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. XXXIII. Of an ƲLCER of the WOMB, and its NECK.

I. WHat the Greeks call 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, & 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. and the La∣tins, Ʋlcus Matricis, we in Eng∣lish call, an Ʋlcer of the Womb.

II. And what the Greeks call 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. and the Latins, Ʋlcus Vulvae, vel Colli Matricis, we in English call, an Ʋlcer of the Neck of the Womb.

I. Of an Ʋlcer of the Womb.

III. The Causes. It is either caused from a flux of Humors to the Womb, an Apostem of the Womb, being broken; or from the Pox, where, in Coition, the Pocky Seed is cast into the Womb, and ulcerates it.

IV. Or it may be caused from External Violence, or too sharp and corrosive Medicines injected into the Womb, or taken at the Mouth.

V. The Sighs. It is known by the pain and pricking which is felt in the Part, as also by voiding of Sanies, Pus, or filthy stink∣ing Excrements, or a virulent Gonorrhaea, an impure Coition go∣ing before.

VI. The Differences. It is either, 1. Simple, wherein the Matter is little, white, and not stinking. 2. Or Malign, where∣in the Matter will be greenish, yellowish, livid, and party-co∣loured, coming away with Pain and Stink. 3. Or Venereal, at∣tended with other Symptoms of the Pox. 4. Or Cancerous, at∣tended with a great Tumor, Hardness, continual Pain, and either a bloody, or black stink∣ing Running.

VII. The Prognosticks. All Ʋlcers of the Womb are Cured with some difficulty; nor, accor∣ding to Hippocrates, is any Ul∣cer of that Part to be Highted, because the Womb is a Part very sensible, and as it were the Sink of the Body, to which a Flood of Excrements perpetually flow.

VIII. If it proceeds from a Ve∣nereal Cause, it is not to be per∣fectly Cured, but by the Me∣thods which are taken for the Cure of that Disease.

IX. If it is Phagedenick, or Cancerous, it is for the most part incurable, and vexes the Sick all her Life long.

X. Also, most Ʋlcers of the Womb, if they be carelesly hand∣led, produce grievous Symp∣toms, and sometimes a Gan∣grene.

II. Of an Ʋlcer of the Neck of the Womb.

XI. The Causes. It is caused either from a flux of sharp Humors, or from Pustules breaking out; or from impure Coition, the Pocky Venom of the Man hanging or sticking to the Part, and ero∣ding the Cutis: Or from over∣heating the Part, from too vio∣lent and insatiable Coition: Or lastly, from corrosive and eating Medicaments unskilfully applied.

XII. The Signs. It is known by sight; the Ʋlcer abounding with Matter sanious or purulent, and sometimes bloody: There is a Running, with great pain and pricking, both within, and up∣on the Lips of the Privity.

XIII. Sometimes the Ʋlter is with Tumor or Swelling, and some∣times it eats caveous holes, big enough to lay a long Nutmeg in: And it is for the most part ac∣companied with a heat and scalding of Uring, and a great pain, and sometimes a stoppage in making Water, the Bladder for the most part being drawn into Consent.

XIV. The Differences. Some are benign and gentle, yielding lit∣tle Matter, thick, and not stink∣ing: Others are sordid and ma∣lign, yielding much Matter, ill coloured, and with pain.

XV. Some also are superficial, yielding but little Matter; others are profound, abounding with much filth, and stinking: Some

are with Tumor or Swelling, o∣thers without.

XVI. The Prognosticks. These are more easily Cured than Ʋlcers of the Womb, because we can come more easily to apply Medicines to them; and the benign and mild are more easily Cured than those which are putrid and malign.

XVII. If they proceed from the Pox, or impure Coition, they are Cured with some difficulty; and in this Case, it will be prudent for the Patient to go thro' the Course of that Cure, especially if they be inveterate.

XVIII. If they proceed from Condylomata, which have been of long standing, or often returning, they will be of difficult Cure; and when Cured, will be in great hazard of breaking out again, unless a preventive Course be used for some time.

XIX. If they be with a viru∣lent Gonorrhaea, or an evil-con∣ditioned flux of the Whites, being corrosive, it will be impossible that they should be Cured, un∣less those Diseases be first taken away. See the Third Edition of Our Synopsis Medicinae, lib. 5. cap. 75, and 89.

III. The Method of Curing these Ʋlcers of the Womb, and of its Neck.

XX. Since they are so nearly related one to another, both in re∣spect to the Parts they affect, and the Causes they proceed from, we shall give you but one singular and direct way of Curing them. Now because these Ulcers are many times crude, undigested, and full of pain, they are first of al to be drest with Digestives, that they may be made easie, and brought to a good kind of Mat∣ter.

