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 ...

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Title
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 ...
Author
Salmon, William, 1644-1713.
Publication
London : Printed for J. Dawks ... and sold by S. Sprint [and 6 others] ...,
M.DC.XCVIII [1698]
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Subject terms
Medicine -- 15th-18th centuries.
Link to this Item
http://name.umdl.umich.edu/A60561.0001.001
Cite this Item
"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 ..." In the digital collection Early English Books Online 2. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A60561.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed May 31, 2024.

Pages

II. Of a Fistula in the Joints.

XVIII. These are caused for the most part, either from a flux of Humors falling down from the Part, or from an Apostem, or from an vlcer ill managed, or ill cured; or from the Kings-Evil.

XIX. The Differences. Some are without Corruption of Bones and Cartilages, and some are with them: Some are without any Tu∣mor of the adjacent Parts, and some are with such a Swelling; so that the Swelling is either hard, or soft, in which some of the Tendons of the Muscles are very often corrupted, as in Fistula's of the Wrists and Ancles.

XX. In some of these Fistula's, the Joint remains firm and strong; in others it becomes loose and weak, by reason of the relaxa∣tion of the Membrane which covers it, and of the Ligaments which confirm and strengthen it.

XXI. The Prognosticks. If in a Fistula of the Instep or Wrist, there be large and hard Tumors in the Feet or Hands, it is said to be incurable; for that the Mem∣branes and Tendons of the Mus∣cies and Bones, are for the most part corrupted.

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XXII. In a Fistula of the Wrist, if the Bones of it, or of the back of the Hand, be carious, the Cure will be very bard to be performed, because these Bones are spongy, and so apt to receive superflu∣ous Humidities, and withal, are not easie to be scaled.

XXIII. But indeed there is not any Fistula of the Joints, tho' it is without Corruption of the Carti∣lages or Bones, easie to be Cured; partly by reason of the pain from the sensibleness of the Part; and partly by reason of the sharpness of those Medica∣ments, which must be applied to remove the Callus, which al∣ways increase that pain, and so are apt to induce Symptomati∣cal Fevers, loss' of Appetite, Watchings, Restlesness, Exte∣nuation or Wasting of the Body, and at last a Hectick and Ma∣rasmus.

XXIV. If one of these Fistula's in the great Joints, is accompa∣nied with an extenuation, or pi∣ning, or Hectick Fever, the Case is desperate; for drying things which ought to be exhibited in the Cure, do add infallibly to the Consumption.

XXV. And for the same Rea∣sons that a Fistula in the Wrist is bard to be Cured, is a Fistula in the Ankle or Instep yet harder; for besides the Cariosity of the Bones, and their sponginess, here is withal a greater danger of a flux of Humors, because it is a more depending Part.

XXVI. A Fistula in the Elbow or Knee, if it is with Corruption of either Cartilages or Bones, since they are very sensible Parts, there will be a very great pain, and a mighty difficulty in the Cure; and if ever it is performed, it will not be done, but through a great length of time.

XXVII. The Cure. Ʋniver∣sals, and a proper Diet, with Wound-drinks being prescribed, as is usual in other Fistula's, we will come immediately to the Topi∣cal Cure.

XXVIII. 1. By reason of the Pain, Anodyn Cataplasms, are to be applied to alleviate it: This of Fallopius is commended. Take Bran, Flowers of Camomil, Bar∣ley Meal, Oesipus, A. ℥iiss. Oils of Earthworms, of Camomil, and of Dill, A. ℥ii. Alicant Wine ℥iss. mix, and make a Cataplasm.

XXIX. 2. Toremove the Cal∣sus, we commend, Arcanum Co∣rallinum, red Precipitate, or un∣washed Turpethum-Minerale, as the most Excellent things, and the latter of them as the best: You may mix it (or the others) with fine Bole, or Terra Sigil∣lata, and Vitriol calcin'd, which Compositum may be applied in form of Troches, or mixed with Ʋng. Populeon, and so appli∣ed upon a Tent; it produces no vehement Pain, nor inflamma∣tion, or other vehement Symp∣tom.

XXX. But beware that you apply not Arsenick, or Corrosive Sublimate, to remove the Callosi∣ty; for they always cause vehement Pain, Symptomatick Fevers, and (if the Patient be of a Cacochy∣mick habit of Body) many times a Mortification of the Part: I once saw the application of the latter to a Fistula in the Instep,

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but it was with a great deal of Horror.

XXXI. 3. The Callus being, removed either by what is already said, or by Ung. Fuscum Wurtzii, boiled up to a Consistency, so as to be formed into Tents; you must mundifie, incarnate, and cica∣trize, as we have taught in the Cure of other Fistula's; but with this Observation, that here, all your Applications ought to be more desiceative, than in the Fistula's of other Parts.

XXXII. 4. If there is a Cario∣sity of the Bones, you must dress them with Tincture of Euphorbium, or with the Pouder of the same, it is safe, and without danger.

XXXIII. 5. If after some trial you perceive the Disease to be incurable, you must come to Am∣putation or Extirpation, be it Foot or Arm; and this must be, be∣fore the Patient grows too weak, or becomes unable to bear it: And this you may more safely do in a young Person, than in such as are aged, or decayed in their Strength; because in the former, the humidum Radicale is more easily restored by a good Diet, than in the latter.

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