Oleaginous Volatile Salt xxv drops Make a Mixture Using this Lavament for one day and finding little benefit by the use thereof I scarrified the parts affected and washed them with Unguentum Egyptiacum mixt with Spirit of Wine I did not at all fear any damage to accrew from the Vinegar which is put into this Unguent because in the boiling that is all evaporated Also I anointed the exteriour Circumferences of the affected parts with Oyl of Tyles called Oyl of Philosophers Lastly I applied a Cataplasm of Rue Wormwood Dittany of Crete Root of Galangal and Calamus Aromaticus Flower of Lupines Metheglin and other things temperating Acidity By use of these aforesaid Remedies good Pus began to be generated which by its gently cutting Particles brake in sunder the remaining intermediate Fibres which as yet had retained the dead and living flesh together and by this means the parts affected with the Gangrene were separated Seeing this I applied Common Turpentine mixt with Basilicon and the White of an Egg by which all the viscous Particles were removed which were otherwise wont to obstruct the Pores of the Arteries and cavities of the Veins By this means several Particles came forth from the Arteries and adhered to the Ulcers by reason of the similitude of their Superficies and soon after all the Ulcers were discerned to be filled with flesh then I applied dry Lint scraped and in a short time induced an Eschar by that onely For that imbibed all the Pus which otherwise would have corroded and wholly closed the Orifices of those tender Vessels Thus our Patient was compleatly restored to her pristine sanity Octob. 21. OBSERVAT. IV. Of a Sphacelus of the Foot A Man of Seventy years of age that had all his life-time devoted himself to Wine and Venery and by frequent intervals was afflicted with a Spasmus of his right Leg in the year 1681 February 22 was invaded with a small Fever not vehement On the 26th day of February his prostrated appetite seemed to return wherefore on that day he twice eat a great quantity of very sowre Butter-milk and the same day about nine at night he began to complain of a very great pain of his right Foot and soon after of a Stupor and great coldness of the same and the same Dolour Stupor and Algor in two hours space ascended above the Knee The 28th of February I was called and by Scarification found that the Sphacelus had ascended an hands breadth above the Knee for so far was present that extream Cold and Rottenness and in Scarification no sign of Dolour appeared nor did any Bloud issue out except a very little very black and coagulated breaking out in one part or other Very attentively considering all these things I concluded that the abuse of Wine and Venery had rendred the Bloud of this Man its more subtile and more volatile part being absumed too viscous and acid and when certain acid and viscous Particles of this Bloud were by Circulation come to the right Foot perhaps they there stagnized and afterward pertinaceously adhered and by their stay there acquired greater sharpness These Particles inferred no Dolour so long as they remained unmoved but when by intervals they were forced from their residence by the Humours circulating and by them excited to motion then they became the cause of the Spasmus of the right Leg irritating and cutting the small Fibres of those parts and so gave occasion to a greater afflux of the animal Spirits But the continued excess of Wine and Venery had left scarce any thing in the Bloud of this man except a Caput-mort as I may call it that is nothing besides Bloud very viscous and acid which could no longer duly exercise its proper effervescency in the Heart nor circulate through the parts yet this Bloud when it had by a small Fever received greater motion and was rarified more than usual did sufficiently open the Pores of the Arteries so that many acid and viscous Particles issued out and stayed without and this hapned rather in the right Foot than elsewhere because there resided the acid and viscous Ferment which caused the Acidity and Viscosity contained in the Bloud to draw nigh to it self in such a way as we explained in the Second Observation and perhaps a great cause was that abundance of acid Butter-milk eaten because this happened the 27th day of February rather than at any other time Those acid and viscous Particles that passed out from the Pores of the Arteries on the 27th of February setled in the Veins of the right Foot and conjoyned themselves with the acid Ferment therein contained and there by the acuteness of their sides impressed on the small Fibres a very vehement motion and so produced that Dolour but the small Fibres being not long able to sustain that violence were soon after wholly cut in sunder and by that means the sense of pain notwithstanding the Scarification then made was totally annihilated and the broken Fibres infolding themselves each within the other had so obstructed the veiny passages of the right Foot that the Bloud and Animal Spirits could not enter this was occasioned by the coagulation of Humours in the Foot produced by the aforesaid Acidity Hence I discerned the Original of the Sphacelus of his right Foot also that it must needs take beginning from Acidity is confirmed by that black and coagulated Bloud which in scarifying had its Exit For every man knows that the Bloud waxeth black and is coagulated by Acidity This Sphacelus had by this time transcended the Knee and soon after a little above the part affected the Patient felt an intolerable pain I considering with my self the fore-passed dessolute Life of the Sick-man his Age his Leg above the Knee infected with this Sphacelus and his whole Mass of Bloud grievously tainted and moreover calling to mind that I never knew any Old men infected with this Disease to escape did boldly predict the inevitable death of the Patient yet in the mean while I promised I would mitigate the dolour as much as I could and if possible prevent the further ascent of the evil In order hereunto I commanded the Patient should every two hours take two spoonfuls of a mixture tempering Acidity consisting of Borrage and Bugloss-water Treacle-water Sugar-perlate Crabs-Eyes Coral Mineral Bezcardic and other things infringing Acidity and attenuating Viscosity Also I caused a Decoction to be made consisting of Water Wine Roots of Calamus Aromaticus and Enula Campane with Rue Dittany of Crete Wormwood Flower of Lupines c. which I applied hot with a double Cloath by which Application some ease of pain was induced For the Acidity inducing dolour by its accuteness was thereby rendred more temperate Therefore when the Cloath was dry I again moistned it in the same Liquor and this reiterated Application I continued for several days Now when the 7th day of March was come I saw that Down or Mossy Lanugo which
I have often observed in fat Boys a Vein presently after the usual Ligature to be sufficiently tumid and manifest but if not quickly opened hath soon disappeared viz. when the Bloud pressed downwards the subjected and readily-yielding Fatness that so notwithstanding the Ligature it might again freely pass through the Vein After the cutting of a Vein when the Vein seemed sufficiently closed I have often beheld the Bloud issuing out thence with great violence and indeed from no other cause than that the Chyrurgeons first applied their Ligature and Lint compressing and afterward inbowed the Arm For by this means the Lips of the Orifice which before in the extension of the Arm were conjoyned again separated each from other when the Arm was inbowed Oftentimes a certain Lividness is found left after the cutting of a Vein the cause of which is too frequently the evil use of Vinegar in which is imbibed the Lint compressing which is put upon the Aperture of the Vein whereas it is indeed sufficiently manifest that the Bloud is coagulated by Acidity and acquires a Livid and black colour Before I put an end to this Observation I think fit to add the counsel of Peter Pigraeus that we may thence if possible reap some further benefit That very famous and most dexterous Chyrurgeon commands that after the cutting of a Vein the Aperture should be anointed with Oyl if it be intended again to extract Bloud the same day from the same Orifice without a new made Aperture But if Oyl can though for a short time applied hinder the closure of the Orifice of a Vein cut how evilly do they act who use Oyl in the cure of Wounds and for no other reason than because they