account of at Poictiers or Paris do ordinarily continue with them a whole yeere together Not for any other cause as they themselues confesse and as al strangers kâ—ow that haue liued in their Country but onely because they are for the most part blasted and breathed vppon with a Southerly VVinde which in their language they call Aâ—tan and maketh the aire to be grosse and cloudy causing in their bodies al the effects which are attributed by Hippocrates to the Southerly windes in his thirde Booke and 5. Aphorisme that is to say when it reigneth it dulleth the hearing â—immeth the sight swelleth and aggrauateth the head weakneth and abateth all the forces of the body Also when Hippocrates compareth the temperatures of the one quality with the other he resolueth vpon this point That the dry seasons are far more healthfull then the humid â—hat haue continued for a long succession of time because excessiue humidity is the true matter of putrifaction as experience telleth vs For wee see that in those places where the Marine or Sea-winds haue blowed long all kinds of flesh though neuer so new fresh will corrupt in lesse then an houre These â—hings being considered that it is most necessary for the conseruation of our bodies in health that the seasons should follow their naturall temperatures without any excesse or contrarietie there is no doubt to be made but that our bodyes will fall into many vnnaturall diseases when the natural qualities of the seasons are peruerted through the euil disposition of the aire and wind that predominateth therein It being so that for these 3. yeares space heere in France the seasons of euerie yeare haue not kept their ordinary qualities In the Sommer we haue had but little heate in the Winter a little or no cold at all Also the other seasons haue bene continually distempered with raine and moysture together with much Southerly windes whose nature wee hauâ— declared before and this throughout all France I know no man so little seene in naturall Philosophy or in Astrologie which will not finde the aire to bee the efficient cause of so many euilles which for these three yeeres space haue happened in the kingdome of France For from whence should proceede those contagious Pestilences which happened indifferently to olde and young to rich and poore in so many places but from the corruption of the aire From whence should proceede so many kinds of Feauers Pleâ—risies Aposthumes Catarres defluctions of smal Pox Meazels So many kinds of venomous Beasts as Frogges Toades Grashoppers Caterpillers Spiders Flies Waspes Snailes Sâ—rpents Vipers Snakes Lizards Scorpions and Aspickes but onely from a purrifaction resulting from the humidity of the aire accompanied with a languishing heate This is it I say that hath engendered in vs and in aâ—l the Countrey of France so many strange and vnknowne accidents Beholde therefore how our naturall heate hath bene weakned how our blood and humors haue bene corrupted through the malignity of the aire which these Southerly winds hath caused thorough the hot and moist quality thereof Thus much I haue obserued that where there hath bene neede of Phlebotomizing there hath beene but little blood drawne from any whether they were yong or olde wounded or not of so good or euill temperature but it hath bene corrupted appeared of white or greenish colours This I haue alwaies obserued in these last warres and in other places where I haue beene called to cure the wounded such as haue beene phlebotomized by the prescription of the Physitian either for the preuention of accidents or the furtheraÌ„ce of the câ—re In all which I say indifferently I haue found the bloode putrified and corrupted This being so it must needs folâ—ow that the fleshy parts of our bodies cannot bee otherwise then euilly disposed and all our bodies Cacochymate seeing that their nourishment which is the blood is putrified and the aire altogether corrupted From whence it followeth that those bodyes which were wounded in the fleshy parts were difficult to cure considering that there was in them a perdition of substance the which hauing neede of the regeneration of the flesh could not be accomplished neiâ—her by Medicines nor aâ—y Art of the Chirurgian such and so great was the Cacochimy or euill constitution of their bodies Euen as in an Hydropticke person there can no flesh be regenerated because the blood is too colde and watery and in the Elephanticke or leaprous Disease the flesh and other parts do abide in putrifaction because of the corrupted bloode whereby they are nourished In like manner in wounds of Cacochymed bodies there can be no regeneration made of any good substance because that to restore a lawdable flesh in the wounded part it is required that the bloode should not offend neither in quantity nor quality and that the offended part be in its naturall temperature All these things wer wanting in the times of these last warres and therefore it is not to be wondred at if the wounds which were then receiued althogh they were but small and of little consequence in the noble or ignoble partes haue brought with them so many tedious accidents and in the end death because that the airâ— which doeth incompasse vs maketh the wounds to bee corrupt and puâ—rified by reason of the inspiration and transpiration thereof especially when it selfe is corrupt and putrified by altering and corrupting the humors Of this point I haue had the experience of many woundes which I haue beene called to dresse that haue rendred aâ—most insupportable stinking fauour as a certaine witnesse of corruption and infection insomuch that the assistants coulde hardly endure to be present at their dressings It neede not bee heere alledged that this was for want of being cleanly kept or often dressing or for not administering vnto them things necessary for this corruption was as common to Princes and great Lords as vnto poore Souldiours whose woundes if by chance one day escaped wherin they were not drest so great was the number of the hurt souldiers you should find in them the morrow after a great quantity of Wormes with a meruailous stinking sauour And moreouer there happened vnto them many Aposthumes in diuers parts of their bodies opposite to their hurtes For if they were shot in the right shoulder they should haue an Apostume on the left knee and if the wound were in the right leg the Apostume would arise in the left arme As it hapned to the late King of Nauar to Mounsieur de Neuers and to Mounsieur de Rendâ—n and almost to all others So it seemeth that Nature being so much oppressed with corrupted Humors could not be sufficiently purged and discharged of them by woundes onely but sent some part of the corruption to some other part either hidden or apparent For if the Apostumes appeared not outwardly they should be found in the inwarde parts as in the Liuer Lungs or Spleene From those putrifactions were stirred vp
