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I. THE Abdomen, or Belly, is divided into three Re∣gions, 1. Epigastrium, the up∣per Region, the sides of which are called Hypochondria: The Right Hypochondrium possesses all the Liver; the Left, the Spleen; between which the Stomach is placed. 2. Regio Ʋmbilicalis, the Middle Region, in which is
the Navel, and round about which dyes the Guts; and be∣hind on each side the Reins or Kidneys. 3. Hypogastrium, the Lowermost or Inferior Region; the sides of which are the Illia, and in the middle the Pecten or Pubes, under which lyes the Ve∣sica, or Bladder.
II. The Abdomen consists also of Parts containing and contained.
III. The containing are, 1. Com∣mon, which cover the whole Bo∣dy, as, 1. The Cuticula. 2. Cu∣tis. 3. Pinguedo. 4. Membra∣na Carnosa. 2. Particular, or peculiar to the Belly, as, 1. The Muscles of the Belly. 2. The Pe∣ritonaeum. 3. The Omentum, which has a special relation to the Guts.
IV. The contained Parts, are, 1. For Nutrition, as Stomach, Small-guts, Mesentery, Vena Portae, Vena Cava, Arteria ma∣gna, Coeliaca magna, Liver and Spleen. 2. For Expurgation, as the Gall, Pancreas, all the Guts, but chiefly the great ones, Reins, Ureters, and Piss-bladder, also the Ʋterus, or Womb in Wo∣men. 3. For Procreation, as the Vasa praeparantia, & deferentia, Prostatae, & Ʋterus in wo∣men.
V. These Parts both containing and contained are liable to Gun∣shot, from whence various kinds of Wounds arise, which occa∣sion various Accidents: Some penetrate into the Cavity of the Abdomen, wounding the con∣tained Parts; others pierce not, but only wound or bruise the containing Parts.
VI. If the Bullet penetrates not, but only bruises or scratches a lit∣tle, yet such a slight hurt may be subject to a Tumor, and therefore lenient Embrocations, as with Oils of Whelps, Earth-worms, Hypericon, &c. are to be used, applying over them Empl. de Bolo, or Caesaris.
VII. If the Skin and Flesh is wounded, and no farther, it is Cured as Gun-shot Wounds in fleshy Parts, and all those things may be used, which are applied in simple Gun-shot Wounds. But these Wounds, if they happen in a Cacochymical or Scorbutick Ha∣bit of Body, because we cannot bind them up, as we can other Parts, by reason of their Fi∣gure, Site, and continual Mo∣tion, are subject to great de∣fluxions, and the Matter is apt to insinuate it self amongst the circumjacent Muscles, and raise them up, so making sinuous Ul∣cers, difficult to Cure.
VIII. If the Bullet penetrates thro' the Peritonaeum, and wounds the internal Viscera, you are to consider what Parts are hurt, which you may discern from the Place and the Accidents accom∣panying such Wounds, as also by the proper Symptoms of each Part.
IX. The Signs. Celsus, lib. 5. cap. 26. says, If the Liver is wounded, there is forthwith an effusion of gross Blood: If the Vena Cava, or Portae, are wounded, the Right Hypochondrium is in pain.
X. If the Artery is wounded, the Blood is florid, and comes forth impetuously, and the Patient makes his exit therewith.
XI. If the Stomach is wound∣ed,
a Singultus, or Hiccough follows, with Vomiting and Nau∣seousness; the Food with the Chyle comes forth of the Wound; there is also a cold Sweat, with Fainting and Languishing.
XII. If the Wound is in the Left Hypochondrium, under the short Ribs, the Spleen is wound∣ed, the Blood which flows forth is black, and there is also Ten∣sion, and difficulty of Breath∣ing.
XIII. If the lesser Guts are wounded, there will be Vomiting of greenish Matter, and the Food will come out of the Wound in less than half an Hour, and will continue so to do as long as Life lasts: If the great Guts are wounded, the Excrements and stinking Smell will shew it.
XIV. If a Kidney is hurt, the Wound is in the Region of the Loins, near the Vertebra, under the Diaphragma: There is also a pain going to the Groins and Testicles, with a difficulty in ma∣king Water; and what is pist forth, is either pure Blood, or Urine mixt with Blood: If the Ureters are wounded, the Urine comes forth at the Wound.
XV. If the Bladder is wound∣ed, there is great pain in the Groin, and the Ʋrine comes forth by the Wound; the Stomach suf∣fers also by consent, and the Part wounded indicates it.
XVI. If the Womb is wounded, the Groins and Coxa are pained, and the Blood flows not only by the Wound, but per Vulvam, and are sometimes Frantick, with other Symptoms of Death.
XVII. The Prognosticks. Tho' Physicians say, That if the Belly is so wounded that the Excrements come out of the Colon on the Left side, the recovery of such a one is rather a Miracle than a Work of Art; yet this I can say by Ex∣perience, that when I was in the West-Indies, I had a stout Ne∣gro so wounded by a shot, that his Excrements daily came forth thro' the Wound; yet notwith∣standing that I despaired of his Life, by the Care and Pains I took with him, I perfectly Cu∣red him in a Months time.
XVIII. Wounds of the Stomach are sometimes Mortal; but I have lived to see such Wounds Cured, and the Patient to live many Years after them.
XIX. Celsus determined such like Wounds made with sharp or cutting Weapons, Mortal, how much more then may we judge them so, which are made by Gun-shot? Tho' it is also true, that sometimes Nature does wonders of this kind.
