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. Of Dressing of these Ulcers.

XLVI. First, lay over the whole compass of the cavity Emplastrum Album, and then inject with a proper Syringe, your Abstersive Medicament blood-warm; for for the cleansing the Sanies or Sordes, and making the Ulcer sweet.

XLVII. And if the Excrements or Impurities be ichorous and thin, you may put in this Ointment, which has an admirable and excellent virtue, in speedily cleansing the Ulcer. ℞ Juice of Smallage lbss. (which is a famous thing in cleansing of foul Ulcers) of the best Honey ℥iv. Barley-flower ℥ii. Turpentine ℥jss.

meal of Orobus ℥ss. choice Myrrh ʒii. mix, boil all together, and make an Ointment. Linnen rags may be dipt herein, and put in∣to the cavities of the Ulcer. It cleanses Ulcers excellently, with∣out any biting at all.

XLVIII. Then put into the Ori∣fice a Leaden Tent or Pipe; but let it be short, hollow, wider in the upper than in the lower part; and having broad lips turned out, that it may be kept from slipping in; and cover the Orifice and upper part of the Tent with Empl. Diapalm. cum Succis, or Empl. Album, or some such like, which let be snipt, to give way to the Matter which may flow out of the Ulcer.

XLIX. Above the Emplaster you may lay a piece of soft Spunge, moistned with the Decoction with which you dress the Ʋlcer, and wrung out, which will suck into it self the humidity, and keep the lips of the Orifice dry; and above the Spunge, you may lay a Pledget of fine Tow.

L. This done, Bolsters must be laid from the lower part of the cavity, or bottom of the Ʋlcer; over which a double soft linnen Cloth is to be put: and then you are to rowl it up, beginning the rowling at the bottom, where it must be somewhat streight, to press out the Pus or Matter, bring the Sides of the Ulcer to∣gether, and procure agglutina∣tion: but let not the Bandage be so hard as to be painful or trou••lesom, for that would dis∣temper the Part.

LI. As you draw near to the Orifice in rowling, it must be some∣what slack, that the Matter may have room easily to issue forth.

LII. You may dress it but every second or third day, unless much Sanies, Humidities and Impuri∣ties flow forth: and when you do come to the dressing of it, first, loose the Rowler, the turning of which is about the Orifice, and so take away the Spunge and Emplaster, that you may come to cleanse the Ulcer.

LIII. Then observe, whether Nature is yet intending to agglu∣tinate the parts; which you will easily know, by the Recrements issuing forth, their colour, con∣sistence, and smell: and by the Ulcer it self, whether it is with, or without Pain, or any re∣markable Tumor.

LIV. If the Matter is much, ill-colour'd, and stinking, and the Cavity is painful, and a manifest Tumor appears, you may be certain that there is no agglutination; then you must continue to dress the Ulcer in the following man∣ner, 'till a perfect Unition is accomplished, which you may know by the Signs.

LV. If the Pus or Matter is but little in the Orifice, there is no Pain selt, and the Cavity is equal without Tumor, then you may conclude that the Agglutination is induced; and now you must come to the use of Epuloticks.

LVI. If after some time of Dressing, a thin, gleeting Matter shall yet appear, especially when the Ulcer is in or near Parts nervous, tendinous, membranous, or glandulous, you are not to despair, but to continue the Dressings on, 'till the Tone of

the parts hurt are in some mea∣sure restored.

LVII. And as to the first Em∣plaster which is laid over the whole Cavity it self, it is so often to be renewed, as it is souled with the Quittor, or leaves off sticking to the part.

LVIII. You are also to dress the Ʋlcer as seldom as may be: for often dressing lets in the cold Air, which is prejudicial to Ulcers, and hinders their uni∣tion and healing.

LIX. And this is the manner of proceeding in these Sinuous Ʋlcers, if the Excrements have a way to flow from them: which will be, if the Orifice is in a depending Part, or lateral, the Cavity or Sinus being lateral also: for then, such a situation or posture may be ordered, as may farther the evacuation of the Excre∣ments.

LX. But if by reason of the situation and figure of the Cavi∣ty, the Ʋlcer cannot le dis∣charged of its filth, then no Abs∣tersion, Incarnation, or Agglu∣tination can be expected, till that hinderance is removed, which is only to be do••e either by Incision or Caustick.