agitation that they make the earâ—h to tremble and quake thereat thereby deboâ—lishing Cities and ruinating buildinges and transporting them from one place to another As the Townes of Megara Egina anciently much celebrated in the Countrey of Greece perishing by Earth-quakes can witnes vnto vs. I omit to discouer as but little seruing to our purpose how the wind inclosed in the Entrailes of the Earth maketh a noise of dâ—uers sounds very strange according to the diuers forms of the conduits and passages through the which it yssueth by euen afâ—er the manner of Musicall Instruments the which being large do giue a great and base sound and being narrow do make high and sharpe notes and being crooked or replied makâ— diuers sounds as wee see by experience in the Huntsmans horne and in Trumpets the which also being moystened with water do make a hollow gurguling sound In like manner these noises murmurings and clamors are sundry wayes diuersified according to the places whence they proceede in such sort that sometimes hath bene hard a clamorous crie representing as it seemed the assault of a Citty the cries and lowings of Buls or the neighing of Horses roaring of Lyons sound of Trumpets reports of Artillery many other dreadful things yea sometimes humane voices As it is reported by one who had heard a voice as it were of a woman a beating which made as he imagined such a wofull and greeuous lamentation whereby he became so greatly affrighted that hee had scarsely breath sufficient to make this report But when he had well vnderstoode the cause of this plaintiue voice he was presently deliuered from that fearâ— which otherwise might haue killed him But some perhappes will say that these things haue alwayes bene and no lesse ordinarie in the times past then they are at this present and therfore it is a great folly in mee to alledge them for efficient causes of the death of so many men The which imputation I should freely confesse if I should present them for such but seeing that by them I would oâ—ely paralel and compare the impetuosity of Artillery with that of Thunder and the motions of the earth which beeing so it will appear that it maketh nothing against my first intention as I hope to demonstrate cleerely that I am slandered without a cause if you please to giue care to the deduction following In the which I will plainly and briefely describe the true causes of the late mortality which happened among your Highnesse Soldiers Amongest the things necessary for our liues there is nothing that can more alter our bodyes then the Aire the which continually willing or vnwilling we inspire by those Condâ—ites which Nature hath apointed for that end as the mouth the nose and generally through all the pores of the skin and Arteries therein infixed whether we eaâ—e drinke watch or sleepe or doe any other action whether Naturall Vitall or Animal From thence it commeth that the aire inspirâ—d into the Lungs the Hart and the Braine and vniuersally in all the parts of the body to refresh and in some measure to nourish the same is the cause that a man cannot liue one minute without inspiration according to the which wonderfull benefite the excellent Physitian Hippocrates hath pronounced and that truly that the Aire hath a kinde of Diuinity in it because that in breathing and blowing ouer all parts of the world vniuersally it doth circumuolue all things therein contained nourishing them myraculously strengthning them firmly and maintaining them in an amiable Vnion altogether symbolizing with the stars Planets into the which the diuine prouidence is infused which changeth the aire at his pleasure giueth it power not onely ouer the mutation of times seasons but also of the alteration of naturall bodies And therefore the Philosophers and Physitians haue expresly commanded that wee should haue a principall regarde vnto the situation and motions of the heauenly bodies and constitutions of the aire when the preseruation of health or the curation of diseases are in question but especially the course and mutation of the Aire is of great power as we may easily iudge by the 4. seasons of the yeare For the Aire being hot and dry in Sommer our bodies in like manner doeth thereby become heated and dried and in winter the humidity and coldnesse of the aire doeth likewise fil our bodies with the samequailities in such order neuerthelesse and in so good a disposition of nature that although our temperatures seeme to be changed according to the foure seasons of the yeere wee neuerthelesse receyue no harme thereby if those times do keepe their seasons and qualities fâ—ee from excesse But to the contrarie if the seasons be so peruerted that the Sommer is cold and the Winter hot and the other seaâ—ons in the like distemperature this discord bringeth with it a great perturbation both in our bodyes and in our spirits constrained neuerthelesse to receiue the danger by reason that the causes are extreame and do on euery side encoâ—passe vs so that we are constrained to lodge it in vs by â—hose Organes and Conâ—uits appointed by nature to that end as parâ—ly to expell the superfluous excrements of our nourishment and partly to receiue the saide externall causes which is the ayre or wiâ—â—e producing in vs diuers effects according to those parts of the world from whence they do proceed For it being so that the Southerly winds are â—ot and moyst that of the North cold drie the Easterly winds for the most part are clere and pure and the Westerly cloudy and subiect vnto raiâ—e yet it is a most assured thing that the Ayre which we do inspire continually holdeth in all and through all the quality that is most predominant And therefore we should of necessity consider in all diseases and the inconueniences which happen therein the quality of the windes and the power which they haue ouer our bodies as Hippocrates hath learnedly left vs by writing in the 3. Booke of his Aphorismes Chap. 5. and 17. saying That our bodies do receiue a great alteration through the vissitude of the times and seasons of the yeere As by the South-wind our bodies are subiect to all diseases because that moisture is their primitiue cause it also weakeneth our naturall heate the which in the opposite case is much fortified through a cold and dry wind which also maketh our spirits more quicke and subtill The verity of which sentence the inhabitantes of the territory of Narbonne doe too much experiment to their dammage For being themselues between the lustiest and healthfullest people of all France yet neuerthelesse they themselues are very sickely for the most part their bodies leane their countenances sad and heauy their faces tawny or of an Oliue colour do manifestly shew the same Also among other diseases they are almost all subiect to the white Leprosie and â—he least Vlcers which they haue which wee make no
