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. III. Of Internal VƲLNERARIES, or WOƲND-DRINKS.

I. THE next thing to be con∣sidered, is the preparation of Internal Vulneraries, and Wound-Drinks: for we are to take care to promote an inward Habit of Healing, as well as an outward; for as much as by these Vulne∣rary-Potions, Physicians affirm (as Manardus, and others) they have alone cured the worst and most desperate Ulcers.

II. Now of these, some Phy∣sicians will have two sorts: some, which they call by the general name of Alteratives; and others, which they specially call Vulne∣raries, or Traumaticks.

III. Alteratives under our pre∣sent consideration, are such things as are cooling, and incrassating, or thickning; and withal some∣thing astringent, but not greatly astrictive; lest they might otherwise breed Obstructions.

IV. These Alteratives are ad∣ministred for this purpose, that they may hinder the Humors from growing hot; whereby they grow fluxil, and so are made apt to receive a putridness.

V. These Alteratives are for∣med out of such-like Simples, as these following: Alehoof, Apples, Asparagus, Barley, Beets, Bloodwort, Borrage, Bugloss, Bucks-horn-Plantain, Citron the juice, Coral leviga∣ted, Cucumbers, Corans their juice, Crabs-eyes, Daisies, Dan∣delion, Dock sharp-pointed, Endive, Fumitory, Grass, Harts-horn the Jelly, Lettice, Limon-juice, Mouse-ear, Nitre, Orange-juice, Orpin, Pellitory of the Wall, Pearl levigated, Pomgranat-juice, Poplar-buds, Poppy-beads, Plan∣tain, Purslain, Quinces the juice, Roses, Sorrel, Sal Prunellae, San∣ders, Shepherds-purse, Solomons-seal, Succory, Tartar its cream, Tormentil, Vine leaves and tendrils, Violets, Water-lillys, Whey clarified, Wood-sorrel, Winter-cherries, Yarrow.

VI. And out of these you may make Juices, Infusions, Decoctons, Saline Tinctures, Distilled Waters, Syrups, Electuaries, Pouders, Potions, &c. according to the Form most agreeable to the Palate of the Patient, and convenient to the strength, or weakness, and habit or constitution of the Sick: and these things may be either Simple, prepared out of one single thing; or Compound, prepared out of many of them together, as the Physician in reason shall think fit.

VII. Vulnerary-Potions, or Wound-Drinks are no where made mention of by Hippocrates, or any of the Ancients; but Mo∣odern Physicians have loudly spoken of them, and pro∣claimed their Praises.

VIII. Nothwithstanding, be∣cause the Ancients have said no∣thing of them, there are some that will (right or wrong) speak against them, with offers of some weak Arguments, in confirmation of their Opinion: amongst whom is Balduinus Roussaeus, in his Medicinal Epistles, Epist. 66. who tho' he admits them, in those cases where they reach the wounded Parts; as the Gul∣let, Stomach, Intestines, &c. where they have but the place of Topicks; yet will by no means allow them an Use in Wounds of the External Parts, but re∣jects them, for these Reasons:

IX. 1. Because Hippocrates and the Ancients made no mention of them. 2. Because they cannot possibly penetrate unto the extream Part; as Limbs, or Head, &c. partly because of their distance, and partly, because Astringents being mixed with them, may hinder their more deep pene∣tration. 3. Because the Medi∣caments themselves greatly differ; some of them being hot and opening, others cold and astringent: whereby it appears not of what quality or faculty the Medicaments should be, out of which the Potions are to be pre∣pared. 4. Because that being mostly astringent, they may do more hurt than good to the Pa∣tient; for that they may obstruct the Liver and other the more noble Viscera.

X. To which we answer, 1. That tho' Hippocrates nor some of the more ancient ancient Phy∣sicians have said nothing of them; yet Galen, Method. Med. lib. 5.

cap. 9. plainly inculcates their use, and has something which comes near to the Wound-drinks we now make use of, where he speaks touching Potions to be used in Wounds of the Thorax. But however, if nothing had been said of them by any of the Ancients: Are they the Mea∣sures, and utmost Standards of Knowledge and Wisdom to all succeeding Generations; have they fixed the Pillars, Ne plus ultra, to all Mankind besides? If not, why should not Poste∣rity have room and liberty for Invention; and the priviledge of enquiring after, and the hopes of finding out those Secrets and Truths, which the Ancients knew nothing at all of.

