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 ...

I. The Cure of Wounds of the Brain.

XXX. Sennertus Med. Pract. lib. 1. par. 1. cap. 24. forbids things cold and moist; also moist Digestives, and all fat, un∣ctious and oily Medicaments; for the Brain being soft and moist, is by them easily cor∣rupted.

XXXI. But things drying are to be used; as, Oil of Turpen∣tine, and all the kinds of natu∣ral Balsams, (which cannot pro∣perly be said to be unctious or greasie.) Andreas à Cruce, Chi∣rurg. lib. 1. cap. 14. will have Oil of Turpentine and Sp. Vi. to be applied till the fourteenth day is past, and then to drop into the Wound this following Li∣quor.

XXXII. ℞ Generous and strông Wine, as Sherry, ℥x, Juyce of Be∣tony ℥ij, Juyce of Calaminth ℥j, inspissate Juyce of Centory, Seeds of Hypericon, Aloes, Myrrh, Dra∣gons Blood, Olibanum, A.℥ss. bruise and digest all in a Vessel close stopt; then boil gently to the consumption of a third part; strain, and add thereto S.V. ℥iij. Oil of Turpentine ℥ij. mix them for use.

XXXIII. Ʋpon the former ap∣ply Pulvis Cephalicus; and cover all with some fit Balsamick Em∣plaster.

XXXIV. Sennertus says, Pi∣geons Blood may be dropt in, or some fine Cloth dipt in Greek (or rather Sherry) Wine, in which Roses and Betony have been infu∣sed: In Winter-time, Aqua Vi∣tae may be used; others use the Juyce of Catmint; others the Pouder of pure Frankincense; even till the 7th day, and till the Flesh begins to grow up.

XXXV. Fabricius ab Aqua∣pendente Chirurg. lib. 2. cap. 20. uses this following, with good Success. ℞ Meal of Milium ℥ss. Mithridate ʒvj. Aqua Vitae ʒv. Balsam of Peru ʒiij. Oleum Hispa∣nicum ℥j. Oil of Vitriol ʒj. ss. mix them.

XXXVI. And upon that he applies this Emplaster. ℞ Bar∣ley-flower ℥viij. Oil of Mastick ℥vj. Oxymel simple ℥v. Pouder of Ca∣momil Flowers ℥iiij. Oil of Roses ℥iij. Spicknard Scaenanth, Stae∣chas, Betony, all in Pouder, A. ℥ss. White-wine q.s. mix, and make an Emplaster.

XXXVII. The Oleum Hispa∣num, which he wonderfully com∣mends for the speedy healing of Wounds, is thus prepared. ℞ Seeds of Hypericon ℥ij, Roots of Carduus Ben. and of Valerian A. ℥j. cut and beat them well, then infuse in Sherry Wine for two days, after which add Oil Olive ℥iij, bruised Wheat ℥jss. boil to the Con∣sumption of the Wine, then strain, and add thereto Venice Turpentine ℥vj. Frankincense in Pouder ℥ij. give it two or three walms more, and so keep it for use.

XXXVIII. Andreas à Cruce commends Oil of Turpentine mixt with Honey of Roses to be applied with fine Linnen dipt therein, and then fills up the Wound with this mixture, ℞ Aloes, Ma∣stick, Myrrh, Sanguis Draconis, A. ʒij. Turpentine ℥ij. S.V. ℥j. mix them.

XXXIX. Or, ℞ Turpentine wash'd in Bugle-water ℥ij. S.V. Syrup of Roses A. ℥j. Pouder of Frankincense, Mastick, Myrrh, A. ʒij. Seeds of Hypericon, Sanguis Draconis, Mummia ex Cranio A. ʒj. mix them.

XL. The same Andreas á Cru∣ce cured a Girl wounded into the Brain, who had lost a considerable portion thereof, by the Method deliver'd at Sect. 31, 32, 33. a∣foregoing, in about fourteen days time.

XLI. Sennertus commends the natural Balsams as of admirable use: Also the distilled artificial Balsam out of the following Composition. ℞ pure Turpentine lbij. Pine-Rosin lbss. Frnnkincense, Mastick, Myrrh, Gum Elemi, A. ℥iij. mix, and distill a Balsam ac∣cording to Art. It is inferiour to no other Medicine for this pur∣pose in the World: But here I have altered the Proportions, having found these Limitations, by experience, to be much the better.

XLII. Fallopius, in his Com∣ment on Hippocrates, de Capitis Vulneribus, cap. 45. pours into the Wound Oil of Roses mixed with Oil of Turpentine; because the Oil of Roses is Anodyn, and the Oil of Turpentine warming and drying; and this he applies till the seventh day is past; a∣bout which time the corrupt part of the Brain separates it self from the sound.

XLIII. If the Bone is carious, and does not readily exfoliate, you must scrape it, and dress it with Linimentum Arcaei: if that is too relaxing, ℞ S.V. ℥x. Aloes ℥jss. Myrrh ℥j. Roots of Birthwort, Hog-Fennel, Catechu, A. ℥ss. mix them, and apply it upon Dos∣sels.

XLIV. In dry Constitutions use this: ℞ Aloes, Pumice-stone, Pompholix, A. ʒij. Oyster-shells burnt ʒss. each being in impalpa∣ble Pouder, mix it with Mel Ro∣sarum and S. Vini, and apply this Emplaster over all. ℞ Lead cal∣cin'd with Sulphur and washed, Litharge A. ℥ij. Ceruse, Antimony calcin'd and levigated, A. ℥j. Oil

of Roses q.s. mix, and boil to an Emplaster. Or, Take Crocus Mar∣tis ℥j. Calx of Egg shells ℥ss. burnt Alum ʒj. mix and make a Pouder, which apply.

XLV. If the Substance of the Brain being wounded, seems to be of a livid Colour, Medicaments which are drying and warming are to be applied. Take Spirit of Wine ℥ij. Honey and Oil of Ro∣ses, A. ℥j. mix them.

XLVI. As it is an evil sign, if the substance of the Brain is of a livid colour; so if the Portion thereof, which must be separa∣ted, look whitish, like to Hail∣stones, and have not a very stinking Smell, it seems that Nature is strong.

XLVII. If the Wound comes to yield a laudable Quittor, then the Oil of Roses may be more especially omitted, and only Honey of Ro∣ses, and Syrup of Red Roses, or Syrup of Myrtles, mixt with A∣qua Vitae, or Spirit of Wine, are to be used. Or this, Take Bal∣sam of Peru, Gum Juniper, red Oil of Hypericon (made by a manifold Infusion of the Flowers) A. ℥ss. mix them. It admirably dries, warms, resists Putrefaction, and the Prejudices of the ambient Air.