of Artillery Chap. 12 Of the meanes which should be obserued â—n rectifying of the aire and corrobating the noble parts and to fortifie the whole body Chap. 13 Memorable Histories Chap. 14 An Apologie touching the woundes made by Gun-shot Chap. 15 Another Discourse vppon that question of the venenosity of wounds made by Gun-shot Chap. 16. The differences betweene wounds made by arrowes and those made by Gunshot Chap. 17. The difference betweene Arrowes and Darts 18 Of the difference of the wounded parts Chap. 19 Of the extraction of Arrowes Chap. 20 How you ought to proceede in drawing foorth broken Arrowes Chap. 21 What ought to be done then when the Arrow is infixed in the bone Chap. 22 Of venomous or empoysoned wounds Chap. 23 Intention of the Author The Venetians had the first vse of Artillery Diuers opinions touching the time when Artillery began The Author of Artillery and his name What things hath sâ—nce bin added to the Artillery Diners names of the Artillery whence they are taken From wâ—â—â—ce the word Arquebuz is tâ—ken Diuers Arâ—ifâ—cers of Fiâ— A comparison of the Engines vsed by our Ancients with those of ouâ—s The Thunâ—er is not so cruell as the Artillery How man may be preseâ—â—ed from Thunder Plin. lib. â— cap. 5â— Pliny lib. 2â— cap. 55. What things are preserued from the force of Thunder Sueto in Tib. Artillery driueth away Thunder The times which aâ—e without Thunder Lib. 2. cap. 50. Designe and end of Artillery The reason that moued the Authour to write of Gunshot The sum contained in the 1. discourse The sum contained in the 2 discourse Pas of Suze The Castle de Villane besieâ—ed taken The Author entereth into the matter A remedie found by accident Gunpouder not venomous Woundes made by guâ—shot are without combustion Historie Yea Sir by the Faith of God Histoâ—ie How the patient oughâ— to be sâ—tuate in the extraction of Bullets The cause that maketh woundes by Gunne shot hard to bee cured History Occasion of this discourse â—â—sinuation into the good acceptâ—nce of those who are of the contrary opiâ—ion The Author proposeth two points whiâ—h hâ—e wold refute viz. the poyson of the powder and the Fire of the Bullet The preseâ—t disputation is taken froÌ„ Philosophers Physitians and Chirurgians The composition of the powder Salt-peter is salt of stones Refutation of those that affirme the Bullet to be impoisoned Refutation of those that affirme that the Bullet causeth coÌ„bustion An example of a ball of wax Whence it pâ—oâ—eâ—deth that wouâ—dâ— mâ—de by Gunshot are â—â—dinarily blacke Reasons of those of contraâ—y opinioÌ„ Seneca 3. kindes of Thunders Answere to the contrary Reasons A meruailous effeâ—t of Thunder Example The effect â—f Artillerie like to the Thunder Diuers sounds yssuing out of the veins of the earth The true explicauoâ— of the questioÌ„ Hyp in the Prefaâ—e of â—is Prognest Hyp. in the beginning of his booke de Aere locis et aquis The alienatiâ—n of 〈◊〉 cause of diseases Lib. 3. Apâ—or 15. A similitude Intollerable stinke proceediâ—g froÌ„ the wounded parts of men Venomous Wounds Differencâ—s taken from the matter of Bullets Fâ—omwheÌ„ce proceedeth the malignity of woundes made by Gunshot 〈…〉 The sâ—tuation of the Patient to extâ—act vnnaâ—urall things Of what bignes the Probes ought to be â—he prinâ—ipall intention of the Chiâ—uâ—gian Why no eschaâ—aticke Medicine ought to be vsed Dâ—scription of ouâ—â—gvp â—â—aâ—um proper fâ—â— the aâ—oâ—esaide wounds The vertue of Campher Combustion ioyned to woundes made by Gunshot Time to obserue to drâ—sse the patient Puâ— is not so made by Gunshot as in all other wounds Aduertisement to the young Chirurgian A Cathâ—â—icke powder Compresses or Boulsteâ—s Indication taken fâ—om the temperature of the bodye The Indicatioâ— taken from the vertue of the patient Sentence of Guido Indication taken from the wounded part Aphâ—ris 18. Booâ—â— 1â— The Vrgent the cause the necessity The vsâ— of Indâ—â—atâ—â—n Phlâ—botomy necessary iâ— wouÌ„ds made by Gunâ—eihoâ— Caâ—ses why thâ—â—â— hâ—pnâ—th 〈◊〉 alwayâ— anâ—le moâ—thâ—gâ— Hot humors are apâ—er to slowe then cold Aphoâ— 31. Bâ—oke 2. An aduertisâ—ment Causes of petillous accidents in woundes madâ— by Gunshot Hyp. lib. de vnla Cap. Historie Aqua-vitae with a little Treaâ—le recall 〈◊〉 presenthe the spirites and comforteth the vital faculty Historie Another history Meruellous accidents God Nature effect meruailous things Galen in the 6 of the Method The Emplaster of Vigo is resolutiue The benefit of vniuersal Frications A iust occasioâ— of the Author for his Apology Basilicon liquefied into an oyle is proper in al woundsthat â—equire suppuration Hyp. in his â—â—â—ke of vlâ—eâ—s Doubles an Empirick Answerâ— tâ— th◠〈◊〉 of Igyptiaâ—um 1 Similitude 2 similitude 3 similitude 4 â—imiâ—itude 5 similitude Horâ—ible effects of gun-powder A new kind of suppuratiue A pleasant answer and to the purpose Euill pâ—actisers do open both the heaueâ—â— and the eaâ—th 1 Reason Answer 2 Reason Answer 3 Reason Answer 4 Reason Answer 5 Râ—ason Answer A great Anotation Neâ—essarie iudgâ—ment to auoyde scandall
she presently sware vnto me in her language Si messé à lafe de dé which did incite mee to make experience hereof on this Scullion of the kitchin where truely I found the morrow after that in those parts where the Onions had touched to bee altogether free from vessickes or blisters and the other parts where the Onions were not applied to bee much blistered Not long after a certaine Dutch-man one of the Guard of the saide Lord de Monte-jan hauing drunke hard by indiscretion set his Flaske afire which caused a great disaster both to his hands and face and being called to dresse him I applyed of the saide Onions on the one halfe of his face and on the other side of other common remedies At the second dressing I founde that part vvhere I had applyed the Onions to be altogether without blisters or any excorlation and the other altogether blistred then I first purposed to write of the effect of the saide Onions Moreouer I tolde vnto the saide Syluius that for the better extraction of bullets which are hidden in anie part of the bodie it is requisite the patient should be placed in the same situation that he was in at that time when he was wounded Manie other things I discouered vnto him which are contained in this Booke following My discourse ended he prayed mee verie earnestly that I would publish it by writing to the end that that false opinion of Vigo might be altogether abollished the which I willingly consented vnto and caused manie instruments to be cut such as had not bene divulged for the extraction of bullets other vnnatural things out of the bodie And it was first imprinted in the yeare 1545. and well receiued which caused me to renew it againe and publish it the second time in the yeare 1552. and lastly in the yeare 1564. where I haue enriched it with manie other things because I haue since followed the warres haue bene in many battels and besiedged Townes as in Metz and Hedin Also I haue beene entertained into the seruice of fiue Kings where I haue alwayes discoursed with the most excellent Physitians Chirurgians of those times to learne and discouer if there were any other Method or way to cure those wounds made by Gunne-shot whereof the most part especially those that haue followed the warres and are guided by reason and experience are of my opinion which is to vse Suppuratiues in the beginning and not boyling oyles And I did protest moreouer to the said Syluius that I haue found those woundes as easie to cure being in fleshy parts as all other great contused wounds are But where the bullet meeteth with the bones and neruous parts it teareth dilacerateth breaketh breaketh and shiuereth in peeces not only where it toucheth but also the circumiacent parts without any mercy causing great accidents which happen specialy in the iounctures or ioynts and in bodies