have seen the same thing done by their Masters As for Example Oyl of Saint-Johns-Wort For if Saint-Johns-Wort profits Wounds by reason of its Volatile Salt temperating Acidity why do they not rather extract the Tincture of Saint-Johns-Wort by Spirit of Wine into which it much more easily and more copiously transfers its Volatile Salt than into Oyl which hurts Wounds because that obstructing the Pores and Passages stops the Circulation of the Bloud and Humors whereas that Circulation should rather be excited to which excitation Spirit of Wine is not a little available For it egregiously temperates Acidity which usually coagulates the Bloud and Humors in Wounds and renders them unfit for Circulation But least I should be found too prolix in this matter I here put an end to this Observation OBSERVAT. V. Of the Cracking of a Tendon A Woman aged Forty three years after greater Labour than usual in her right Hand suffered an impotency to motion with Tumor and Dolour and when the Tendon sited in the Hand was pressed with the Finger it gave a sound This is an Affect which often occurs in the Practice of Chyrurgy though it hath hitherto been treated of by no man that I have heard of therefore I shall call it Crepitus Tendinis or the Cracking of a Tendon By this Woman's unaccustomed Labour the Fibrils of the Tendon were so distorted that the Humors impeded in their Circulation there subsisted and were coagulated whence the Impotency of Motion Tumor Dolour and Cracking of the Tendon were most readily induced I feared that the Humors stagnizing in the Tendon would be daily more and more coagulated and thence that Tumor take beginning which is known to many by the name of a Ganglion Yea I suspected that certain Particles of the subsisting Humors would be received within the Pores of the Fibrils compounding the Tendon and obstruct them so as in the Third Observation of this Decade we shewed to be apt to render them too propense to induce both Contracture and rigidness of the Tendon Wherefore judging it high time to set about the Cure I ordered Spirit of Wine to be enkindled in such wise that the Vapour arising thence might surround the hand affected and this being done commanded a Plaister of Frogs with Mercury to be applied By this means the coagulated Humors were dissolved the Obstructions removed and the Patient in a few days restored to her pristine state of health OBSERVAT. VI. Of an Haemorrhagia from a Varicous Vlcer of the Tibia IN the right Tibia of a Woman aged Forty years from an Internal cause an Ulcer was formed upon a sufficiently large Varix which yielded to no Remedies This Evil was also attended with a Tumor and a large Erysipelas very troublesome which in like manner could not be removed by any Medicaments After a few days the Varix was unexpectedly opened by the Acido-corrosive Humor there inherent from which issued out at least lib. ij of black and as the standers by affirmed very stinking Bloud I ordered that Placentula in a form somewhat hard composed of Medicaments temperating Acidity which I commended in the Sixth Observation of the First Decade to be applied by the Chyrurgeon and so not onely closed up the Varix but also temperated that Acidity inherent in the Ulcer which otherwise by its corrosion would easily again have opened the Varix and besides have much impeded the cure of the Ulcer It was wonderful to see that after the Varix unexpectedly opened had cast out so great abundance of Bloud the Erysipelas and other Symptomes soon vanished and the Ulcer daily shewed it self in a state more and more meliorated so that within the space of three Weeks by the onely help of the aforesaid Placentula it wholly closed I now intend not here to treat of the Original and Cure of the Varix Ulcer and Erysipelas having accurately enough discoursed of that in the Sixth Observation of the First Decade because a dish of Crambe twice cocted was always deadly to me if to any other man But my intention here is to confirm what I have spoken by Experience and hath been before by me treated of in the said Sixth Observation of the First Decade viz. to shew that undoubtedly the Erysipelas and Ulcer derived their Original from Acidity and likewise how opportunely I instituted the Section of the Varix in that varicous Ulcer of the Tibia But from the Example before-alleadged these Conclusions may easily be drawn for neither the Erysipelas nor the Ulcer would give place to any Remedies so long as that Varix was replete with so great abundance of black and undoubtedly by its long delay acid Bloud which no sooner issued out but the Erysipelas vanished and the Ulcer closed in a short time after OBSERVAT. VII Of a vast Contusion of the Arm. A Matron aged Fifty six years after a Fall from on high complained of an unaptness to motion and very great dolour of her left Arm which appeared very much swoln although of the same colour with the sound skin I perceived by the Pulse a more than usual swiftness of motion in the Bloud viz. by reason of the Terrour which the Patient had conceived by the Fall After we had very acurately inquired into the
must needs be livid and very painful But what may hence be inferred Can cold Water profit in a Contusion It seems more likely to do hurt because it incrassates coagulates and stagnizeth the extravasate Bloud Would not Spirit of Wine and other Medicaments that increase the motion of the Bloud be more convenient in this case That you may the more clearly conceive the solution of this difficulty it is behooful to know that in the parts hurt by the Ball so forcibly driven certain very small sanguiferous Vessels were opened which had they before the Water was applied poured out the Bloud into the small passages of the Parts hurt then the cold Water would have done hurt but this cold Water was applied before the Bloud issued out and so not onely by its coldness again closed these very small Vessels but also was the cause that no new Bloud could for a certain space of time enter the same Vessels So we see our Face to be red for no other reason than because through the Cutis of the same very many small Vessels full of Bloud lie dispersed and discern the same to wax pale by the coldness of Water Air and other things because such coldness for a time prohibits the Bloud from entring these very small Vessels of the Face So we see the pleasant redness of the Lips in a beautiful Virgin augmented by the kiss of a young man to be changed into a pallid colour by Acidity restraining the Bloud from entring the small Vessels distributed throughout the Superficies of the Lips But whosoever he be that will attempt such a way of Cure as this here mentioned after the small passages of the parts contused shall be replete with extravasate Bloud seems to me to be not well in his wits for I have not seldom known a Gangrene to arise in a part contused from the unseasonable application of cold and astringent things OBSERVAT. IX Of an hard Tumor of the Abdomen A Girl Five years of Age accustomed to evil Diet was for a long time afflicted with a very great Tumor and hardness of her Abdomen and her face was very pale The following Liniment had before been in vain used â„ž Vnguent Altheae comp Oyl of white Lillies of eachÊ’ss Of TilesÊ’j Mix these Which notwithstanding in a like case is not a little commended by the famous Sylvius in the first Book of his Praxis Chap. 14. under the Title 56. Well considering the matter I judged the Bloud of this sick child to be very viscous and acid and by reason of this that many Glandules of the Omentum were obstructed and augmented to a strange bulk But which way Paleness of the Face is induced by such Bloud I suppose to be known to every man therefore needs not be here explained Perhaps some one will wonder and not believe it possible that the Glandules of the Omentum should increase to so great a Magnitude as to become the cause of so great and hard a Tumor as was in the Abdomen of this Child perceptible by the touch but I would have him peruse Fabritius Hildanus who in the 62 Observation of his Third Century declares that he opened a Carcass the Omentum of which by reason of the tumified Glandules weighed Fifty six pounds Things being thus I judged nothing would be more profitable than Paracelsus his Stiptick Plaister which I commanded to be applied to the Abdomen after it was spread upon a Linnen Cloath and anointed with Oyl of Nutmegs To correct the viscous and acid Bloud I commanded certain drops of oyly Volatile