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 ...

III. Of Burnings with Gun∣pouder.

XLVIII. In the first place, if any of the Grains of Pouder are gotten into the Skin, they are to be pickt out, otherwise the blue marks will always remain: This, says Sennertus, may be done with a Needle, or with some other In∣strument fit for that purpose; if they cannot all be thus pickt out, you must suffer it to blister (if it is not blistered before∣hand) for so by this means ma∣ny more of those Grains will be easily taken forth.

XLIX. If this is not done at first, and if after the burning is quite healed, some of the Grains remain, there is no other way then, but by applying a Vesica∣tory, whereby the Grains which are more superficial will be ta∣ken away, and the Sore is to be washed from its blackness with a Decoction of Fenugreek and Camomil Flowers. But this by the way.

L. If the Burn is only superfi∣cial, the Cuticula is raised into a Blister: if it goes deeper into the Skin, it makes an Escar; if it burns deeper into the Flesh, there is a hard Crust with a Contraction; in all which there is a vehemency of Pain.

LI. Wiseman advises by Re∣frigerants to bathe or anoint the Part, till the heat is off, and the Escar separated; and then to digest and cicatrize; or by Ca∣lefactives to relax the Skin, re∣solve and dissipate, which by Accident will asswage the heat and burning.

LII. Refrigerants are Waters and Juices of Housleek, Henbane, Hemlock, Nightshade, Man∣drake, Stramonium, Plantane,

Adders Tongue, &c. as also all cooling Juices, Oils, Ointments, Balsams and Cerats, Ʋng. Al∣bum, Nutritum, Populeum, Rosa∣tum, &c. where note, that all these potentially cold things must be used actually hot, till the heat and pain cease.

LIII. Calefactives are a red hot Iron, or naked Fire held to the Part, whereby they call forth the Particles of the Fire, and become the Alexiterion: But the Com∣mon Remedy is an Onion bea∣ten with Salt; yet this is not to be applied after Blisters are risen, nor by any means where the Part is raw, for so you will exasperate the Pain, and in∣crease the Inflammation.

LIV. In this Case the Oint∣ment of Sennertus is better. ℞ Gum Elemi ʒi. dissolve it in Oils of Eggs, of Roses, and of white Lillies, A. ʒi. Ung. Basi∣licon ʒiii. unsalted Butter ℥i. mix, and make an Ointment.

LV. For the easing of the Pain he prescribes this: ℞ Oils of sweet Almonds, and of Roses, white Wax, A. ℥i. melt them to∣gether, then add Mucilage of Quince-seeds ℥ss. Camphir ʒi. mix them.

LVI. Horse-dung fried in Oil of Nuts, and applied, does extin∣guish the Fire: There are also recommended, unripe Grapes, Elder Bark, and young shoots, Dwarf Elder boiled in Oil, Lime well washed, and mixed with Ʋnguent. Rosatum to a Consisten∣cy, which are to be applied, and often renewed, till the Fire and Pain are gone.

LVII. If by these things Blisters are not prevented, you may prick or cut them as they arise, lest they erode and make Ulcers, excite sharp Pains, Inflammations, Fe∣vers, &c.

LVIII. But if the Burning is to an Escar, or Crust, you must ha∣sten its falling with Emollients, then digest, incarnate, and ci∣catrize.

LIX. If there is a Cacochy∣mia of Humors, you may purge by Lenitives often, or rather by more powerful Catharticks, u∣sing a spare Diet, rest, quietness and serenity of Mind.

LX. Some dress the Escar with Mel Saponis, and embrocate the Parts with Oil of Roses mixt with whites of Eggs. Or, they anoint the Escar with Honey mix∣ed with Juice of Onions, and pou∣der of Orrice-roots, and foment the Parts about with Decoction or Juices of Henbane, Night∣shade and Plantane, Mallows, Violets, Quince and Fleawort-seeds, adding to it a third part of thick Cream.

LXI. If the Parts be raw, they may be drest with fine thin Linnen, dipt in the aforesaid Decoction, or Juices, or anointed with a Fea∣ther dipt in Ointment of Stra∣monium mixt with Oils of Eggs or Linseed Oil; by which means places superficially burned, are healed.

LXII. Parts deeper burnt, when they cast off their Escars, may be digested with Turpentine washed in Juice of Plantane, mixed with the yolk of an Egg, Oil of Linseed, and some fine Barley-flower.

LXIII. Afterwards you may

apply Ung. Diapompholigos, and anoint the Lips with Ung. Album Camphoratum mixt with the white of an Egg, or with Ung. de Stramonio, as the Intention, Place or Necessity shall require.

LXIV. Or you may dress with this: ℞ Oil of Elder, lbi. Wax ℥iii. Litharge ℥ii. Ceruse, Lime washed, A. ℥i. Frankincense, Sar∣cocol, A. ℥ss. mix, and make an Ointment: and afterwards you may cicatrize with a Decoction of Horse-tail, red Roses, Bram∣ble-tops, Bistort, &c. in which a little white Vitriol or Allum may be dissolved, or with some other Astringent or Styptick, with which you may be provi∣ded.