of euill constitution and in times subiect to corruption that is to say where the ayre is hot and moist then is the cure most difficult oftentimes impossible not only of wounds made by Gun-shot but also of those which are made by other instruments yea though they were but in fleshy parts Therefore the aforesaide accidents doe not proeeede from the venenosity which is in the powder or by the combustion or burning of the Bullet For proofe whereof I will alledge this obseruation which I haue experimented not long since on the person of the Earle of Courdon Lord of Achindon a Scottishman whome I cured by the commandement of the Queene-mother who was hurt with the shot of a Pistoll cleane through both the Thighes without fracture of the bones he standing so neere the mouth of the Pistoll that the fire tooke hold of his breeches neuerthelesse hee was perfectly cured in two and thirty dayes without a Feauer or any other euill accident I drest him at Sir Iohn de Latran in the house of the Arch-byshoppe of Glasco then Ambassador for Scotland who came euerie day to see him drest Moreouer for testimony I could produce Mounsieur Brigard Doctor Regent in the Facultie of Physicke who was an assistant with me together with Iames Guillemean Chirurgian to the King sworne at Paris who was with mee vntill his perfect curation The same likewise Mounsieur Hantiâ— Doctor Regent in the faculty of Physicke can testifie who sometimes came to see him Also Giles Buzet Scotchman and Chirurgian euerie of them meruailing how he became so soone cured without the application of hot and sharp Medicines Now the reasons wherfore I haue made this little Discourse is to demonstrate that it is aboue thirty yeares ago since I first found out this manner of curing wounds made by Gunne-shot without the vse of boyling Oyles or anie other sharpe or burning Medicines vnlesse I was constrain'd to vse them for such accidents which happened in Cacochymed bodies or through the euill disposition and malignancie of the ayre as I will shew more amply in this Discourse following which I made vnto the deceased King after the taking of Roan Another Discourse being an Answere vnto a certaine Demand propounded by the victorious Prince Charles the ninth as touching the quality and Essence of Woundes made by Gun-shot at his Maiesties returne from the siedge and taking of the Towne of Roan IT one day pleased your Maiesty together with the Queene Mother my Lorde the Prince of La Roche-sur Yon and many other Princes and great Lords to demand of me how it came to passe that in these last Warres the most part of such Gentlemen and Souldiers who were wounded by Gun-shot and other instruments of warre died or were very hardly recouered from their diseases although the wounds which they receiued were but of small apparance and the Chirurgians which were employed for their cures did performe their duties according to Art I haue bene the bolder to publish this discourse to satisfie in some measure the duty of my Arâ— and that my profession might not be spoâ—ted with the least dishonor and that your Maiesty might vnderstand the reasons which might haue beene the cause of the death of so many valiant men the most part of whom I haue seene to my great greefe to finish their daies pittifully without any possibility in mee or any other more experienced then my selfe to giue them remedy I know that this following discourse will astonish some who reposing themselues vppon their owne particular opinions and not examining the matter deepely will finde the first front of my disputation very strange because that the contrarie hath beene so long imprinted in their fantasies For I do hold that the cause of the malignancy of wounds by Gun-shot not to proceed from anie poison or venomous quality in the powder as they imagine or from the bullet it selfe beeing rubbed or infused in any venomous mixture Neuerthelesse if their meekenesse and patience will extend so far as first to
Faintings Palsie Gangrena Mortification and finally deaâ—h They oftentimes send forth a Sanies virulent very fâ—etide which proceedeth from the great abundance of humors which flow to the wounded part because of the vehement crushing contusion and dilaceration of the parts and for want of natural heat to comfort and gouerne them Also by reason of the Cacochimy of the body and the neruous partes as the ioynts also such wounds are founde for the most part greater then such which are made by the punction of a Buckes horne or the Wound made by a stone or any other such like Contusions because that the thing it selfe was round anb doth therfore require a greater and more violent impetuosity to make it penetrate into the inward parts of the body wherein it seemeth to equallize the blowes of thunder CHAP. III. The manner how to handle the aforesaide woundes at the first dressing FIrst it is conuenient that the Chirurgian shold amplifie the wound if the part offended doe permit the same for these causes that is both to giue free â—ssue vnto the Sanies as also to giue ample passage vnto all such straunge bodyes which might haue bene conueyed in with the shot and to draw them forth if any there be as any portion of the apparrell wad paper peeces of Harnesse Maile Bullets Shot Splinters of bones dilacerated flesh and other things that shall bee found therein and this to bee done at the first dressing if it be possible For the accidents of pain and sensibility are not so great in the beginning as they are afterwards Now for the better extraction of the aforesaid things you ought to place the Patient in the same situation that he was at the time when he was first shot because that the Muscles and other parts being otherwaies situate may stop and hinder the way and for the better finding of the saide Bullets and other things it is fitting that search bee made with the finger if it be possible rather then with any Instrument because that the sense of feeling is more certaine then any Probe or other insensible thing But if the bullet haue pierced farre into the body there it may be reached with a Probe round in the end thereof for feare of causing paine neuerthelesse it hapneth somtimes that the Bullet cannot be found by the Probe as it hapned in the campe of Parpignan to my Lord the Marshall of Brissac who was wounded with a Musket shot neere to the right Omoplâ—â—e or shoulder-blade where many Chirurgians because they could not finde the saide Bullet affirmed that it was entered into the capacity of the body but I â—ot hauing that opinion came to seeke for the Bullet where first without vsing any Probe I caused him to be placed in the same gesture of bodie as he was at that time when he was Wounded then I began wiâ—h my fingers gently to compresse about the neighbouring parts of the wound in doing whâ—reof I found a tumor and hardnesse in â—he flesh with the sense of paine and liuiditie of colour in the place where the Bullet was which was betwixt the lower part of the Omoplate and the seuenth and eight Vertebre or turning ioynt of the backe In which place incision was made to draw forth the shot whereby he was shortly after cured Wherefore it is very conuenient to search for the Bullet not onely with the Probe but