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. XIII. Of WOUNDS of the LIGAMENTS.

I. THey are called in Greek, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, pl. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉: In Latin, Vulnera Li∣gamenti pl. Ligamentorum: And in English, Wounds of a Liga∣ment, or Ligaments.

II. The Signs. If they be wounded, it is known by the place or part hurt, which is near some Joint: Besides, the Pain is in no respect to be compared with a Wound of the Nerves or Ten∣dons, for when these are wound∣ed, they produce neither Pain, nor Convulsion.

III. And in regard they are void of Sense, at least-wise not so sensible as are the Nerves or Ten∣dons, so they never commu∣nicate their Affects to the Brain.

IV. The Prognosticks. The wound of that Ligament which goes from one Bone unto another, is most of all free from danger.

V. That Ligament which is in∣serted into a Muscle, if it is not well or rightly Cured, may bring a great deal more of danger with it;

because it is able to draw the Nerves and Tendons into a con∣sent with it.

VI. Because the Ligaments have but a very weak heat in themselves, therefore they do not easily bear Wounds, but are very apt and ready to heap up Excrements, which may contract and induce a putridness, that may excite other Symptoms and Evils.

VII. The Cure. By reason of the natural coldness, and dryness of the Ligaments, those Medi∣cines which are useful in the Wounds of the Nerves and Ten∣dons, are also useful here, espe∣cially those that are most dry∣ing.

VIII. And truly you may safely enough, make use of the strongest of them, for that this part is void of Sense, and therefore will not be offended with the Acrimony or sharpness of those drying Medi∣caments.

IX. And tho' Medicaments not too hot are to be used to consume the Sanies, lest the Ligament rot; yet in respect that those Medi∣cines must not only dry, but al∣so cherish the weak heat of the Part, and strengthen the same, they ought to have so much heat, as to be able to Corrobo∣rate it; which they can scarcely do, unless they be hot in the se∣cond or third degree.

X. In this case you may use the Oil of Mastich, all the kinds of Natural Balsams, Artificial Bal∣sams, of themselves, or mixed with drying Pouders; and over all you may apply, Emplastrum de Minio, or Catagmaticum, ma∣laxed with Oil of Mastick.

XI. Wiseman says, That Wounds of the Ligaments require much one and the same Method with the Tendons, only the Me∣dicaments here are to be more drying, as Euphorbium, Sulphur Vive, Calx lota, or slaked Lime well washed, Lapis Tutia, &c.

XII. Barbette commends the Restaurative Pouder, thus made, ℞ Roots of Comfrey, fine Aloes, Calx Viva, Red Precipitate, a. ℥ijs Mastich, Myrrh, Mummy, a. ʒij. make each into a fine Pouder, and mix them.

XIII. And at first dressing, the weak heat of the Ligament is much to be considered, because it is apt to give occasion to a plentiful Collection of Humors, and other Vehement Symptoms.