XX. If the Wound is only in the Region of the Belly, it is not with∣out danger, more especially if it is in the middle, or Linea Alba: But if it penetrates, there is much more danger, for these Parts once broken seldom re∣cover.
XXI. The Cure. You must first begin with the Extraction of the Bullet, or any other extrane∣ous Matter which may be carried in with it, lest they induce putridness: then you must reduce the In∣testines and Omentum, lest they Inflate and Corrupt. Lastly, you must abate the Inflamma∣tion, and hasten Digestion.
XXII. To dispose the Guts and Omentum to reduction, you must foment with warm Discutients; and if the Orifice is not large enough, you must make it wi∣der.
XXIII. If the Omentum is cor∣rupted, make a Ligature beyond the corrupt Part, and cut it off, leaving the ends of the Liga∣ture hanging out, till it is cast off by Digestion.
XXIV. If there is an Hemor∣rhage, inject Red-wine mixed with Syrup of dried Roses, fine Bole, Terra Sigillata, Catechu, Aloes, Frankincense, and Sanguis Dra∣conis, all in subtil Pouder: Or mix the Styptick Liquor (descri∣bed Cap. 20. Sect. 16.) with Red-wine and Frog-spawn-water, Ana; and inject with it, being indifferent hot.
XXV. Or you may use the In∣jection mentioned in Cap. 21. Sect. 16. which is an admirable thing, being cast into the Wound Blood-warm.
XXVI. This done, make a Mixture of the subtil Pouder of fine Bole, Catechu, Terra Sigil∣lata, Aloes, Frankincense, San∣guis Draconis, and dried blood, a new-laid Egg, and Oils of Ma∣stich and VVhelps, which apply upon a Tent fastned to a Thread: Then spreading the rest upon a Stuph, lay it over all: But if there is no Hemorrhage, you ought to digest as fast as you can.
XXVII. And inwardly give this: ℞ Dr. Gardner's Lauda∣num Tartarizatum, or Our Lau∣danum Specificum, gr. iii. or iv. Tinctura Mirabilis ʒss. or ʒi. of the Styptick (described cap. 21. sect. 18.) gut. xx. Red-wine, red Rose-water, A. q.s. mix, dissolve, and give it for a Dose.
XXVIII. Fallopius commends this in Wounds of the Stomach and Guts: ℞ Mouse-ear, Plan∣tane, roots of Comfrey and Tormen∣til, flowers of Hypericon, which boil in Red-wine, strain out, and add thereto Manna, Frankincense, Rosin of the Fir-tree, Cypress, Tur∣pentine, Saffron, Earth-worms in Pouder, Oil of Mastich, A. q.s. mix, and make a Sarcotick.
XXIX. In Wounds of the Reins you must make an Injection with such things as are abstersive and drying; as, ℞ roots of Aristo∣lochia rotunda, of Comfrey and Orrice, A. ℥ii. Catechu ℥jss. Red-wine, Chalybeat-water, A. q.s. boil, strain out, and after∣wards add Powers of Turpentine ℥ss. Syrupof dried Roses ℥iv. mix for an Injection.
XXX. Or: ℞ Tinctura Mi∣rabilis ℥i. Red-wine ℥vi. Smith's Forge-water ℥viii. in which ʒi. of the Vitriol of Mars is dissolved, Ho∣ney of Roses ℥iii. mix for an In∣jection.
XXXI. Embrocate with Ole∣um Hyperici mixt with Oleum Catellorum, Ana; and dress up the Wound with a Digestive made of Turpentine, and one whole Egg, mixed with fine Bole, Mastich and
Frankincense in pouder; applying over all, Our Emplastrum Album, malaxt with Oil of Hypericon, yel∣low Palm-Oil, or Oil of Hempseed. Or this Cataplasm: Take Barley, Bean, and Orobus flower, A. ℥iii. Eggs, No ii. mix them, adding Oxymel ℥vi. boil to a Consistence, and add Oil of Hypericon, or of Whelps, q.s. mix them, and ap∣plyit.
XXXII. In these Wounds there is generally a great Hemorrhage, and therefore you may inject with the Mixture described in Cap. 21. Sect. 16. or those at Sect. 29, and 30. aforegoing, which will cleanse and heal.
XXXIII. Wiseman gives us this: Take Plantane, Cinkfoil, Knotgrass, Yarrow, Myrtles, red Roses, boil all in Chalybeat, or Smith's Forge-water, and sweeten with Syrup of dried Roses, then use it Blood-warm for an In∣jection.
XXXIV. Or you may add to it (says he) Acacia, fine Bole, Dragons Blood, and Frankincense in Pouders, and make it up into the consistency of a Liniment, and apply it upon Tents or Pledgets.
XXXV. Tho' these are accoun∣ted deadly, yet the Vagina, which some are pleased to call the Womb, being Gangrened, was cut out of the Body of a Butcher's Wife by Dr. Gardner the King's Chyrur∣geon, without any hazard of Life, and the Woman is yet alive at the writing hereof, tho' it is many Years since the Operation was done.
XXXVI. If there is an Hemor∣rhage, you must endeavour to stop it with Injections, such as we have described at Sect. 24, 25, 29, and 30, aforegoing, or some other proper Styptick Liquor.
XXXVII. Then Apply Embro∣cations and Digestives, observing the universal Method of Curing Wounds, application of good Vulne∣raries and Sarcoticks, keeping the Body cool and empty with Clysters, and giving inwardly proper Traumatick Drinks, such as we have in other places de∣scribed; together with the Mixture mentioned at Sect. 27. aforegoing.