as I saide before with the fingers by handling and feeling the part and places about the same where you may coniecture the Bullet to haue penetrated Chap. 4. A Description of such Instruments which are proper to extract Bullets and other strangâ— Bodyes AS for the strange bodies which may be infixed in the wound they may bee extracted by such Instruments heereafter described which are different both in figure and greatnesse according as neede shall require whereof some are toothed others not And it is fit the Chirurgian should haue of many and diuers fashions some greater and some sâ—aller of euery kind to accommodate them to the bodies and wounds and not the bodies and wounds to his Instruments The Crowes Bill toothed A Cranes Bill brought into the forme of an Elbow Cubite or bowed arme This following is called the Cranes bill because of the similitude it hath thereunto the which in like manner ought to bee toothed and it is proper to extract any thing from the bottom of the wound both shot maile splinters of fractured bones other things The Cranes bill straight This Instrument is called tâ—e Duckes Bill hauing a Cauity in the extreamity or end thereof large and round toothed the better to holde the Bullet and it is proper principally when the Bâ—llet hapneth in the flesâ—ty parts The Duckes Bill Another Fashion of draw-Bullet Another fashion of Draw Bullet called the Lizards head to draw the Bullet marked with the same Letters as the former A. sheweth the Pipe or the hollow body of the instrument B. The Rod which openeâ—h shutteth the head of the Instrument C. The ioynt Another Instrument called the Parrats Bill and it is proper to draw foorth any peeces of Harnesse which may be inserted into the â—ottome of the Member or also into the bones A. sheweth the stalke of the Vice B. The Scrue C. The runner which by the meanes of a Vice is scrued higher or lower DD The other part which is fixed with a Cauitie in the middest thereof wherein the Runner is placed Another Instrument which is callled the Swans biâ—l which opneth wiâ—h a Vice accompanyed with a payre of Foâ—ceps which heere before wee haue called the Cranes bill and it serueth to drawe foorth any strange body after that the wound is dilated with the saide Swans Bill If the strange bodyes especially the Bullet or shot be not very deepe they may be drawne forth by Eleuatories An Instrument called the Tire-fond Another Instrument called the Tirefond the which is turned by a Scrue within a pipe or hollow Instrument aâ—d it is very conuenient to extract forth the aforesaid Bullets when they are penetrated or are infixed in the bones for the point thereof is to be serued into the Bullet prouided that it be of Lead or Tin for it cannot enter inâ—o a harder body and by that meanes it may be easily drawne forth A Dilatorie This Instrument is named a Dilatory which may be vsed to open and dilate the wounds to the end that the strange bodyes may the easier bee found and extracted for by compressing together the two ends thereof the other two do open it may also serue in many places as the nostrils fundament and other parts The Instruments which follow are Needles for the Seton and are very conuenient when as you would passe in a Seton to keepe the wound the way of the Bullet open vntill you haue drawne forth all the straunge bodies which might yet remaine therein besides they may serue to exploraâ—e or search into deepe wounds to
find the Bullet not causing any paine because they are round and pollished towards their extremities You must vnderstand that those Probes which are vsed to serch the bullet ought to be of a mean greatnâ—sse pollished and round on their extreamities because that the edges of the wound and the way whereby the Bullet hath passed doeth incontinently ioyne together and touch the one side against the other In such maner that the sayd wound or way of the Bullet will appeare in sight to be much smaller then it is and for that cause those Probes which are slender and sharp are nothing so commodious for they will stop and stay on euery part of the reioyned wound and cannot so easily be conducted to the place where the bullet is as those which are somewhat greater Also those which are small and slender doe pricke and offend the flesh of the wound whereby the Patient is much mollested and is oftentimes a cause that the Bullet cannot be found Also you ought in like manner to haue those which are greater longer to passe through the thigh when necessity shall require Which length of them ought to be changed and diuersified according to the greatnesse of the wounded member For I am of this opinion that one should not striue too much to make them passe alwayes thorough the wounded parts for feare of induring paine and other accidents For the Patient may be cured as well although the Seton be not passed thorough as by experience it hath beene seene that a Bullet hath bene shot through the body and yet without the passing through of a Seton they haue neuerthelesse bene cured Probes which may serue for Setons CHAP. V. The manner how to handle those woundes at the first dressing after that the strange bodyes are extracted AFter you haue drawne forth the strange Bodies by the aforesaide meanes the principall intention shall be to combate against the contusion and alteration of the aire if it be hot moist and disposed to putrifaction which shall be done both by remedies taken inwardly as by others applyed outwardly and also put or infused within the wound For those which are to bee taken inwardly ought to be administred by the counsel ordinance of the learned Physitian to whose doctrine I leaue all that may appertaine both to the manner of liuing and the purgation of the Patient But as for the topical medicines the Chirurgian accâ—rding to the things aforesaid ought to consider of the constitution of the times and of the aire For if there bee no danger of the part to fall into a Gangrena he shall vse suppuratiues as in contused wounds which are Oleum Catellorum or of a digestiue hauing a regard to the nature of the part because that the neruous parts doe require Medicines more drying then the fleshye parts do For in the ioynts and neruous parts you may vse of the Terebinth of Venice or the Oyle of waxe of Masticke the yolkes of Egges adding thereto a little Aqua-vitae rectified Such like things haue power to disiccate and consume the watrish humidity which issueth from the neruous parts and aâ—so easeth the paine Ionbertus Physitian in ordinary to the King and Chancellour of the vniuersity of Montpellier who hath most learnedly written of the Woundes made by Gunshot because he hath seene many wounded when he followed the wars in the Treatise which he hath made he saith that in the simple wounds made by shot there ought not to be vsed any Medicine Escharoticke or that causeth an escharre either actuall or potentiall because they doe endure paine Inflammation Gangrena Feauer other pernicious accidents Also because that the Eschar or crust hinâ—ereth the suppuration which ought presently to bee indured to separate the contused flesh together with the Sanies lest that all should degenerate into putrifaction as easilie it may when the superfluous humour