Case is, either the weakness of the Expulsive Faculty, or the crossing of the Muscles oblique and transverse, in those Parts.
XIV. Nor is it any wonder that Abscesses, vlcers, and Fistula's, often fall out in those places, for that they are the sink, as it were, of the Body, where almost all the impurities flow; so that a perfo∣ration of the Guts is sometimes caused, that the Excrements come out at the Orifice of the Fistula.
XV. And sometimee it so falls out, that the Fistula penetrates many ways, even to the corrup∣ting of the Vertebrae of the Spina, making the Patient very uneasie.
XVI. The Prognosticks. All Fistula's in these Parts, which pierce into the Cavity of the Abdo∣men, are Cured with much diffi∣culty; 1. Because the sink os the Body is as it were there, a continual flux of Matter is apt to ensue, either from the Liver, or some other Parts. 2. Be∣cause that if Incision or Corro∣sive Medicaments are used, the Fibres of the Muscles, and Branches of the Vena Cava, and Aorta, are in great danger to be hurt.
XVII. If the Guts are eroded, and the Excrements come out at the Orifice of the Fistula, there is great danger of Death, 1. Be∣cause Topicks can scarcely be applied to them to induce the Consolidation. 2. Because the Guts are membranous, thin, and have but little blood, which is the medium of Unition. 3. Be∣cause we can have but little assi∣stance, either from Hand, or Eye. 4. Because the Fistula is apt to creep between the Mus∣cles, (which in those places are many) viz. the oblique and transverse, which are placed one above another.
XVIII. If the Vertebrae of the Spine be corrupted, the Fistula is incurable: And you may easily know when it is foul by the great quantity of stinking Sanies flowing from the same: The Patient also grows daily weaker and weaker, whatever Means is used, and being wonderfully extenua∣ted, at length Dies of a Maras∣mus, or deep Consumption.
XIX. The Cure. If the Fi∣stula is not deep, but superficial, make Incision, and remove the Callus by the help of some Ca∣theretick Pouder, or by the ways and means which we have pre∣scribed in Cap. 20. Sect. 78. ad 103. and in Cap. 24. Sect. 26. ad 35.
XX. Then Absterge the Ʋlcer, Consolidate and Cicatrize, accord∣ing to the Prescriptions delivered in the general Method of Cure, ap∣plying proper Abstersives, Sarco∣ticks, and Epuloticks; all which in Ulcers of these Parts ought to exceed the ordinary Medica∣ments of these kinds, as to their desiccative or drying Qualities, by reason of the very great moi∣sture of these Parts.
XXI. If the Guts are perfora∣ted, you ought to acquaint the Friends and Relations of the Pa∣tient with the Danger; but in your own Brest not to Despair, but to proceed on with Courage, for that Nature does some things (even in this case) almost Mi∣raculous,