Salt to be given daily twice a day and by this means our little Patient in the space of a few Months was happily restored to her pristine state of health OBSERVAT. X. Of the Scurvey A Man aged Thirty years every day evily accustoming himself to viscous and sowre Aliments according to the bad custom of the Gelders was afflicted with heaviness and dolour of his hands and Feet his Gums in a great measure consumed would bleed with the least touch his Spittle was in taste salt as Brine Having diligently considered these things I judged the Bloud too acid and viscous to be here peccant which by reason of Acidity inferred that dolour of Hands and Feet and corroded the Gum and its sanguiferous Vessels and by its too great Viscosity did so obstruct the small passages of the Hands and Feet that the usually-free transit of the Animal Spirits into the Muscles was somewhat impeded whence arose the aforesaid Heaviness I speak here of the Animal Spirits for seeing the Liquor that is through the Nerves for exciting motion carried into the Muscle is subtile I know not why this Nervous Liquor should less deserve to be insignized with the name of Spirit than that Liquor which in Chymical Distillation is extracted from Hartshorn But omitting vain Disputes about the Name let us set about the Matter it self This Disease is very familiar in these Regions and is generally known by the name of The Scurvey and is most difficultly cured if in process of time it have taken deep root Wherefore I presently applied my self to the Cure of this Disease seriously commanding the Patient for the future to eat no more acid and viscous Aliments and prescribing the following Medicament â„ž Syrup of Scurvy grass â„¥ ss Of Salt Armoniac distilled with Salt of Tartar â„¥ ij Oyl of Tartar per deliquium Tincture of May-worms of eachÊ’j I commanded the Patient to take 16 drops of this Medicine thrice a day in a Decoction of the Tops of Firr and indeed to the end that the Spirits of Scurvey-grass and Sal-Armoniac and the Tincture of May-worms with the aforesaid Decoction might attenuate the viscous Bloud and infringe the Acidity thereof I added Oyl of Tartar per deliquium that by this means the Volatile Salt of the Bloud subdued and bound by the Acidity might again recover its pristine liberty and so render the Bloud more fluid and more agile As we see the Volatile Salt of Hartshorn or any other Volatile Salt coagulated and conjoyned with an Acid Spirit with the help of an Alkali-Salt and Common Water by distillation to be again restored to its pristine liberty and separated from that Acidity As to the Tincture of May-worms it is to be observed that that ought not to be extracted with the acid Spirit of Salt as Artists are wont to do because by this means the Volatile Salt of the May-worms is infringed and enervated By these Remedies our Scorbutick Patient was cured in a short time But before I put an end to this Third Decade a Difficulty not very small remains yet to be removed I here affirm the Cause of this Disease to be Acidity and in the mean while say the Spittle was imbibed with a Saline taste how do these agree Do they not manifestly contradict each other No. I promise to unfold this Riddle in few words No small quantity of Volatile Salt contained in the
could that Fume excite such horrid Phoenomena's Answer Thus The Stalk being hollow within and perforated onely with a very small hole and also outwardly compressed on every side by the Boys hand the more volatile and less cohering Particles were forced from within outward but seeing all those could not at once pass out together the one urged the other and so were driven out far more swiftly No otherwise than as we see Water forced out of a Syringe though the Pistil be but gently or very slowly thrust forwards or as we discern by an easie compression of the sides of Bellows the Air through the Pipe or Nose thereof is driven out with very great force But some one may perhaps ask me of what nature those dusty Particles are To him I answer They are Accido-corrosive and sharply cutting That such Acid-Particles are in this Stalk is sufficiently evident by the frequent use thereof in stopping Bloud For when a small part of this Stalk is put into a sanguiferous Vessel wounded the Bloud is stayed partly by reason of the stringy Particles folded one within the other and closing the Orifice of the open Vessel and partly by reason of the Acid-Particles of that hollow Stalk which coagulate the Bloud as Milk is coagulated by an Acididity infused Therefore these Acid-Particles with great force driven through the aforesaid Stalk deeply penetrated into the Pores of the Eyes and interior-Superficies of the Eye-lids and so with their cutting sides excited the Nervous Fibres there dispersed to a motion more vehement by which Vehemency the Mind first perceived the sense of pain which was augmented by that Distention which took beginning thus The Pores being obstructed by the Particles of that Stalk the Vapours wanted their natural Exit and so were collected within the small Pipes of the Membranes in the form of Humour which in a very short time waxed sowre by reason of the Acid-particles of the said Stalk acting as a Ferment no otherwise than as we see any sowre Ferment taken in a small quantity to convert a great mass of Dough into its own Nature These Acid-Particles I say with the acuteness of their sides forcibly striking upon the Nervous-Fibres drew to those parts a more copious influx of Animal Spirits than usual whence arose certain slight Contractions which notwithstanding proved sufficient in some measure to impede the Circulation of the Bloud and Humours circulating through the small Veins of those circulating parts For they were in this case helped by the Vapours within the Veins of those parts converted into Water When the Bloud conteined in the Capillary Vessels and the Humours in the Veins were thus stagnized they likewise in the aforesaid manner waxed sowre and were coagulated and by that means rendred more unapt for Circulation Hence it is sufficiently manifest whence the Redness and Tumour of the Eyes and Eye-lids had their Original But whence proceeded that continual efflux of sharp Tears From the aforesaid the true cause thereof is easily gathered and it is thus Certain Acid-Particles forced from within that hollow Stalk had entred the Pores of the Glandules and Lachrymal Vessels and there by their irritation exciting certain Convulsions did continually force out Tears But whence were they imbibed with a more than usual sharpness There is no mortal Man who by the taste onely finds not Tears to be Saline wherefore these in their passage with the acid Particles there inherent were invaded with a certain sudden Effervescency These things being by me for some small time considered of I soon ceased to admire that that Fume should be the cause of so great Evils thence ensuing and also at that time discerned that the Cure would not be difficult For I knew that hot Milk coagulated by an Acidity if digested with some fit Salt would again be dissolved in the space of one hour Like wise I knew Vinegar was easily deprived of its sharpness by infusing Crabs-Eyes or Lithargyry therein Also I understood the reason of that Effervency which is excited by commixion of the Saline Oyl of Tartar with the Acid Oyl of Vitriol Hence I concluded that the Bloud coagulated by Acidity might again be made fluid and the sowreness temperated by Crabs-Eyes Lithargyry and many other Medicines containing much Salt such are White-Vitriol Gum Ammoniac Sagapenum Galbarum c. Therefore I being called the third day after the Boy was hurt instilled hot into his Eyes some Drops of a certain Collyrium compounded of White-Vitriol and other things mixt with convenient Waters and upon the Eye I applied a Plaister of Gum Ammoniac Galbanum Sagapenum Lithargyry c. spread upon a Linnen-cloth This I changed daily twice and commanded the Boy should be kept in a dark place by which means in the space of two Weeks he recovered his pristine Sanity OBSERVAT. II. Of the use of an Issue and its way of Operating A Young Maid Thirteen years of age had for several years been afflicted with dolour and redness of her Eyes and tumour of her Eye-lids which after sleep were closed together by a viscous Humour concreted into a Rosin-like matter This Ophthalmy for a long tract of time was attempted to be cured by two Surgeons but not overcome I being afterwards sent for judged the cause of the