putrifieth long in one place not hauing free passage not so much as for the exhalatioÌ„ of the putrified vapors because that they are enclosed and couered in with the eschar which being inclosed doe multiply insomuch that they do require a greater place then is permitted them then they passe and enter from the small vessels into the greater and from thence into the noble parts from whence most commonly ensueth dâ—ath neuerâ—helesse if there bee any suspition of putrifaction then in such a case you ought to passe from suppuratiues vnto remedies that do resist putrifaction leauing the proper care â—o come vnto the accidents Wherefore at the first dressing in the case aforesaide in the wound may bee vsed this following vnguent â„ž puluer alumin. rochae viâ—idis aeris vitrioli romani mellis rosat an â„¥ ij aceti boni quantum sufficit bulliant omnia simul secundum artem fiat medicamentum ad formam mellis The Vertues of this vnguent is that because of the heat tenuity thereof it inciseth and attenuâ—teth the humors reuoketh the naturall heate which was repelled by the vehement impulsion of the blow the violent agitation of the aire conducted by the Bullet Moâ—eouer it correcteth the putrifaction of the virulent humor which presently cleaueth vnto and so disposeth the contused flesh in such manner that it maketh an escharre This vnguent when and as often as it shall be needfull may bee applyed with Tents or Setons beeing first dissolued with a little wine or Aqua-vitae The which tents ought to be both great and long for the first dressing thereby to inlarge and dilate the wound that the Medicines may therby the better be conveyed in But afterwards they ought not to be applyed so long or great Also that the Medicine may the better be conueyed into the bottome of the wounds it may bee incited in with a Syringe Moreouer the vertue and strength thereof shal be diminished according to the temperature of the body and sensibility of the hurt As if the wound be in the neruous parts it shall be mixed with the Oyles of Terebinth or of Hypericon in such quantity as the expert Chirurgian shall know to bee needfull But the Egyptiacum is not to bee vsed at all vnlesse it bee in such times which are Pestilentiall and dangerous for those saide wounds that they do decline to putrifaction After the vse of Egyptiacum you may separate make the escharre fall with remollitiue and lenitiue things as the following Oyle in vsing thereof a litle hotter then luke-warme â„ž Olei violati lb iiij in quibus coquantur catelli duo nuper nati vsque ad dissolutionem ossium addendo vermium terrestrium praeparatorum lb j. coquantur simul lento igne deinde fiat expressio ad vsum addendo Terebinthinae Venetae â„¥ iij. aquae vitae â„¥ j. The said Oyle is of great meruellous efficacy both to appease the paine as also to suppurate the wound and to make the escharre fall But for want thereof this which followeth may be applied which
is most certaine that they will heat the part and acquire to themselues an acrimony which afterwards will eate into the edges and other parts of the wound from whence insueth dolour fluxion inflammation fluxe of blood Apostume and putrifaction which are easily communicated to the noble parts and cause afterwards many pernitious accidents And therfore the Chirurgian need not to feare any thing at all of the closing or conglutinating of the aforesaide wounds because that the flesh being so greatly contused and dilacerated cannot consolidate vntill the contusion be first suppurated and mundified And therefore I aduise him not to vse any Tents or Setons but those that are very small and slender to the end that they may not hinder the issue of the matter contained and that the patient may indure them easily thereby to auoyde the aforesaid accidâ—nts The vse of Tents and Setons is to carry the medicine vnto the bottom of the wounds and to keepe them open especially in their Orifices vntill that the strange and vnnaturall things be expelled but if the wound bee sinuous and deep in such maner that the medicines cannot be conueyed vnto all the offended parts then you may make iniection with the decoction following â„ž Aquae hordei lb iiij agrimon centauris minoris Pimpinellae Absinth Plantag an m ss Rad. Aristoloch rotun Ê’ ss fiat decoctio ad lb j. in colatura expressa dissolue aloes hepaticae Ê’ iij. mellis rosat â„¥ ij bulliant modicum With this there shall be inuection made three or four times together every time that the patient is dressed And if this remedy be not sufficient to clense the matter and to consume the spongy and putrified flesh you may then mixe with the said decoction of Egyptiacum dissolued in such a quantity as necessity shall require as for a pound of the sayd decoction an ounce of the said vnguent more or lesse the which is of most great efficacy to correct the spongeous flesh from the bottome of the said wounds the like also doth the saide Egyptiacum being applyed aboue on the excresence of the spongeous flesh I haue in like manner experimented the powder of Mercury and Alom burned mixed together in equall portions to haue in that case the like vertue vnto sublimate or Arsnick but in working it is nothing so painfull and it maketh also a very great eschar whereat sometimes I haue much wondred Some practitioners doe vse oftentimes to leaue a great quantitie of their iniections in the bottome of such sinewous wounds the which I approoue not For besiâ—es the putrifaction and corruption which thereby it getâ—eth it holdeth the parts extended and doeth humid or moysten them wherâ—by it commeth to passe that Nature cannot do her duty to regenerate the flesh considering that for the curation of all Vlcers that being an Vlcer as saith Hippocrates the scope or intention ought to be to dissicate them and not moisten them Many doe erre also in the too frequent vse of Setons in this That not applying themselues to reason they do vse to renew them alwaies wherby they rub and fret away the tender flesh on the edges of the wounâ— the which rubbing and chafing doth not onely cause paiâ—e but also bringeth with it many euill accidents And therefore I doe very much commend the vse of the hollow tent which are made either of Golde Siluer or Lead such as are described in the wounds of Thorax I meane to be vsed in such places which haue lapasity sufficient and where there shal be great quantity of Sanies Also it is most needfull that there should bee applyed Compresses or Boulsters iust vpon the bottome of the sinus thereby to comprimate those parts which are distant from the Orifice to expell the Sanies To which end it is fitting that the boulster be perforated iust vpon the orifice of the sinuous vlcer and vpon the hollow tents that therein there bee placed a sponge to receiue the Sanies for by this meanes the expulsion euacuation and absumption thereof shall be much better In rolling the Ligature ought to bee first begun on the bottom of the sinus with a mean combustion to the end that the matter bee not retayned within the Cauity thereof The Rollers and Boulsters proper to this operation shall bee first moistned in Oxycrat or soure Wine or in any other astringent liquor to roborate and strengtheÌ„ the part and to hinder