A treatise of wounds by Richard Wiseman.

Reader,

HAving spent betwixt Thirty and Forty years in a plentiful exer∣cise of my profession, and that in different Countries and Places, where I have been eye-witness of the variety of me∣thods in Chirurgery, I think it is no great vanity for me by this time, to pretend to something of experience in the Faculty: Which how difficultly it is attained, I not only can testifie by my own frequent misad∣ventures in this Imployment, but also do ap∣peal to all others that have undertaken the Art. Vita brevis, Ars longa, Experimen∣tum fallax, Judicium difficile, said the great Father both of Physick and Chirurgery, of which it is true, that the former hath more of uncertainty, because the diseases are hidden as well as their causes, and little of either lyeth open to the Eye: Yet ours also

meets with many great difficulties, and very dubious cases, such as will sometimes puzzle an old Chirurgeon, but a young one would be quite lost in, without the assistance of an ex∣pert Guide. This is the Reason why I think all men, that have arrived to any thing of Knowledge or Experience, are obliged by the general debt they owe to mankind, to leave behind them such Monuments of it as may be useful to posterity. Thus our Art at first grew, when Apollo's Temple at Delphos received in Tables the Histories of particular cures consecrated by the Votaries, and when Fathers bred up their Children in their own profession, faithfully delivering to them such Rules and Maxims, as their frequent ob∣servations had both suggested and confirmed: Insomuch that the Art became Hereditary, and propagated in families. And it is the opinion of some learned men, that the so much admired Volume, that goes under the name of Hippocrates, was the product of such a succession of Communications, there being no less than seven of that Race that were in their several generations eminent that way: The world is since grown bigger, and the Art it self much inlarg'd, by the great accession both of Diseases and Reme∣dies; insomuch that Medicine, which heretofore was the work of one man, is now

split into three parts, the Physician, Chi∣rurgeon, and Apothecary; each finding work enough for the whole man. Yet with all this encrease of Knowledge we do but en∣crease sorrow, and after whole Ages spent in Chirurgical and Medical Disquisitions, we find little advance towards the certainty of Cure, or the commanding of help in the necessities of nature: A great Reason of which I take to be the excess of Imployment, or (which is worse) disingenuity in great Practitioners, who have not often been free in communicating their Observations to the world, but have rather left that task to Se∣dentary men, who having Chairs in Ʋni∣versities, have more indulg'd themselves in the speculation of the Art, than in a diligent attendance to matter of fact; who having re∣duced the Art into method, have spoken ra∣ther pursuantly to their own Rules, than agreeably to our Experience: Hence it is thought, that from Galen's days, who first drew Physick into a strict Body, we have found little Augmentation of Knowledge, till some bold adventurers in these latter Ages have made some fortunate Essays at farther discoveries.

For my own part, I shall not pretend to new Inventions, only what I have, I do here

bring as my Mite to the Treasury of other mens Learning; affecting more the praise of fidelity and easiness of being understood, than of having enriched my Faculty with any far-fetcht or novel additions: Our Art is rich enough already in that kind, Nature having plentifully supplied us with a Mate∣ria Medica in every field; nor need we any other Instructions than in the use of that Store we find ready provided for us. In this such men as have spent their whole Time and Parts in a perpetual Practice, are the best Instructors, of which, whether I deserve to be reckoned for one, the ensuing Treatise must tell you: It being an Essay to a further work, which if this succeeds, may hereafter be offered to the use of the world. Why I have begun with a Treatise of Wounds, will easily be guessed by those who know me to have spent so much of my Time in Armies and Navies, in both which it was my chief business during my abode in that Imployment. I have observed many great Errors com∣mitted in dressings, very much to the dam∣age, and often to the destruction of the Pati∣ent; to which notwithstanding custome and frequency of example have given countenance. This very consideration did more excite me, when I once understood his Majesties design

of a Navy Royal, where many young Chirur∣geons being employed, and my Sickness of Body and my present relation to his Majesty render'd me not so fit for attendance there, as both my Genius and my desire of serving his Majesty makes me inclinable; I thought it my duty to assist, at least with such di∣rections as my Pen will afford, faithfully de∣livering those methods of Cures, which I my self have practised with success, and by giving early notice of such Errors as have been observ∣ed by me, either in my own, or other mens practice, arming them as well as I could a∣gainst all misfortunes in the Faculty. I have therefore chosen the method that seemed to me the most easie and facil, and most accom∣modated to practice, still confirming Rules by Examples, and thereby illustrating what ever might else seem obscure. Not that I was ignorant how hard a task I have undertaken to speak of things of this nature, whilst so many both Chirurgeons and Patients who are therein concerned, are yet alive; which is the reason why in some difficult cases, I have chosen to give so few Instances, as making use only of such as I was either concerned in my self alone, or such as might give least offence to others, which I have avoided as carefully as I could: For which cause I have made choice of such ob∣servations

as may be rather for the Readers instruction than my own credit, mix∣ing as well my unprosperous attempts as my succesful administrations.

The Lecture of Fractures was first written and read in the Chirurgeons and Barbers-Hall, and had been pursued by the rest, had not the Fire prevented us, and that occasion given a stop to a laudable custome. The Treatise of Gun-shot was afterwards com∣piled, and that of Simple wounds last, one thing begetting another, but when they were done, I put them into that order which did seem most agreeable to the design I now have in publishing them. I mention this here, that if any thing happen to be preposterous in the several Treatises, your charity may be fur∣nished with an excuse for it.

It is true, that this discourse (the former part of that of Simple wounds excepted) were done long since for the use already men∣tioned, though since pollish't and fill'd up; Several other little things, as of Tumors, Fistula's, and Lues venerea (all which ly rough cast) and may come to light, if the success of this small Tract encourage me: I have taken pains in one part of Tumors, which my relation to his Majesties service hath engaged me, viz. the Kings-Evil; of

which I wonder so little hath been written by the Chirurgeons of the English and French Courts, both which Kings do so publickly exercise themselves in the Cure of it: And though so many thousands of people pass through the hands of the Chirurgeons to be judg'd of, and presented to their Princes, yet excepting that of Laurentius, and an imperfect piece or two of our Countrey-men, there is nothing appeares in print concerning it. I therefore thought it worth my pains to write what I have observed in that disease, hoping withal to give so much credit to our Society in this Nation, as to let the world know, we do not all spend our time in talking in Coffee-houses, and drolling over the Accidents that befal one another in our pro∣fession; but that some of us at least make it our business to Improve our Faculty and to give Strangers, pretenders to great things in Chirurgery, that come over to us (and are so Wellcome to our Gentry, only upon the ac∣count of their being Strangers) occasion of understanding, that they may whilst they are here, traffick for Skill as well as money, and carry that back with them, which may give the world some opinion of the Knowledge and Experience of our English Artists, as well as of the liberality of their Patients.