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 ...

II. Wounds of the Ventricle, or Stomach it self.

IX. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Vulnera Ventriculi; Wounds of the Ventricle, or Stomach it self, have the differences with those of the Oesophagus; being either superficiary and small, or deep, and passing into the cavity of it: and they are either streight, or transverse; made by Incision, or laceration.

X. The Signs. That the Sto∣mach it self is wounded, you may know, 1. By the place of the Wound; as if it is under the Diaphragma, or below the Carti∣lago mucronata. 2. By the sub∣stance coming forth at the Wound; which is either pure Chylus, or Chylus mixed with the Food, unaltered, except by chewing.

XI. There is also, as Senner∣tus, Med. Pract. lib. 3. part. 1. sect. 1. cap. 26. says, A Hiccough, and Vomiting of Choler, also a Vomiting of Meat and Drink; the Appetite is hurt, nor can the Stomach contain, or rightly digest the Food.

XII. The Patient also spits Blood, and a Pain is perceived in the Stomach it self: and if the upper part of it is Wounded, the Sick may be afflicted with inflammation of the Part, a Fever, Delirium, Swooning, and many other ill Symptoms.

XIII. The Prognosticks. If the VVound is small and superfi∣ciary, it is easily cured; but Wounds which penetrate are ac∣counted mortal. Hippocrat. sect. 6.

aph. 18. Celsus, lib. 6. cap. 26. that is, they are very dangerous, and may prove mortal, or are mortal for the most part: so we understand Hippocrates.

XIV. A Wound penetrating the Ventricle, is not so dangerous, as that which penetrates or divides the Oesophagus: 1. Because the Ventricle is more fleshy, and so more apt to consolidation. 2. Because it is not so principal a Part, the Mouth of the Sto∣mach being the seat of the Appetite. 3. Because it is not of so exquisit a sense as the Mouth of the Stomach. 4. Be∣cause Traumaticks or Wound-Drinks, and other Agglutinative-Medicaments, can make a longer stay there.

XV. But Wounds penetrating are very hard to be consolidated: 1. Because it is of a Membranous substance. 2. Because we can∣not long live without the ser∣vice of its Functions. 3. Be∣cause Food, as Meat and Drink, keep open the lips of the Wound. 5. Because it is a sensible part, and so subject to ill Symptoms; as Pain, Afflux of Humors, Inflammation. 5. Be∣cause Topicks cannot be conve∣niently applied, to bring and keep the lips together. 6. Be∣cause Internal Medicaments pass forth again at the Wound.

XVI. Yet VVounds penetrating the Stomach are sometimes cu∣red, of which I am an Eye-witness; besides, we have several Autho∣rities for the same, as Julius Alexandrinus, in cap. lib. 6. The∣rapeut. Meth.Galeni; it a testatur similiter Christoph. à Vega, ad. aph. 18. lib. 6. Hippocrat. and Fallopius, de Capitis Vulneribus, cap. 1. tells us, that he cured a Man and a Woman, who were so wounded in the Stomach, that the Chylus came out thereat.

XVII. The Cure. In the first place we advise, that the Patient may eat and drink very sparingly: for the lips of the Wound will better agglutinate when the Stomach is somewhat empty, because it will be a little wrin∣cled together.

XVIII. If the Body is Caco∣chymick, yet Purges and Vomits are to be forborn; lest vitious Humors should be heaped upon the Part affected, but soluble Clysters may sometimes be given.

XIX. If the Wound penetrates not, the Cure is best to be commit∣ted to Nature: but if it pe∣netrates, Tents are not to be used; but you must apply Ano∣dyns and Digestives, which may be made of Turpentine, first mixt with the white of an Egg, and then with Oil of Hypericon: this eases Pain, produces Pus, and is glutinative: over all apply Empastr. è Bolo, or some such like.

XX. Sennertus commends this: ℞ White-wine ℥ii. Ma∣stich ℥ii. Oil of Fir, or soft Tur∣pentine ℥i. Manna of Frankincense ʒii. pouder of roots of Comfrey and Tormentil, A. ʒi. Earthworms in fine pouder ℈ii. Saffron ℈i. boil to the consumption of the Wine.

XXI. The Stomach outwardly may be embrocated with Oils of Mint, of Myrtles, of Quinces, of

Roses, and of Wormwood: and he may drink juices of Pom∣granates and Quinces; or a Decoction of Tormentil, Cink∣foil, Comfrey, Horstail, Mousear, and Periwinkle, sweetned with Syrup of Quinces.

XXII. And you may often give by the Mouth Syrup of Myrtles' de Rosis, or Syrup of Comfrey, mixt with a quarter-part of Catechu in fine pouder; which last is to be preserred in this case, before all other Medica∣ments whatsoever.