the defluxion But great heed ought to be taken that ther be not too great an astriction made vppon the part because that thorough the astriction or straight binding extreame paine may be produced by meanes of the exhalation of the fuliginous excrements which therby are prohibited Also it may cause the member to become Atrophied or withered thorough the too long continuation of the said Rollers CHAP. VII Of the meanes to draw foorth such strange bodyes which shall yet remaine to be extracted AND where there shall remaine any splinters of bones which at the beginning were not extracted by the aforesaid Instruments then you ought to apply this medicine which is of great power to draw them foorth and all other strange bodies â„ž Radicis ireos florent panac Cappar an Ê’ iij. aristolochiae rotundae mannae thuris an Ê’ i. in pollinem redecta concorporentur mell rosar terebinth venetae ana â„¥ ij Another remedy to take away the saide Splinters and corrupted bones â„ž Resina pini siccae â„¥ iij Pumicis combusti extincti in vin albo radic ireos aristolochiae ana Ê’ ss thuris Ê’ j. squamae aeris ss ij in pollinem rediganter diligenter incorporentur cum melle rosato fiat medicamentum Besides these remedies which haue in them from their nature such power to attract foorth strange bodies there are of others which haue the like effect and vâ—rtue by putrifaction Vt omnia stercorâ— Animalium Also Leauen and such like as Galen writeth CHAP. VIII Of the Indications which ought to bee obserued in the saide wounds THE mundification and the extraction of the saide strange bodies being done it followeth then to aide Nature both to regenerate flesh also to cicatrice it as wel by things taken inwardly as by outward Medicines hereunto conuenient and to proceede therein by certaine Indications which are taken first from the essence of the disease and from the cause thereof If it bee present although that from the primitiue cauâ—e according to Galen in the third of his Method â—here ought no Indication to bee taken no more then from the time wherein hee meaneth from the absent cause and from the time past In like manner Indication ought to be taken from the foure vniuersall times of the cureable disease that is to say from the beginning increasing state and declination according to the which times the remedies ought to be diuersied Another Indication is takeÌ„ from the temperature of the Paâ—ient which also changeth the curation For euery rationall
and Methodicke Chirurgian knoweth well that other remedies are required in a Chollericke body then in a Flegmatick and so of the other temperatures both simple and compound Vnder the which Indication of the temperature shall bee comprehended that of the Age which receyueth not all remedies alike but demaundeth some for the yong persons and others for the old Moreouer Indication is to bee taken from the custome or manner of liuing of the Patient as whether hee hath beene accustomed to eate and drink much and at all houres for then you ought not to ordaine him such an exquisite dyet as vnto him that is accustomed to eate and drinke but little and at certaine houres and therefore the diet of Panades are not so proper vnto vs as vnto the Italians because our bodies require more lenitiue things which effect it woorketh with them because of Custome which is a second Nature Vnder this accustomed manner of liuing ought to be vnderstood the condition of the life and the exercise of the Patient forasmuch as you ought to vse stronger remedies vnto the robusticke men of labour such as haue their flesh hard then you ought to vse vpon the delicate and such which labour but little and exercise lesse Some there bee that had rather comprehend this Indication vnder that of the temperature For my part I wil not dispute of it but will leaue the resolution thereof wholly to the Doctors The Indication taken from the vertue of the patient is aboue all other things to be respected because that it failing or being very weake all other things ought necessarily to bee best to come vnto it As when we are inforced through necessity to take off a member or to make any great incisions or such like things if the patient haue not vertue sufficient to indure the paine it is necessary to deferre such operations if it possible vntill that Nature be restored and hath recouered her vertues both by good nourishment and rest Another Indication may bee taken from the Ayre which doth encompasse vs vnder the which are comprehended the seasons of the yeere the region the place of our abiding and the constitution of the time For accordiâ—g to the heat coldnesse drinesse and moysture of the aire also according to the continuation of these qualâ—ties the Medicines ought to be prepared And therefore as sayth Guido the wounds in the head are more difficult to heale at Paris then at Auignon and the wounds in the legges are more tedious at Auignon then in Paris by reason that in Paris the ayre is more cold and moyst then at Auignon which is a contrary thing especially to all woundes in the head Contrarywise in Auignon the heate of the incompassing aire doeth melt and subtillize the humors whereby such humours more easily and in greater abundance do fall downe into the legs from whence it commeth that the wounds in the legges are more difficult to cure at Auignon then at Paris But if any one doe alledge experience to the contrary that the woundes in the head do more often become lethall or mortal in hotte Regions then in colde To him I answer that that proceedeth not by reason of the aire inasmuch as it is hot and dry but because of some superfluous humidity or euill vapour communicated with the aire as in those partes of Prouence and Italy which are neere to the Mediterranean sea The Indication of curation may also bee taken from the temperature of the wounded partes for the fleshy parts doe require other remedies then the Bones or the Neruous partes and so others The like ought to bee obserued concerning the sensibility of the saide parts which in like manner altereth the manner of curation for it is not sitting to apply such sharpe and violent medicines to the Nerues and Tendons as to the Ligaments and other insensible parts The dignity and action of the wounded parts hath no lesse priuiledge in the act of curation then the former For if the wound be in the Braine or in any other of the vitall or naturall parts it behooueth that their Medicines diuersified and applied according to their dignity and action because that from the contemplation of these wounds is oftentimes gathered a certain iudgement of the insuing accidents For such woundes which doe penetrate into the ventricle of the Braine the Heart or in the great vessels in the Chest in the Neruous part of Diaphragma in the Liuer in the stomack in the smal guts and in the bladder if the wound bee great they are necessarily mortall Also such which are in the ioynts or neere thereunto and in bodies Cacochymed or of an ill habitude are oftentimes mortall as hath beene sayde heere before In like manner the Indications which are taken from the position and colligance of the affected part ought not to bee forgotten neither the figure thereof as Galan hath sufficiently explained