XI. 2. To the second Ob∣jection we Answer, That if Roussaeus had known any thing of the Circulation of the Blood, he would never have made this poor Objection; for the Virtues of these Medicaments are mixed with the Chylous Juice, and conveyed by the same into the Blood; where circulating therewith, they are conveyed to all parts of the Body: and withal, the sub∣stance of the Blood is made more Balsamick, and so endued with a more Sanative property; by which the Wound is induced to a more speedy Healing.

XII. 3. To the third Ob∣jection we Answer, 1. That such Simples are to be chosen, as may best suit with the Habit, or Con∣stitution of the Patient. 2. That Harmonies are produced out of Discords: and tho' the Simples may seem almost diametrically opposite as to their first, and it may be second qualities; yet by a due and skilful mixtion, one of an equal temprament may result, having all the Sana∣tive Virtues required. However, 'tis necessary that all Vulneraries have an Astringency in them, for the strengthning the Crasis of the Blood, which is the Na∣tural Balsam of Life, and the Healing-principle; and for that reason, most Wound-drinks are astringent: nor does their astringency hinder their pene∣trating, since they are con∣veyed every where with the Blood.

XIII. 4. The last Objection is void; for many things are very opening, which are also very astringent: What think you of the opening Vitriol of Mars, and the opening Crocus Martis, which are certainly the greatest Openers in the World, and yet not much inferior in astringency and stypti∣city to the Crocus Martis astrin∣gens, which wants the Aperitive quality; the Liver it self is opened and strengthned by Astringents, as by Rhubarb in Dropsies; and with proper Astringents, which are Openers, all the Viscera are fortified and strengthned, and made able to do their duties, and resist, or refuse the Matter obstructing, let it be of what kind soever.

XIV. And if it should be granted, that none of the An∣cients have made any mention of these Wound-drinks: I pray how many other things have they been ignorant of? Is it not evident,

that many of the most useful Medicaments have been found out, by those of after-times, which the Ancients were altoge∣ther ignorant concerning? there is nothing more certain.

XV. Nor are the Virtues of any Wound-drink, to be estimated only from the first or second qualities of their Ingredients, or such as arise from and depend upon them: but from the Properties and Effects which result from the whole Substance, and are made manifest or known to us, only by Experience.

XVI. These things being said, we will now see what modern Authors say in their behalf: Jo∣hannes Manardus, Annotat. in Composita Mesuae, calce Distinct. 11. says, that these Wound-drinks are very useful in the Cure of both new and old Wounds, and that he had more than once made trial of them; and that with them alone, he had cured the worst, and most desperate Ulcers.

XVII. And to this their Ʋse∣fulness assent, not only Empericks, but also the most learned, able, and skilful Physicians and Chir∣urgeons of later times; as Guido, John de Vigo, Johannes Angli∣cus, Nicholaus Massa, Johannes Tagautius, Johannes Andraeas à Cruce, Gabriel Fallopius, Andraeas Matthiolus, Ambrose Paraeus, Fabricius ab Aquapen∣dente, Ludovicus Septalius, Da∣niel Sennertus, and a Cloud of other Witnesses, too tedious here to enumerate.

XVIII. Tagautius, Institut. Chirurg. lib. 2. cap. 12. says, that some kind of Meats are more fit, and convenient for wounded per∣sons, and some again more offensive and hurtful: Why may we not therefore give the Patient to drink such Medicaments, as may cause all things in the Blood, and about the affected Part, to be rightly disposed, and be in good order?

XIX. Guido, Tract. 3. doct. 1. c. 1. says, that he has sometimes used these Potions in old Ulcers, and Fistula's, Parts Cancerated, in Congelations of Blood in the Inward-parts, and in a gathering together of Sanies or Matter in the Brest and Lungs, &c.

XX. Matthiolus upon Dioscori∣des, l. 4. c. 16. says, shat by such Po∣tions he had seen healed, as well the Wounds of the Thorax, as those of the Intestines, which were thought to be mortal, and altogether incurable, by any help or means whatsoever.