XXI. For the Womb you may make this Digestive Injecti∣on. ℞ Turpentine ℥ss. yolk of one large Egg, grinde them toge∣ther till they are well mixed, then add to them new Milk warm from the Cow lbi mix, and make an Injection, which with a Womb-Syringe cast or inject into the Womb, 3, 4, or 6 time a day: Before you Syringe with the In∣jection, be sure that you put in first a Syringe full or two of warm Water.

XXII. But to the Ʋlcer in the Neck of the Womb, you may ap∣ply this. ℞ Turpentine ℥ss. yolk of one Egg, grinde them toge∣ther, then add thereto Olibanum in pouder ʒii. mix them. Warm it, and anoint the Ulcer there∣with with a Feather or a Pencil, and apply a Pledget dipt in the same upon the Ulcer, dressing it twice a day.

XXIII. These things are to be continued so long, till the Patient has some ease, and the Ulcer yields a laudable or good Mat∣ter.

XXIV. Mean season while this is doing, the Antecedent Cause is to be removed by proper Emeticks and Catharticks: You may make Revulsion with a Dose or two of Tartar Emetick, or with Wine or Vinegar of Squills, or Infusion of Crocus Metallorum.

XXV. And you may Purge with an Infusion of Sena and Rhubarb in Wine and Water ana: Or with

Our Tinctura Purgans, or Pulvis Cornachini, or Pulvis Catharticus, or some other Medicament pro∣per to the Constitution of the Body.

XXVI. And by reason of the moistness of the Parts, and their aptness to receive a flux of Humors, and the humid nature of Ʋlcers, it will be necessary that a drying Diet-drink be prepared and ta∣ken daily for some time, made of Guajacum, &c. as we have directed, Cap. 31. Sect. 16, and 66. and in several other places.

XXVII. The Ʋlcer being di∣gested, you must cleanse it with Abstersives, such as this. Take Hydromel ℥x. Honey ℥iii. mix them. Or, ℞ Turpentine, Ho∣ney, A. ℥ss. yolk of one Egg, grind them together, and then add to them Hydromel, or white Port∣wine lbi. mix, and make an In∣jection.

XXVIII. ℞ Juice of Smallage and Pellitory of the Wall, A. ℥vi. Honey of Roses ℥iv. White-wine ℥ii. mix them for an Injection. If the Ulcer is foul and putrid, dissolve in the Liquor Ʋng. Aegy∣ptiacum ℥ss.

XXIX. But to Ʋlcers in the Neck of the Womb, besides the In∣jection, you may anoint with Ʋnguentum Nicotianae, or Ʋng. fuscum Wurtzii: Or apply this following Liniment of Barbett. ℞ Mercurius dulcis levigated ʒiv. Orrice-roots, Litharge of Gold, Flowers of Sulphur, Ʋng. Fuscum Wurtzii, A. ʒii. Honey of Roses q.s. mix, and make a Liniment.

XXX. Or you may inject with this. ℞ Damask Rose-water lbii. Powers of Mercury ℥iss. mix them; it cleanses pow∣erfully and safely.

XXXI. The Ulcer being cleansed you may heal with this. ℞ Rose-water lbi. red Wine lbss. Roch Alum in fine pouder ʒiii. white Vitriol ʒiss. Saccharum Saturni ʒi. mix, and inject warm.

XXXII. Or you may inject with Our Aqua Regulata, or with Aqua Ophthalmica, or with the Water of the Griffin, which is beaten, and not inferior to any other Wash.

XXXIII. And the Vulva, or Neck of the Womb, may be anoin∣ted with this Ointment. Take Ʋng. Nicotiang, Diapomp holigo, & Populeon, A. ℥i. Mercurius dulcis levigated ℥ss. Cinnabar le∣vigated ʒi. mix, and apply it.

XXXIV. If these things do not so perfectly as they should do, you must fume the Womb with these Troches: ℞ Gum of Juniper ℥i. Mastich, Myrrh, Olibanum, Ain∣ber, A. ʒii. Cinnabar levigated ʒiv. make all into fine pouder; and with Mucilage of Gum Tra∣gacanth make Troches, weighing each ʒi. One or two of these Troches will be enough for a fuming.

XXXV. The Fume may be re∣ceived up into the Privity, by help of a Funnel; and it may be re∣peated once every day, till Health is recovered: But in case of the French Disease, it may be used sometimes twice a day.