Disease to be the too great Acidity of the Bloud and a Ferment of the same nature produced from that Bloud and firmly inherent in the Pores of the Eyes and Eye-lids there causing the Bloud in the Capillary Vessels and the Humours in the small Veins to become too acid and be coagulated and stagnized For from these few signs it was not difficult to judge of the aforesaid apparent Symptoms Moreover I firmly perswaded my self that the Maid might soon be cured provided that Acidity could be temperated and expelled by the Pores of the Eyes and Eye-lids and that acid Bloud purged out of the Body wherefore I used a Collyrium consisting of Medicaments containing much Salt and besides that applied to the Eyes a Plaister made of like things But I did little good by this method for so soon as any part of that Ferment was rendred temperate and cast out shortly after a new Ferment arising from the Bloud succeeded in place of the former Seeing this I for several weeks purg'd the maid twice a week but in vain At length I found the Assertion of the famous Silvius which is written in the first Book of his Praxis Chap. 2. in the 26 Section to be most true viz. That there are scarcely any purging Remedies at least known to us which can purge out acid Humours from the Bloud Finding the matter thus I judged it high time to betake my self to the searching out of better Remedies and whilst I was occupied in consideration thereof the following Experiment came seasonably into my mind and it is this When you have a Compound of Water and Oyl mixt and would separate the one from the other proceed thus If you would
is vulgarly called Mouldiness or Mucor dispersed through the whole internal part of the Leg from the Ankle to the Knee and had I at that time had at hand a good Microscope I might have there discerned many Plants with their Stalks Leaves and Flowers in excellent order disposed springing up from the Leg of the man yet living no otherwise than as a Fungus or Mushroom is wont to arise from the Earth The Sick-man in the mean while eat not any thing and was every day afflicted with a Fever often coming and vanishing At length on the 14th day of March at four in the Morning he slept well his Pulse before death often intermitting which also may easily be understood to proceed from Acidity But his whole Mass of Bloud was infected therefore here Phlebotomy could in no wise be admitted for three days before the Sick-man died his left Foot also from the great Toe to the Ankle was infected with a Sphacelus and both his hands for 24 hours before his death were cold as Ice though after return of the Fever they again waxed warm Now that to this Evil I applied convenient Remedies will I suppose be very apparent by this viz. that the Sphacelus which at first good advice being neglected had in four hours space ascended from the great Toe to above the Knee after the application of my Remedies had not ascended in the space of two Weeks above one hands breadth OBSERVAT. V. Of an Erysipelas of the Leg. A Man Forty years of age was invaded with a Fever which vanished the 12th hour after the Assault then the Sick-man began to complain of pain and redness of his right Leg. In some solid part of this man lay hid a a certain acid Ferment which by some cause or other was thence expelled and forced into the Mass of Bloud in which it excited that Inimical Fermentation which is known by the name of a Fever But when that Ferment was circulated with die Bloud perhaps certain Particles thereof stagnized and inhered within the Cutis of the right Leg which Particles in a short time compelled all the other Particles of that acid Ferment to recede from the Bloud and approach to them almost after the same manner as one Magnet causeth another to approach to it self Those Particles there inherent and sufficiently corroding the small Fibres excited dolour in the Leg But the Redness took beginning from the Bloud stagnized in the Capillary Veins by reason of the coagulation beginning and proceeding from Acidity as we perceive a sufficiently intense redness in the Face when the Neck and Veins there contained are by a Collar or any other thing too much constringed To this affect we give the name Erysipelas But how came the Fever so soon to vanish when the Erysipelas appeared I answer Because at that time the Sanguinous Mass was freed from that acid Ferment which then passed into the Leg. This Disease I entirely cured in two days space with one onely Lavament temperating the Acidity which consisted of Spirit of Wine Camphire Lithargyry Chalk Salt-prunella c. being firmly perswaded that these Phoenomena's had derived their Original from Acidity OBSERVAT. VI. Of Varicous Vlcers of the Leg. A Virgin aged Forty years having for a long series of time devoted her self to an ill habit of Diet and among other inimical Foods she too much delighted to eat things viscous Vinegar and other sowre things in the Summer-season also often putting her Feet into cold Water she had now for Fifteen years been afflicted with a Varix of her left Leg extending it self from the Sole of the Foot up to the Knee and also with two Ulcers nigh the inward Ankle of the same Leg deep sordid and very dolorous and for the most part filled up to the top with a certain sharp and thin matter and often having round about them an Erysipelas attending Many Physicians and Chyrurgeons for a long time in vain attempted the cure of these Ulcers yea also that most famous Practitioner of Feium Lord of Cranenburg From the too great quantity of acid and viscous Meats assumed the Bloud of this Maid was rendred gross and apt to stagnize wherefore a certain portion thereof conveyed to the left Leg there stayed and resided about the small Valves of some Vein the Membranes of which by a great abundance of Bloud there congested were so distended that the Humours passing out from the small Arteries dispersed among the Membranes of that Vein for among the Membranes of the Veins you may by a Microscope discover small Arteries Veins and Nerves and undoubtedly there are also present small Lymphatick Vessels and wandring through the small Cavities of the same Membranes could not freely pass but stagnized there and thrust themselves between the Interstitiums of the small Fibres in so great abundance that they not onely enlarged those Interstitiums but also denied passage to the Animal Spirits from the small Nerves gliding into the aforesaid small Cavities and otherwise in some sort constringing the Vein and in it producing a certain Peristaltick motion for promoting the Circulation of the Bloud in the Vein and so the Bloud in that Vein in some sort stagnizing and above measure distending the Membranes thereof was the cause of the aforesaid Varix But why should that Varix rather present it self to sight in the Leg than elsewhere I answer Because die Veinybloud must there ascend by a Perpendicular way to the Horizon and besides this way is in some measure closed up by the Garters we are wont to use to retain and keep up our Stockings so also the same was here occasioned by this Maids too often putting her Feet into cold Water Therefore the Bloud in greater abundance than was fit congested in this Vein distended the less resisting parts of the Membranes of the same more than other more gross parts and so formed to itself certain Recesses and especially about the small Valves in which die Bloud now of its own nature become much too acid contracted to it self a greater Acor because it stay'd too long there without Circulation But many of the more acid Particles of this Bloud penetrated the more distended and consequently more rare parts of die Varix that is through those Recesses and so the small Fibres being there irritated and afterwards cut in sunder great dolour was excited and soon after two very painful Ulcers which by the breaking of more-small Fibres were rendred very deep Those acid Particles pertinaciously adhering in the pores of the Lips and bottomes of the Ulcers they converted the as yet sincere Humours into acid which being unable to continue their Circulation were by the Humours continually following them forced outwards into the Cavities of the Ulcers which they usually filled almost up with a sharp acid and thin Humour yet not so thin but that in the mean while certain more viscous and more stringy Particles were mixt therewith which with their strings entangled each within