XXI. Ludovicus Septalius, in his Medicinal Animadversions, lib. 8. N^o 181. saith, we thought good oftentimes to make use of some Vulnerary Potions for many days together, until we saw the Matter was wholly con∣sumed: and this was when he perceived great store of Excre∣ments to be from day to day generated; either from errors of Diets, or the over-abounding of evil and vitious Humors in the whole Body; or from some∣thing amiss and faulty in the Wound; the Body being first evacuated, and the Inflamma∣tion abated.

XXII. And Paraeus, lib. 18. cap. 28. says, that Nature being assisted by such a Potion, has

oftentimes seemed to him to work Effects wonderful and mi∣raculous in the recovery of rotten Bones, cleansing of Apo∣stems, and healing of Ulcers.

XXIII. For these Potions, (says he) tho' they do not by the Belly purge away the noxious Hu∣mors, yet nevertheless they are very efficacious in the cleansing of Ʋlcers, and in the preserving and freeing them from all the filth of Excrementitious Humors, the defecating and carrying away the dregs of the Blood, and the purging the Wound from its ichorous matter and impurity: in the conglutinating also of broken Bones, and restoring the Nerves to their pristin Union.

XXIV. And (says he) by these admirable Medicines, the Flesh, or any other substance that is lost and perished, may readily be restored, and made good again, and the Part restored to its former health.

XXV. Sennertus, Med. Pract. lib. 5. part. 4. cap. 11. says also, that these Medicaments consume the excessive humidity of the Blood, which is wholly unfit for agglutination; they supply a due and fit matter for the generating of Flesh; and by their moderate astriction, they prevent and hinder the flux of Humors unto the wounded Part.

XXVI. As for my own Opinion, it is deduced from Experience; and I know that they beget a healthful habit of Body, and a disposition in the Wound to healing. For whatsoever things they are which hurt the Wound, they are all of them for the most part communicated to the Wound, by the fault of the Blood: and therefore these rectifying the discrasy of the Blood, the distemper of the Wound is accordingly altered, and so disposed to healing.

XXVII. Yet this all Authors observe, and agree to, that they are not to be used in the begin∣ning, and while there is no danger from the Wound, but that Topicks may be sufficient for the perfect cure thereof; nor yet if there is a Fever present, or an Inflam∣mation. But when the Part wounded is vitiated, the Habit of the Body is cacoethick, and the Wound it self putrifies, and succeeds not in the Cure: in these cases they may become very successful, not only in Wounds, but likewise in old Ulcers, and dangerous Fistula's.

XXVIII. The most usual simple Vulneraries, for the preparation of Wound-Drinks, are these fol∣lowing. 1. Roots; of Avens, Angelica, Alehoof, Birthwort long and round, Bistort, China, Ceterach, Cinkfoil, Dittany white, Gentian, Orrice, Rha∣pontick, Rhubarb, Sanicle, So∣lomon-seal, Sarsa, Tormentil, Valerian or Setwal. 2. Herbs; Adders-tongue, Agrimony, Ale∣hoof, All-heal, Angelica, Avens, Bramble-tops, Buckhorn-Plan∣tane, Bugle, Bugloss, Burnet, Cabbage red, Calamint, Cen∣tory the less, Cinkfoil, Com∣frey, Consound greater and les∣ser, Consound Saracen's, Daisies, Devilsbit, Fluellin, Golden∣rod, Harts-tongue, Herb-trinity,

Horse-tail, Hounds-tongue, Hy∣pericon, Hyssop, Ladies-mantle, Mousear, Mugwort, Orpin, Per∣wincle, Pimpernel, Plantan, Ribwort, Rupturewort, Sanicle, Savin, Saxifrage, Scabious, Sage, Wood-Sage, Sena, Scordium, Self-heal, Solomons-seal, Speed∣wel, Strawberry-leaves, Tansy, Tansy wild, Vervain, Vipers-Bugloss, Wintergreen, Yarrow. 3. Flowers; of Clove-gilly-flowers, Hypericon, Lilly-con∣vally, Roses, Rosemary, Sage. 4. To these things add, Fine Bole, Cloves, Mace, Mummy, Winter's Cinamon, Guaiacum, Lentisk-wood, Sassafras, River-Crabs, Sperma Ceti, Vipers-flesh, Steel prepared, Vitriol of Mars, Crabs-eyes levigated. And out of these Simples, compound Diet-drinks are made, according to the following Examples.

