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. XLVI. Of WOƲNDS of the WOMB.

I. THEY are called in Greek, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. in Latin, Vulnera Matricis, vel Uteri; and in English, Wounds of the Womb.

II. The Womb is an Organical Part, placed in the Abdomen of a Woman, between the Bladder and the Intestinum rectum, which is behind it: it is divided into three parts, viz. the Bottom, the Neck, and the Sheath: it has two broad Ligaments, and two round: it is also of a nervous and fibrous substance, and is of different thicknesses, according to the difference of Age, and Time of going with

Child. At the bottom within, there is a cavity whence the Courses flow, and wherein Generation and Conception are also made.

III. If it is made by the Caesarian Birth, it is manifest; but if it is otherwise wounded by chance, it is evident from the site, or place wounded, and a pain which is felt in the Womb.

IV. There also distils forth from Neck, or inner Mouth of the Womb, a kind of Blood and Sanies: and if the Wound is in the neck of the Womb, the pain is sometimes greater, than if it were in the bottom of the Womb.

V. The Prognosticks. Wounds of the VVomb are not impossible to be cured; as the Caesarian-Birth does demonstrate.

VI. Yet notwithstanding they are not void of danger, but are of very dissicult cure; as the many great Symptoms to which they are subject, do shew.

VII. For which, these Reasons are rendred: 1. Because it is membranous, and if the Woman is great with Child, thin of substance. 2. Because it has a great consent with the princi∣pal Parts of the Body. 3. Be∣cause it is as it were the Sink of the Body, to receive its impu∣rities; for which cause, these Wounds many times become cancerous. 4. Because it has an exquisit sense of feeling; whence Pain, and Inflammation may ensue. 5. Because it is a place perpetually moist.

VIII. Wounds in the neck of the VVomb, are more difficult to be cured than those in the bottom of it; because it is more mem∣branous, and perpetually be∣dewed with humidities.

IX. The Cure. It is cured as wounds of the Bladder and other parts are cured: and by reason of its very great moisture, it requires greater Consolidants: the Pain also, if it is great, is to be mitigated.

X. Those Medicaments are most commodious to be applied to it, which are put up the Privity as a Pessary, or injected by a Womb-Syringe.

XI. Pessaries are made of Wax and Lint, or some proper Em∣plaster, which may be anointed with some Vulnerary Ointment, such as these following.

XII. Take Wax, Turpentine, Oil of Hypericon, yellow Palm-oil, A. ℥i. Oil of Roses, Honey, A. ℥ii. Beef Marrow or Suet ℥iv. mix, and make an Ointment. Or: Take Wax, yellow Palm-oil, A. ℥i. Oil of Ben, Beef-suet A. ʒvi. Bears-oil ℥ss. Oil of Roses q.s. mix them.

XIII. Or: Take Frankincense, Balsam Capivii, Galbanum, Gum Elemi strained, Olibanum, A. ℥i. Balsam de Chili, de Peru, A. ℥ss. mix them. Or: Take Turpen∣tine, Balsam of Peru, A.℥i. VVax, Oil of Ben, A. ℥ss. Pompholix, Tutty, Ceruss, A. ʒvj. the three last being levigated, mix with the other things melted, and make an Ointment.

XIV. Injections, or Ʋterine-Clysters, are made of a De∣coction of roots of round Birth∣wort, Cyperus, Catechu, &c. in Chalybeat-water, or rough

Red-wine; adding also Agri∣mony, Angelica, Sanicle, Self∣heal, Mugwort, Plantan, Speed∣wel, Red-roses, and other Vul∣raries, and sweetning it with Honey of Roses, &c.