An experimental treatise of surgerie in four parts : 1. The first part shewing the dangerous abuses committed among the modern surgeons, 2. Of cures of all sorts of wounds in mans body ..., 3. Of the symptomes of wounds ..., 4. Treating of all kinds of balmes, salves, plaisters, ointments, oyles, bloodstenchers, potions, tents, corrosives, &c. which are used for wounds ... / by that most famous and renowned surgeon, Felix Wurtz, citie surgeon at Basell ... ; exactly perused after the authors own manuscrip, by Rodolph Wurtz, surgeon at Strasburg ; faithfully the second time translated into Neather Dutch, out of the twenty eighth copy printed in the German tongue, and now also Englished and much corrected, by Abraham Lenertzon Fox, surgeon at Zaerdam ; whereunto is added a very necessary and useful piece, by the same author, called the Childrens book, treating of all things which are necessary to be known by all those, to whose trust and overlooking, little children are committed.

CHAP. XXII.

Of Wounds made by Gun-shot; of the abuses committed with the thorough pullings and Ointments: what a Surgeon ought to note here.

ANy shot that went thorough Mans body is held mortal, because the internal parts are spoiled and hurt by that heat; such Wounds are not easily cured: of these I intend not to treat, nor of such, where the shot hath carried all away, which things can neither be filled nor set on. We will speak here, how to quench such burnings, and how such in∣flammations are to be prevented, so that that burning cause no further mischief than the shot hath made, and then how Surgeons in such particulars are to regulate themselves.

The condition of one that is shot is this; some bullets stay in the Wound, or else go quite through; if gone quite through, then the cure is this, that the burning be quenched, because if that prevaileth, it causeth more hurt than the shot hath done.

But if the bullet staid in the Wound, then it must be taken out, but how that is done, is not well possible to set down

every particular; for shots are made several wayes, the one is not like the other, a whole book could be written of it; Experience must shew the way, how they are to be dealt withal; and so here you must go to school and learn.

The Antients indeed have used hereunto many strange Screws and Instruments, and were very careful herein. But these are either of no use, or of very little. For if the bul∣let cannot be laid hold on by the Instrument, how shall it be gotten out? The bullet will strive to get out at the Wound, if the Patient be laid downward with the Wound, or else by its sinking it will come to a place, where it may be cut out; if none of these can be, Experience must shew you another way.

Touching Wounds where the bullet went through; here I must shew the dangerous abuses which Surgeons commit; if they have a Patient that is shot through a Member, they take hempen threed, or some twisted hair, which rotteth less, and draw it through the Wound, let it hang out on both ends, they put their cooling Ointments to it before they draw it thorough; and when they come to dress the Patient again then they pull the threeds forth, and besmear it afresh with their cooling Ointment, and then they draw it through again, that part of the threed which staid in the Wound they make very clean, from that it gathered in the Wound; then they apply their Plaisters to the Wound, as they think they are fitting.

With these thorough-drawings (as they call it) they suppose to have done great good. Nay, some are of opini∣on, that this is the onely way to dress and heal Wounds made with shots.

But it is otherwise: For they do not effect so much with these thorough drwaings as they think, for the hurt weighed with the good, that is done thereby, it will be apparent, that more hurt is done than good, and ought to be omitted alto∣gether.

For such a cord or line drawn through the Wound must needs cause great pains, and that not onely at the first, but at the several dressings. This way were less dangerous, and

the less refuseable, if the shot had hurt no sinews and bloud veines; but this being very seldom, I hold, this scouring should be omitted. For it often fals out, when a bloud vein is hurt, and hath stencht her self, this thorough pulling cau∣seth in her a fresh bleeding, which bloud stayeth within and causeth no good. And in case a sinew be hurt-in that Wound, then this line must needs hurt the wounded sinew at the seve∣ral dressings, and stir it at this pulling or drawing, which doubtless is not done without causing of great pains, and thereby the worst simptoms are occasioned. For these and many other reasons, which I could alledge here, I hold this thorough-drawings to be a very dangerous abuse, and count the following way, which I made use of, far better, as being an easier and slighter way, causing less pains an•• dangers, in re∣spect of simptoms.

Object. It may be objected here, that such cords draw out the filth which the fire hath left in the Wound, and the Wound is throughly cleansed within?

It may do so; but in respect of other inconveniences, pains, dangers, whereby some Patients are quite spoiled, I hold it for nought. For Nature is her own best Physitian, and desires to be aided in these things, which are not contra∣ry unto her; and the matter, burnt flesh, bloud, &c. through Natures help separateth of its own accord, and Nature ought to be helped herein with convenient meanes, as you shall here hereafter.

Therefore the burning or fire being quenched, then there is no more need, but that Nature be assisted, and that be ex∣pelled, which the fire in the Wound hath spoiled, the which is easier and sooner done through the following Medicines, better than with all their thorough-drawings.

I must needs give a hint here of the cooling Ointments, which some Surgeons prepare, of Oyle and other shorty and greasie things: Though indeed they do no hurt, and in that respect I reject them not: But there is one thing in the way, at which I am offended, and must needs speak of. All fat things, be they what they will, grow hot suddenly and cool slowly. Must now such a cooling Ointment be ••ut and for∣ced

into the Wound, where the bullet sticks, either in the bone or in the flesh, whilst it is yet hot? Surely that Wound must needs be more inflamed thereby? Besides this will ensue also, when such Ointments are poured into the Wound, the Patient must endure the more smarting paines, especially when the bullet is still hot & warm in the Wound. Therefore I hold it to be better, to use means which cause less pains, for it is usual, that to pained places worse things are incident. But where there is no pain, there the Wound settleth the sooner unto rest.

As for the healing of such Wounds, I will tell you what I found to be good, not that there should not be other cures for them, but onely that the courteous Reader may see, that I and others have endeavoured to the utmost, that hurts and dangers might be prevented, and the good of all Patients promoted.

Notes

• Wounds made with shot.
• Bullets stay, or penetrate the Body.
• When a bul∣let stayes?
• Thorough-drawings do more hurt than good.
• Hurts done with the thorough-drawings.
• Abuses in the Coolers committed.