis∣torted by a Fall, or the like, which may hinder the motion of the Part, you may apply Emplastrum Album mixed with Gum Ammo∣niacum, or Diachylon simplex, or cum Gummis.

XXXIX. If afterwards a hardness shall remain, which may cause a numbness of the Part, you must mollify with Oil of white Lillys, of Hypericon; or with Goose, or Capons, or Vipers Grease, mixt with Ammoniacum or Bdellium; also with Oil of Sheeps-Trotters, or of Neats-Feet, mixed with Mucilage of Fenugreek-seed, Lin-seed, or Marshmallow-roots; the Part may also be embrocated with emollient Oils hot; but nothing exceeds golden-coloured Palm-Oil mixt with Oil of Aniseeds, ana: which resolves to a Mira∣cle, so also Spiritus Mirabilis: lastly, you may lay over all Dia∣chylon cum Gummis, mixed with a quarter-part of liquid Storax.

XL. How the Pain is to be eased, we have already shewn at Sect. 28. and 29 aforegoing; we come to shew how to resist the Inflammation. This is done by imposing things cooling and drying; for they both abate the Inflammation, and correct the Putrifaction: of which kind are, Barley and Bean flower, meals of Vetches, Chick-Pease, and Indian Maize, boiled with Oxymel q.s. to the consistence of a Cataplasm; which is to be applied after Embrocating with Oil of Elder, mixed with Rose-Vinegar.

XLI. If a Convulsion affects the Patient, tho' it is many times mortal, yet something (whilst there is Life) is to be done; you must Embrocate all the Spinal Marrow, from the Head to the Coccyx, with this Mixture, hot: ℞ Oil of Ben ℥vi. Chymical Oils of Lavender, Limons, Juniper, Rosemary, Sage, and Savin, A. ʒvi. mix them; upon which apply a Sheep-skin newly drawn off, to the Part.

XLII. Then the Part wounded is to be dressed; and if the Wound is in the Hand, you must Embro∣cate upwards to the Armpits by which the Nerves pass, and so proceed to the Vertebrae of the Neck and Thorax: but if the Foot is wounded, you must Embrocate upwards from the Wound to the Leg, Thigh, and Os Sacrum, even to the Vertebrae of the Loins; giving inwardly in the mean season this Mix∣ture: ℞ Our Aqua Bezoartica,

or Spiritus Cordialis ʒvi. Spiritus Opii compositus, à ʒss. ad ʒi. mix for a Dose.

XLIII. These things, as to Me∣dicines, whether Topicals or Inter∣nals, we have said in short upon the Cure of a Nerve or Tendon cut, or other wounded than by Pricking: we shall next treat of the Cure of a Wound of the Nerves, &c. made by Puncture; out of which, those things which in general seem necessary to be said, concerning the Wounds of the Nerves and Tendons, (of what kind soever) will be plain∣ly and evidently seen.