XXIX. 1. A Vulnerary of Barbett. ℞ Roots of Comfrey ℥ss. Wintergreen M. ii. Sanicle P.ii. Strawberry-leaves, Ladies-mantle, Sage, A. M. i. red Wine q.s. boil, strain, and dulcify with white Sugar. Dose, ℥iii.

XXX. 2. ℞ Red Mugwort, leaves of Tree-Ivy, Sanicle greater and lesser, Wintergreen, Ladies-mantle, Saracens Consound, A. ℥i. Daisies ℥ss. cut all small, and infuse in the best Wine lbss. fair Water lbjss. digest in a close B.M. for three hours; after let them stand all night, then strain out, and add, Nutmegs Crabs-eyes, Mummy, A. ʒii. and dulcify with Sugar ℥iv. Dose, ℥iii.

XXXI. 3. Or, ℞ Red Mugwort, Sanicle, Ground-Ivy, Saracens Con∣sound, Ladies-mantle, A. M. i. of the best Wine lbvi. boil them them in a close Pot, over a gentle Fire, till a quarter is wasted; then strain out, and dulcify. Give a Draught Morning and Night.

XXXII. 4. A Vulnerary-Drink of Barbett, where the Bone is broken. ℞ Round Birth∣wort-roots ℥j ss. Sowbread ℥i. Self-heal, Cranes-bill, A. M. i. Savin, Crabs-eyes, A.ʒiv. Mummy, Galangal, A. ʒii. cut and pouder all grossly, and boil in red Wine lbiv ss. till lbiii. only remains; strain out, and sweeten with Syrup of Comfrey ℥ iv. Dose, ℥ iii. Morning, Noon, and Night.

XXXIII. 5. A Traumatick, from Sennertus. ℞ Winter-green, Perwincle, Bugle, Mugwort, Pim∣pernel, Agrimony, A. M.ii. boil in Wine q.s. to the wasting of a quarter-part. Dose, ℥vi. Mor∣ning, Noon, and Night.

XXXIV. 6. Another, from Sennertus. ℞ Tormentil, Straw∣berry-leaves, Sanicle, Ladies-bed∣straw, Wintergreen, A. M. i. boil in new Beer, q s. Dose, ℥viii. Morning, Noon, and Night.

XXXV. 7. Or thus: ℞ Win∣tergreen M. iv. leaves of Ground-Ivy, M.iii. roots of white Gen∣tian ℥iv. cut them small, and put them into six quarts of new Beer: after two days the Patient may drink it. Dose, ℥vi. Morning, Noon, and Night.

XXXVI. 8. Or thus: ℞ Sa∣racens Consound the whole Plant M. iii. boil it in Wine lbiii. to lbii. then strain out. Dose, ℥iv. Mor∣ning, Noon, and Night.

XXXVII. 9. A powerful Diet-Drink. ℞ Shavings or Saw-dust of Oak-wood, of Lentisk-wood,

of Misselto, A. ℥ii. roots of Birth∣wort, of Consound, of Centory, of Madder, of Tormentil, of Vale∣rian, A. ℥ss. Chalybeated-water, viz. that in which Steel has been oftentime quenched, as Smiths Forge-water lbxii. boil them in a double Vessel, 'till a third or more is wasted; then add Alehoof, Parsley-roots, Bramble-tops, Hemp-tops, Mousear, Herb-trinity, Peri∣winkle, Horsetail, Strawberry-leaves, flowers of Lilly-convally, A. M. ss. Cinamon, Rhapontick, A. ℥ss. and boiling again, almost half an hour; strain out, and add thereto Aromatick-wine lbiii. lastly, dulcifie with Sugar. Dose, ℥vi. Morning, Noon, and Night.

XXXVIII. 10. ℞ Clary, Win∣tergreen, Periwinkle, Saracens-Consound, Woodbind, Sanicle, Speed∣wel, Ladies-mantle, Tree-ivy, Mugwort, A. M.iii. stale, or rather new Beer six quarts: mix, and digest fourteen days, or 'till it is a little sharp; then draw off the humidity in a glass Vesica, in B.M. to driness. Dose, three spoon∣fuls at a time, three times a day.

