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. XL. Of an ƲLCER of the THIGHS, LEGS, or FEET.

I. WHAT the Greeks call, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, vel, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. and the Latins, Ʋlcus Femoris; Ʋlcus Cruris vel Tibiae; and Ʋlcus Pe∣dis; we in English call, an Ʋl∣cer of the Thighs; or of the Legs or Shins; or of the Feet.

II. The Causes. They may proceed from the same Causes which Ʋlcers in the Arms, Hands, or other places, may proceed from: Sometimes they may proceed from the Itch, or a great flux of Humors, because they are de∣pending Parts; as also from long and daily standing, in Bo∣dies Cacochymick, where the Patient is of such a Profession, as requires standing for the most part of the time they are exer∣cising it.

III. The Prognosticks. Ʋl∣cers in these Parts are more diffi∣cult to Cure than in the Hands, Arms, or other upper Parts; be∣cause they are depending Parts, and therefore the Humors of the Body are more apt, and more easily flow to them than to other Parts.

IV. If they are recent and be∣nign, without evil Symptoms, they are easie of Cure; but if they are inveterate, malign, or accom∣panied with evil Symptoms, chiefly in Bodies Cacochymick, Scorbutick, Strumatick or Poc∣ky, they will be Cured with much difficulty.

V. And those in the Ankles, Insteps, and Feet, are more diffi∣cult to be Cured, than those in the Legs or Thighs; because of their being repleat with Vessels, Nerves, Tendons, and Bones grisly, or porous, more than the other Parts.

VI. The Cure. In order to the Cure, such Internal Medica∣ments as are of general tendency, are to be exhibited here, as we have formerly prescribed in simple Ʋlcers, as also in such as are sor∣did, malign, carious, or fistulous, or accompanied with other Symp∣toms; as you see the Nature of the Ulcer shall require, both as to make proper Evacuations by Vomit and Stool; as also for Traumatick and Drying Diet∣drinks, for the healing of the Ulcer.

VII. But in the Cure of the Ʋl∣cers in these Parts, besides the Topical application of Digestives, Abstersives, Incarnatives and E∣puloticks, there ought to be some∣thing more; the Thigh, or Leg is to be rowled from the Foot upwards; and in many Cases a laced Stocking is of extraordi∣nary Service.

VIII. And the Body ought to be well purged twice a week, which

is often to be iterated, but yet al∣ways with this caution, not to over-do it, but as you find the Body can bear it: For as the conti∣nuation of the Ulcer may con∣sume the Juices of the Body, and produce a Tabes, or Con∣sumption, which is often seen; so also too much Purging may help to induce a Tabisick habit of Body, to the Fatal Damage of the Sick.

IX. And for change of the Course of Physick, (which is also very ne∣cessary) Sweating ought to be in∣stituted, and to be alternately used, if the Body is strong, and able to bear it, which may be promoted by giving inwardly sudorifick Volatile Salts, and other things of like Nature; for that these Operations very much conduce to the drying up of the Ulcer, and wasting of those Humidi∣ties, which otherwise might be apt to fall down, and hinder the healing of the Ulcer.

X. If the Ʋlcer is crude and undigested, Maturatives and Sup∣puratives are to be applied for some time; then you may cleanse with Ʋng. Nicotianae of Our Pre∣scription, or with Apostolorum, or Ʋnguentum Fuscum Wurtzii, which last, (and indeed all of them do in some measure) not only cleanse but incarnate with∣al, not suffering any proud Flesh or ill Symptom to follow.

XI. You may incarnate with Li∣nimentum Arcaei, if it is in the Leg or Thigh, or with that Lini∣ment mixed with a little white or red Precipitate; after which you may skin with Ʋnguentum Dia∣pompholigos, simple or mixt with burnt Alum, or which is better, with Ʋng. Mirabile, or some Styptick Water, Our Aqua Regu∣lata, or Water of the Griffin, which consummates the Cure to all Intentions.