the other and sticking in the Superficies of the Ulcers rendred them very sordid Thus far we have explained how certain and acid Particles have passed through the aforesaid Recesses unto the near adjacent Flesh now 't is time to observe that many more acid Particles were from those Recesses forced into the sanguineous Mass circulating with which they entred into the Ulcers rather than into other parts by reason of the acid Ferment lurking there after the same manner as we shewed in the Second Observation Thus was the abundance of acid Humour filling the Ulcers and from them proceeding augmented The Erysipelas which for the most part surrounded the Ulcers derived its Original also from the Acidity there inherent When I had for sometime well weighed all these things in my mind I at length converted my endeavour to the cure of the Varix as the first Original of the Evil which if in things profitable it be lawful to use the Terms of Art may be called the Procatartick or primitive Cause therefore from the Varix opened with a Lancet I drew forth several ounces of stagnized Bloud acid and black Then I proceeded to the sanguineous Mass infected with the acid Ferment which may be called the anticedent Cause according to the subtilty of die Wits of our time which more regards the Pomp of vain Words than things themselves and by a good Diet instituted began to correct that prohibiting all things viscous and acid by a Powder temperating Acidity daily taken consisting of ℈ j. of Crabs-eyes and the same quantity of White Coral After this I set about the Ulcers themselves in the bottoms and Lips whereof lay hid an acid Ferment which if it be the pleasure of some may be called by the Name of a Conjoyned Cause The principal thing that remained for me to do was to temperate and remove that Ferment and gradually and without sense to depress the Lips of the Ulcers to the bottom for from this last business I promised to my self a threefold Utility First I knew that the cavities of the Ulcers being thus removed none of that acid and at least in some part Viscous Humour could be there collected which by reason of its viscous and stringy Particles had before rendred the Ulcers sordid and through its acid and cutting Particles daily more and more excavated them there being always in the Cavities of them a great abundance thereof continually congested But if this Humour have access to the Ulcers it must be cast out presently after its coming there to the sides of the Ulcers their Lips being strongly depressed by some hard and heavy Body superposited Secondly I was certain by this means to restore the Circulation of the Bloud and Humours in which is sited a great part of the cure of Ulcers For the Lips of the Ulcers being not prominent as before over the Superficies of the bottoms I could discern it was possible to be effected that the Humours circulating through the small passages contained in the Lips of the Ulcers which before by reason of those passages obstructed did flow into the Cavities of the Ulcers would now find out their own way through other passages in the bottoms of the Ulcers and so again renew their Circulation which cannot as before be impeded by the ambient Air because that is sufficiently repelled by the same body which depresseth the Lips of the Ulcers that being sufficiently thick solid and hard to answer my purpose Thirdly In cure of Ulcers and Wounds I have often observed that an Eschar to be generated never took beginning from the Center or any adjacent parts of Ulcers or Wounds but always begun from the extremity of the ambient Cutis by reason of the similitude of Superficies which is found between the Cutis and the Eschar Hence I firmly perswaded my self that the Ulcers first freed from their acid Ferments and Filths and rendred plain in the aforesaid manner their pristine Circulation being restored would in a short time be covered with an Eschar Therefore I prepared certain fit Medicaments temperating Acidity to resist the peccant Ferment lying hid in the Ulcers and that as the saying is I might with one Brush whiten too Walls I formed of them two Cakes sufficiently hard and thick and somewhat larger than the Ulcers so that they would also cover a small part of the Lips and those I laid upon the Ulcers and with a sufficiently strict Ligature firmly bound them on and left them so for 12 hours which being elapsed I could soon discern that the hope I had of them conceived failed me not For I found the Ulcers wholly plain freed from all filths and conspicuous with a pleasing redness and little or nothing painful Whereby being almost wrapt into admiration I concluded that the acid Ferment in the Ulcers for the most part was and the remainder would in a short rime be temperated After a few days Circulation being restored certain well-known Particles passing out through the Pores of the ambient Cutis firmly adhered to the extremity thereof having a like Superficies with the Cutis it self Thus we plainly understood the certain Rudiment of that Eschar which had in the space of five Weeks fully closed either Ulcer for it every day increased more and more Afterward I every year once opened the aforesaid Varix and drew from it lib. j. of Bloud by which means those Ulcers never after opened any more In the mean while to the Erysipelas which I had almost forgot I applied a four-doubled Cloath moistned in a mixture prepared with Water of Elder-Flowers Spirit of Wine Camphire and Saccharum Saturni for temperating the peccant Acidity which being effected all Symptoms of the Erysipelas ceased together with the burning before induced by the acid Particles when with the acuteness of their sides they oftner than usual invade the small Fibres But whence was it that these Ulcers could not be healed in so great a space of time by so many Physicians and Chyrurgeons though men well in years I answer Those men by reason of their age contemning the solid Reasonings of others would never approve of any thing but their own experience Experience without true Reason can profit little For as among a thousand humane Faces no one is found exactly in all things like to another so among so many Diseases there is not one which in all things wholly agrees with another Moreover it is very credible that the Bloud and internal Parts of one man do no less differ from the Bloud and internal Parts of another than the External Whence again ariseth the various Temperament of men the variety of which requires various Remedies and besides Experience sound Judgement in the Physician that he may know how to make choice of this or that and other Remedies instead of either Now plainly to shew the Case as it is those Physicians and Chirurgeons directing their Conceptions according to a certain vain and unprofitable Theory and Philosophy could neither
Superficies did adhere and were aglutinated and so formed an Eschar which covered the Wound and drove out that fibrous and white Matter But because it was so thick that it prohibited the Celestial Lights therefore the fight of that wounded Eye remained lost But in the mean while this Eye as to bulk scarcely differed from the right Eye though it had cast out no small part of the aqueous Humour when the Wound was first inflicted because certain smooth and slippery Particles flowed through the Pores of the Arteries into that Cavity in which the aqueous Humour is contained and so supplied the defect of that Humour In time of the Cure I always abstained from cold things because they obstruct the very small passages and Pores of the Eyes For the same cause I here also reject fat things being such as with their small Branches do so profoundly and pertinaceously infold themselves within the most small Pores of the Eyes that you cannot without very great difficulty expel them again But why could not this Wound be sooner healed I affirm this happened partly through the errour of the Chyrurgeon and partly of the sick Lord himself For he too much indulged both Venery and Wine whence his Bloud was very much disturbed and what was so disturbed in no small quantity ascended upwards as by a more strait path and there struck upon the obstructions of the wounded Eye which notwithstanding by reason of their pertinacy it could not break and by this means the dolour increased Besides in most deep Snow falling from the exceeding cold Air of that Season he would sometimes ride on hunting whole days with his right Eye against my will open and hence the Obstructions were rendred yet more pertinaceous and numerous The Chyrurgeon who for the first