XXXIX. 11. Another. ℞ Raspings of Guajacum ℥iv. bark of the same Wood, Sarsaparilla, A. ℥ii. yellow Sanders, roots of Bistort, of Consound, of white Dittany, of Tormentil, of Valerian, A. ℥ss. Spring-water two gallons: infuse all together for 24 hours, after boil in a double Vessel, or Diet-pot, to the consumption of a third part: then add Horsetail, Betony, Mousear, Dittany of Creet, Wintergreen, wild Tansy, tops of Brambles, Herb-trinity, Strawberry-leaves, A. M. ss. Ci∣namon ℥ss. boil 'till three quarts only remain after a strong expres∣sion; and then add of the best white Port-wine lbiii. and make it pleasant with Sugar. Dose, ℥iv. or more; Morning, Noon, and Night.

XL. 12. A Wound-Drink, which I have had great Expe∣rience of. ℞ Scabious, Sanicle, Self-heal, Wintergreen, A. M.ii. An∣gelica, Betony, Sage, Bawm, Scordi∣um, Centory, Ladies-mantle, Herb∣trinity, Avens, Perwincle, Speedwel, Hops, A. M.i. Plantan, Buckhorn-Plantan, Borrage, Bugloss, Comfrey, Agrimony, Hypericon, Cinkfoil, Bramble-buds, Mint, young Oak leaves or buds, Woodbind-leaves, wild Daisies, Adders-tongue, Rose∣mary, red Beets, A. M.ss. Guaja∣cum and Sassafras rasped, Sarsa∣parilla bruised, A. ℥iv. Rhodium rasped, roots of Bistort, of Contra∣yerva, of Tormentil, of Valerian, A.℥ijss. Coriander-seed, Caraways, A. ℥ii. all being cut and bruised put them up into a Bag with a Stone in it; which put into six Gallons of well-brewed Ale, and one Gallon of Whitewine, with choice Honey lbiv. let all work together, and after two or three days, the Patient may drink of it as his ordinary Drink.

XLI. 13. Another Excellent Wound-Drink. ℞ Avens, Herb∣trinity, Ladies-mantle, Peri∣winkle, A. M. iv. bruise them, and cut them small, and boil them in Water, Wine, A. lbvi. 'till one third is consumed: strain out, and add good Spirit of Wine or Brandy lbii. white Sugar lbi. or enough to make it pleasant. Dose, ℥iv. Morning, Noon, and Night.

XLII. Now here is to be noted, that Andraeas à Cruce saith that these four, viz. Avens, Herb∣trinity, Ladies-mantle and Per∣winkle, are to be extolled and commended for this use: without doubt they are excellent things, but twice or thrice that number are to be had full as good, and which upon trial, you will find nothing inferior.

XLIII. Sennertus also says, that Herbs appropriated to the wounded Part, ought to be observed and chosen; as Betony, Roses, &c. for Wounds of the Head; Speed∣wel, &c. for Wounds of the Brest; Agrimony, &c. for Wounds of the Liver; Ceterach or Spleen∣wort, &c. for Wounds of the Spleen; Strawberry-leaves, &c. for Wounds of the Reins.

XLIV. And to the Examples here given, you may add, 1. Decoctum Traumaticum, 2. De∣coctum Vulnerarium, 3. Decoctum Cancri, 4. Decoctum Sudorificum, 5. Decoctum aperitivum majus, 6. Decoctum aperitivum minus, 7. Decoctum Vulnerarium Myn∣sichti: all which you may see in Our Pharmacopoeia Lon••inensis, lib. 4. cap. 14. sect. 5.8.11.20.26.28.30. also Our Deco∣ctum Traumaticum, and Barbett's Vinum Hydragogum, both which you may see in Our Doron Medi∣cum, lib. 2. cap. 14. sect. 4. & cap. 12. sect. 7. of the same Book.

XLV. Sennertus also has a specifick Traumatick-pouder, which for the excellency of it, we will give you here. ℞ Crabs-eyes levigated ℥jss. Nutmegs in fine pouder ℥i. mix them. Dose, ʒss, to ʒi. in white Port-wine. Or thus: ℞ Crabs-eyes levigated ℥ii. Ivory calcin'd white, Pearl, A.ʒvi. Coral ʒiii. all being in a fine or levigated pouder mix them. Dose, ʒi. at a time in Wine, or Wine mixt with Water.