three days applied Medicines to the Wound erred in this viz. that to that fibrous matter which impeded die afflux of the aqueous Humour and therefore should not have been taken away he applied sharp things which the Eye it self cannot bear also to the remaining part of the Eye he applied cold things to stay the afflux of Bloud and Humours as he himself said But are you ignorant good Sir that this afflux of Bloud and Humours is to the Eye and also to other parts both natural and necessary and had your Medicaments operated according to your wish a Gangreen would certainly have immediately followed You see Bloud and Humours in greater abundance than is fit to be present in the Eye but you reason amiss when you think this to be caused from a greater afflux than usual whereas it rather proceeds from Obstructions which prohibit the reflux of Bloud through the Veins and of Humours through the Lymphatick Vessels whence the Bloud and Humours were in greater abundance collected into the Eye stagnized and waxed acid Wherefore you should rather have applied things temperating Acidity which would also have been convenient for taking away the lividness of the Iris and Pupil produced by the clotted Bloud For it is certain that clotted and coagulated Bloud cannot be restored by cold things but are unavoidably rendred more gross and the peccant Obstructions by this means not removed but augmented But before I put an end to this Observation there remains yet one Phoenomenon to be discoursed of relating to Wounds It is undoubtedly true That the Cause being taken away the Effect ceaseth But why then the Sword Knife or any other thing wounding being taken away is not the dolour in the wound presently removed but sometimes persists very long Dolour in the part hurt is not unless there be a Concussion of the small Fibres more vehement than usual which cannot be unless by another body put into motion Therefore what shall I say of the dolour which sometimes is portracted whole days yea whole weeks after the Wound is inflicted when the Sword Knife or any other thing wounding hath been long before laid aside Let me circumspectly consider whether I can find any thing that can excite the small Fibres of the wounded part to a greater agitation than usual Behold I have found it When certain small Fibres are cut in sunder by a Sword then suddenly they crisp up on heaps and obstruct the small passages of the wounded parts so that the Humours cannot freely circulate but strike upon those Obstructions whence is excited dolour which still increaseth when those Humours begin to wax acid and with their cutting Particles yet more and more irritate Besides many small Fibres which before were covered with skin after the Wound inflicted are exposed to the ambient Air which affects them with more vehements trembling than is fit whilst it communicates somewhat to them from its own motion by which indeed it is continually and powerfully enough agitated OBSERVAT. VIII Of a Suppurated Tumour also of Rottenness of a Bone A Young Maid ten years of Age afflicted with a burning Fever soon after the Fever felt a pain and quickly after that a Tumour in her Shoulder which was of the same colour with the skin and somewhat hard The Bloud more than usually agitated by the Fever from the recesses of this or that solid part washed off many acid and viscous Particles which circulating with the Bloud did part of them pass out from the Pores of the Arteries at that time too much dilated by reason of the heat of the Fever into the small passages about the Shoulder sited far within the Cutis in which passages they adhered and excited dolour whilst with their pricking sides they more vehemently than usual made a commotion and by this means in some measure distorted the bordering passages whence also the Humours there stagnized which though they were before pure by a small delay there waxed acid hence also the Bloud stagnized in many Capillary Vessels but so deeply sited within the Cutis that the redness could not be apparent through the skin and therefore appeared of the same colour with the Cutis But whence was that hardness of the Tumour for it was Liquor that was contained therein and such liquor as being fluid and gently touched with the hand offering no resistance could not be judged either hard or soft A great quantity of liquor is contained in an Apple and may be pressed from it yet in the mean while it is found to be somewhat hard because that Liquor is very much divided and abides separated in severall small passages and Pores of the Apple distinct each from other Therefore the hand touching the Apple meets with the first small passage whence the Particles of Liquor in that contained do indeed in some measure recede but approaching to the subjacent passages they find resistance Hence the hardness of the Apple is made manifest and by consequence also the hardness of the Tumor Therefore being perswaded that in this case the viscous Particles obstructing and the acid cutting and irritating I judged nothing could be more conducent for altering them than things aperient
as an Hair do notwithstanding enjoy a certain Cavity OBSERVAT. III. Of the Contracture of a Tendon after a Fracture of the Shoulder-Bone A Young man aged Twenty two years after a Fracture of the Shoulder-bone healed could not extend his inbowed and rigid Arm. The more remote cause of this Evil was the Surgeon's negligence who left the Arm inbowed for five or six Weeks whereas he should as often as and every time he bound up the Fracture have frequently extended the same as a thing of special note in Chyrurgick Practice But this is not therefore a wonder seeing we daily see a Bow which hath for some tine remained unbowed not to be easily bowed again Yea who doth not sometimes experience in himself how difficultly he is able to go and extend his feet after he hath sate unmoved in a Coach but for one onely day But forasmuch as this Comparison doth not as yet sufficiently illustrate the matter my purpose is somewhat more narrowly to search out the cause of the same When the Arm was inbowed about the Cubit the Tendon of the two-headed Muscle bowing the Cubit was contracted but what is here spoken of the Tendon of the two-headed Muscle may be understood of other Tendons of Muscles bowing the Cubit and so the Pores of the Fibrils of which the Tendon consists before round are changed into oval so that the greater Diameter of the Pores hath respect to the Latitude of the Fibrils In the mean while the Humors passed out from the Pores of the Arteries which by reason of motion often instituted freely perfected their circulation now by reason of rest did in some sort subsist in the Tendon Yea in a short space of time certain gross Particles of those Humors deeply insinuated themselves into those Oval Pores of the Fibrils and conserved and confirmed them in that oblong Figure and in process of time those recited Particles so pertinaceously adhered in the above-named Pores that they could not by any means be expelled thence Henee the Tendon of the two-headed Muscle was made shorter no otherwise than as we see new Ropes or new Cloath sprinkled with Water to shrink Hence also the said Tendon appeared hard and rigid whence it is as I judge sufficiently manifest why the Arm could not be extended for the Muscles extending the Arm could not perform their wonted action being before contracted these could not be contracted but the Tendon with its two-headed Muscle must needs begin to cease acting This was impossible by reason of the Pores of the Fibrils obstructed by the aforesaid Particles by which the Tendon was tumified The cause of this Phaenomenon by this means found out the method of curing was without difficulty understood viz. that it was behooful to expel the Particles obstructing the Pores wherefore I used a Fomentation of Wine in which were boiled Herbs and other things abounding with much Volatile Salt and then I applied a Plaister of Frogs with Mercury and after I had continued that for several days I often commanded the Patient to hold some weight in his hand that so the Particles inherent in the obstructed Pores and by the aforesaid Medicaments in some measure macerated in the Dutch Idiom los gewyckt might by a certain force be ejected By this means the Patient recovered his pristine Sanity in a short time OBSERVAT. IV. Of a Vein Cut. A Man aged Thirty six years commanded a Vein to be cut in the Flexure of his Arm the next day several Ounces of Limpid Humor flowed out from the Orifice of the Vein cut and that Efflux continued for several days after but the Arm in the mean while was neither affected with dolour nor with redness A rare Phaenomenon indeed which I cannot remember ever to have hapned in all my Practice Perhaps some small Lymphatick-Vessel lay above the Vein to be cut which in cutting the Vein was wounded and by certain Particles stagnizing and waxing acid nigh the Orifice of the small wound made irritated and continually gently convulsed sent forth this abundance of Lympid Humidity I temperated the peccant Acidity nigh the Lymphatick-Vessel with Oyl of Turpentine poured in hot and so compelled the Aperture to close and the Lympid Humor in a short time to subsist or rather again to circulate by a natural way I likewise knew a certain Tyro in Chyrurgy who in Section of the Median-Vein wounded a subjected Tendon whence arose dolour and redness which being removed at length was inferred so great a Contracture of the Tendon of the two-headed Muscle that the Arm having now for a long time been inbowed could not be extended by the Patient whose Cure was effected even after the same manner as I shewed in the foregoing Observation That is to say some Humors stagnizing about the wounded Tendon waxed acid and irritating that Tendon caused the Animal Spirits to flow in greater abundance than usual by which means the Tendon with the Muscle annexed was contracted and the Arm incurvated which afterward remained so inbowed by reason of certain Particles which obstructed the Pores of the Fibrils in the Tendon after the same manner as I in the precedent Observation have largely explained But dolour and redness which often attend the Puncture of a Tendon acknowledge the same Cause and require the same Cure that I proposed in the Puncture of a Nerve Many Chyrurgeons when they would evacuate gross Bloud make a large Orifice of the Vein and when they purpose to let out Bloud more subtile a lesser Orifice but evily For if the gross Particles of the Bloud mixt with the more subtile can accurately enough circulate through the Arteries and Capillary Veins is it not more clear than the Sun that no Orifice in the cutting of a Vein can be made so very small but that with the more subtile part of the Bloud that which is more gross may be expâ—lled by the same Which the most acute Bayle perhaps Boyl did well observe The famous Mr. Leeuwenhoeck by a Microscope discovered Humane Bloud to consist of small red Globes floating in a Chrystalline Humor which when the Bloud after cutting of a Vein received in a Porringer was coagulated their motion being lost descended to the bottom the Chrystalline Humor through which they were before moved floating above Certainly a strange and pleasant Invention but of no use in the Medicinal Practice For they who from this ground endeavour to deduce the Causes and Cures of Fevers and other Diseases seem to me to trifle out the time and lose all their labour whereas rather had they respect to Acidity Salt Bitterness Sweetness and other properties undoubtedly contained in the Bloud they would certainly thence reap far greater understanding in cure of the sick Many Authors prescribe the opening of the Cephalic-Vein rather than of the Median or Basilic but unadvisedly For I have often found by experience that that Vein easily recedes from its proper place and so when it is cutting shuns the wound intended
Bloud with the Acidity was coagulated therefore the Spittle burthened with this Coagulate exhibited the afore-mentioned Saline taste to the Tongue So Common Salt which we daily use with our Meats ceaseth not to taste Saline though it hath not a little Acidity permixt with it self as Spirit of Salt extracted by Chymical Distillation doth plainly teach The end of the Third Decade DECADE IV. OBSERVAT. I. Concerning the Indisposition of the Gum. A Matron Forty years of age very much afflicted with the Scurvey complained of an excessive pain of her Gum which was very much corroded and at the least touch immediately poured out Bloud and besides her fore-Teeth were loose Also the Patient according to the common custom after Bloud-letting had been often purged but in vain How the Acidity in some sort corrosive should be the cause of this dolour corrode the Gum and make the Teeth loose I forbear in this place to explain because I judge the case to be sufficiently clear of it self This Evil doth sometimes degenerate into that Malady which we in Dutch call De Water-kanker therefore not to be slightly regarded My order was that the sick Woman should as much as was possible abstain from acid things and unto her I gave the Spirit of which I spake in the last Observation of the foregoing Decade and did also prescribe the following Medicament to be externally used â„ž Tincture of Gum Lacca â„¥ j. Spirit of Scurvy-grass Ê’iij Oyl of Tartar per Deliquium drops xiij Make a Mixture With this Medicament the Gum was four times a day touched and washed and so in a few days the diseased Woman was freed from her pain and the out-flowing of Bloud from the Gum ceased and the Teeth were no longer loose but that part of the Gum that was eaten away grew up no more at which no man should wonder because it is as impossible for part of the Gum consumed to be regenerated as a Finger once cut off to grow again Sometimes a certain Lapideous matter grows upon the Teeth which by its roughness lacerates the Gum in which case the precedent Medicament must in no wise be used unless this Lapideous matter be first removed with some fit Instrument If you desire to know the way of preparing Tincture of Gum Lacca consult Frederick Deckers that most famous Practitioner in his Practical Observations about the Method of Healing page 15. Before I finish this Observation I cannot forbear to tax the frequent errour of those men who use Oyl of Vitriol for whitening black Teeth For though this immediately takes away the blackness of the Teeth yet it afterward hurts them because it corrupts the Volatile Salt which is naturally found in great abundance in the Teeth It would be far better for those that delight in white Teeth always after Meat to wash and cleanse their Mouths with pure Water and once in a Week rub their Teeth with the powder of Porcellane Earth which is China If any man either cannot or will not give credit to my words saying Acidity as Oyl of Vitriol and other like things hurts the Teeth let him at least give credit to Solomon the wisest of Kings who speaking by the Spirit of GOD said As Vinegar to the Teeth and as Smoak to the Eyes so is the Sluggard to them that send him Now if Vinegar according to the testimony of Solomon be so inimical to the Teeth what damage will not Oyl of Vitriol infer which is much more sharp and far more corrosive OBSERVAT. II. Of an Ambustion A Man Thirty years of age setting fire to Gun-powder burnt his whole Face and both his Hands whence presently arose redness and exceeding great pain to asswage which the Patient applied Ink which was as it hapned ready at hand Had you seen the Patient in this state you would have affirmed you saw the Devil unless you could with the Aethiopians perswade your self the Devil is white which Opinion Sir Thomas Brown in his Pseudoxia Epidemica seems to favour contrary to the Testimony of the holy Scripture which saith in the Revelation of St. John Chap. 19. vers 20. The dwelling of Satan is a lake of Fire burning with Brimstone But the Smoak of Brimstone burnt as our above-recited Author philosophizeth is known by frequent experience to whiten Wollen Garments as Stockings and other things and hence he concludes that whatsoever is found in Hell must needs be white These things onely cursorily mentioned let us omit them and come to the matter it self I being called to the Patient applied to the parts hurt Onions bruised with common Honey Which Remedy is very profitable to burnt parts if presently applied whilst the Skin is yet entire for that being hurt vehement dolour will undoubtedly follow the use of this Medicament which shews that then it is in no wise convenient The next day many Blisters all over his Face and both his Hands presented themselves to sight which the third day after the accident being opened poured out no small quantity of Limpid Water Then I prescribed the following Cerot â„ž Ceruss Pulp of the Root of the greater Comphry of each lib. j. Lithargyry Lapis Calaminaris Oyl-Olive Wax of each â„¥ vj. Make a Cerot In the preparation of which it is to be noted that to the Oyl and Wax first melted together the Pouders beaten very fine and sifted must be added and when these are almost cold the aforesaid Pulp must be mixed which Pulp is thus extracted The Roots are first made clean and then cut into thin round slices which afterwards boyled in common Water till they are soft are then squeezed through a fine Linnen-Cloath With three Ounces of this Cerot I mixed as much of Unguentum Aureum the description of which is found in the Amsterdam or Augustine Pharmacopoea and this Medicament spread upon fine and soft Linnen Clothes I applied to the parts hurt and by this means our Patient was perfectly healed in a short time Whence the redness and dolour proceeded you may easily understand if you do but consider that the Gun-powder fired and so posited in a most swift and very vehement motion had hurt and broke many Fibrils of the Cutis For hence the dolour manifesting it self in that Ambustion may easily be judged of the continuation of which Dolour proceeded from the Obstruction of many small passages by reason of the broken Fibrils in which the Humors stagnized and distended the adjacent parts and then also waxed acid and by this means tore and cut in sunder the aforesoid Fibrils The Blisters were raised by the Humors stagnizing and coacervated about the Cutis which being constringed by the flame they could not penetrate I applied Onions with Honey that with their abounding Volatile Salt they might open the constringed and stopt Pores of the Cuticle temperate the acid Humors and restore to them their usual Circulation The third day I opened the Blisters for had I sooner opened them the subjacent Cutis would have suffered
cause of the Evil we could not through the whole length of the Arm find either Fracture or Dislocation but a very great Contusion of the whole Arm so that much of the Extravasate Bloud and also of the Humors adhering in the small passages of the Arm distorted by the Contusion stagnized and in a short time waxed acid whence that Imbecility Tumor and Dolour may rationally be concluded to have derived their Original Some to render the motion of the Bloud more pleasing do here presently cut a Vein whereas I on the contrary omitted the opening of a Vein gave to the Patient an Anodine Tincture prepared of Opium and other things which much more securely and with greater Utility diminished the motion of the Bloud After some few hours I exhibited to the Sick a sudorifick Powder which would also temperate the Acidity of the Extravasate Bloud and stagnizing Humors this I repeated the two following nights with good success This Powder consisted of Diaphoretick Antimony Crabs-eyes prepared Salt-prunella Antimoniat and other things and hereby the dolour was in no small measure remitted and the Extravasate Bloud was driven out to the Cutis which then all over the Arm from the Shoulder to the Fingers was very livid yea waxed black The Chyrurgeons that were present with me did in the beginning of the Cure without my consent anoint the whole Arm with Oyl of Roses which hurts not so much by reason of the Roses as by reason of the Oyl-Olive For although this might do some good yet it could not profit unless it could have penetrated to that place where the Extravasate Bloud and stagnizing Humours lay but so far it could not penetrate unless in form of Vapour and the heat of our Bodies is too weak to convert Oyl-Olive into such Vapours seeing indeed a sufficiently strong Fire made of Wood and Coals is not of force sufficient to reduce the Particles of Oyl-Olive put into a Pot into the form of Vapours Therefore the Oyl-Olive was so far from doing good that as I judged it rather did hurt because by its stringy Particles it augmented the Obstructions and so caused the Bloud and Humors yet more to stagnize and besides by its closing the Pores of the Skin it hindered the access of other Medicaments to the place affected If common Roses be cold as many think I should reject them in this case but because from their bitterness and penetrating Odour the contrary may be judged by those who laying aside their prejudices will rather follow Verity than Antiquity Therefore I in this case condemn Oyl of Roses by reason of the Oyl-Olive but not by reason of some Particles of the Roses mixt therewith The same Chyrurgeons applied to the whole Arm anointed with Oyl of Roses that Defensive Plaister the description of which is found in the Ultrajectine Pharmacopoeia which indeed I do not here wholly reject because it containeth many Ingredients temperating Acidity as Bolus Terra Sigillata Lithargyry and other things but to what end should here be added Myrtle-Berries Oyl of Myrtles and Austere Red-Wine These indeed bind up the Pores of the Skin and so wholly impede the penetration of other fit Ingredients to the affected part Experience did in a short time confirm the truth of my Assertion when many Pustles dispersed through the whole Arm came in sight Wherefore I prescribed the following Lavament which I substituted instead of the Oyl and Plaister as being a Medicament that would powerfully resist Acidity and consequently well dissolve the coagulated Bloud and Humors â„ž Roots Of the Flower de Luce. Of Calamus Aromaticus Of Bryony of each â„¥ ss Herbs Rosemary Betony Sage of each M. ss Berries Of Juniper Of Bays of eachÊ’iij Boyl these in a close Vessel with French-Wine and to two pound of the Colature add Of Gum AmmoniacÊ’ij Of Salt of TartarÊ’j Make a Lavament By this means the Pustles vanished the Dolour was diminished the motion of the Arm gradually returned and the Livid colour was turned yellow Then the Chyrurgeons willing the Medicaments should be changed instead of the Defensive Plaister which they again proposed I prescribed a Fumigation temperating Acidity which consisted of Bay-Berries Juniper-Berries Frankincense Mastich Myrrh and other things For if these latter could help in the aforesaid Plaister where they lay bound up by the Suet and Wax they must needs be much more profitable when in the form of Fume they could fly up and surround the Arm its superiour part being covered and so being forcibly enough agitated could enter the Pores of the Arm by that time well opened by the heat After this I commanded Spirit of Wine to be burnt the Vapour of which ascending to the Arm and entring through the Pores infringed the Acidity which had in no small measure coagulated the Bloud and Humours and by that means the Patient was healed the dolour and yellowness removed and the motion of the Arm restored I most assuredly perswade my self that the Contusion would not have been so great if a Fracture of the Bone in the Patients Arm had also been concomitant For the Bone when broken recedes and contuseth no more but when the Bone remains entire and consequently by reason of its hardness makes strenuous resistance and when there is on the other part a solid Body contusing then the interstanding Flesh is no otherwise pressed on either part than as if it were put under a Press and so it is in a strange manner contused And this is no more than what our daily practice confirms in which I have often observed a Contusion where the Bone hath been broaken to be much less than where the Bone hath remained unhurt In this Cure my fear was that the Extravasate Bloud should be so much coagulated that it could not be afterwards dissolved and so might at length become so very acid and corrosive as to infect the adjacent parts with a Gangrene For it was not long before that I was called to a young Man who had for eight days neglected a Contusion of the Tibia after that I was called and seeing how it was compelled to open the contused part with a Lancet I perceived many sufficiently large Clots of Bloud firmly coagulated black and putrid which had in some sort infected the Cavity in which they were conteined with a Gangrene which notwithstanding I in a short time removed by washing it with Spirit of Wine and by inspersing the Pouders of Myrrh and Aloes OBSERVAT. VIII Of a Ganglion in the Hand A Youth aged Sixteen years complained of a Tumour hard and painful which sited in the upper part of his right Hand in magnitude equallized an Hazel-Nut and was of the same colour with the Cutis and there was now near three Months passed since the Patient by unaccustomed labour was affected with this Evil. The Tendon lay in the upper part of the Hand the small passages of which were by that unusual labour so distorted that the Humors