in the 7. of his Method and in the second to Glaucus CHAP. IX How Diseases become compounded MOreouer in taking the aforesaid Indication you ought to consider whether there bee a complication of the disease or not For euen as the simple disease proposeth a simple Indication so the complications of the indispositions against Nature do propose mixâ—d or compounded Indications Now the aforesaide complications are made after three manner of wayes that is to say disease with disease as a Wound with an Apostume or fracture of the bones Disease with cause as an Vlcer with defluxion Disease with symptome as a wound with paine or with a Fluxe of blood Or all things against Nature together as disease cause and symptome Now that you might know how to handle artificially all these complications you must followe the Doctrine of Galen in the 7. of his Method who exhorteth vs to consider the complicated affections as that which is the most vrgent the cause and that wâ—thout the which the disease cannot be taken away And these are things of great importâ—nce in the curation of all diseases herein the Empericke becommeth wauering and vncertaine without counsell or resolution not knowing with which of the affections hee ought first to begin withall for the cure Buâ— the iâ—dicious Physitian to the contrary is directed by those three golden wordâ— from the which depend both the order and method in all such complicated dispositions and affections The symptomes inasmuch as they are symptomes do not giue any Indication at all neyther do they charge or alter the order of the curation For in taking away the disease which is the cause of the symptome they are remooued because they depend thereon as the shadow doth the body although oftentimes we are constrained to leaue the disease in an irregular care to come vnto the accidents of the Disease the which if they are vrgent doe holde the place of the cause and not properly of the symptomes To conclude all the sayde Indications are but to attaine to two endes
that is to say to restore the part in its naturall temperature and that the blood offend not neyther in quantity nor quality That being done as saith Galen nothing will hinder neyther the regeneration of the flesh nor the vnion of the vlcer Buâ— sometimes it is not possible to put the aforesayde Indications in execution either because of the greatnesse of the wound or the excesse and disobedience of the Patient or because of some other indisposition which hath happened through the ignorance of the Chirurgian or from the ill or disordered application of the Medicines And therefore by meanes of these things there followeth great paines Feauers Apostumes Gangrenaes vulgarly and abusiuely called Estiomenes Mortifications and oftentimes death it selfe Moreouer those that receyue wounds by Gunshot do eyther dye or else remaine maymed and defectiue all their life after CHAP. X. How the Chirurgian shall proceede in the handling of the saide wounds IN the beginning therefore great regard ought to bee taken to mittigate the payne as much as may be by repercussing the defluxion by ordayning a dyet according to the six vnnatural things and they annexed by anoyding all hot and sharp things and by diminishing or altogether prohibiting wine lest it should heat subtillize make the humors flow to the part His maner of liuing ought in the beginning to be very slender thereby to make revulsion For when the stomacke is not filled sufficiently it attracteth from all partes vnto it by meanes whereof the externe parts hauing affinity therewith do remaine empty And this is the reason wherefore the patient ought to keepe a slender dyet in the first dayes of his hurt Venus is altogether contrary vnto them inasmuch as it enflameth the humors and spirits more then any other motion and for this cause it maketh the wound to bee much enflamed and subiect to defluxion And it wil not be amisse in the beginning if there be a sluxe of bloode to let it moderately flow thereby to discharge the body and the part and where it hath not sufficiently flowed you ought the day following to vse revulsiue Phlebotomy and to take away according to the fulnesse and vertue of the patient You neede not feare of making of auersion of the blood toward the Noble partâ— For as we haue saide there is no venomous quality thâ—rein neuerthelesse it is generally â—bserued that such wounds at that iâ—stant doe send forth bâ—t little bloode because of the great conâ—usion made by the Bulâ—et and tâ—e vehemence of the agitated aire which doth repulse and driue back the spirits into the inwâ—rd parts and into the circumiacent parts of the wound as we haue sayd before This is ordinarily knowne in those who haue had a member carried away with a great shot for at the instant of their hurts there issueâ—h but little blood forth of their wounds although that there be many great Veines and Arteries broken dilacerated But a certaine time afterwards as in the fourth fift or sixt day and sometimes later the blood will yssue foorth in great abundance by meanes of the returning of the spirits and natural heate into the affected paâ—ts As for the purgatiue Medicines I leaue them to the Doctors Neuerthelesse in their absencâ— it is necessarie to relaxe and moue the belly of the patient at the least once a day either by aâ—t or by Nature which shal be done râ—ther by Custers then Purgations especially in the fiâ—st dayes because that the agitation of the humors in that case is to be suspected least they shold maâ—e a greater defluxion to the wounded part Nâ—uerthelesse Galen in the fourth booke of his Method Cap 6. speaking of the Indications of bleeding and purging where he saith That bleeding and purging are necessary according to the greatnesse of the disease althogh that the patiâ—nt be without repletion or cacochymy or euill constitution Paine ought to be appeased according to the intention and remission thereof which to do if it happen that there is an inflammatiâ—n you may apply thereto as a locall medicine Vnguentum nutritum composed with the iâ—yce of Plantane Housleeke and Night-shade and such like Also the Emplaister Diachalciteos describâ—d by Galen in his first Booke of the Composition of Medicines according to their kinds chap. 6. dissolued vvith the oyle of Poppy of roses and a little Vinegar and it is of no little efficacy for that purpose Also vng de bolo and many others of that facultie if they be not properly anodins for all Anodins are hot in the first degree or at the least agreeing in heate with our bodies as saieth Galen in his first Booke and 19. chap. of Simples â—nd the aforesaid medicines are cold yet not so much as that thereby they should become Naucotick the which are cold in the fourth degree But to bee short the aboue-mentioned in the aforesaid case do appease the paine very commâ—diously because they are contrary vnto hot distâ—mperatures and doe prohibit the defluxions of humors which oftentimes are sharpe and chollericke which are more apte to flow then the cold and do cause a greater pain After the vsage of repercussiues I do meruellously approue this Cataplasme â„ž Micae panis infusae in lacte vaccino lb j. ss bulliant parum addendo olei violacei rosâ— an â„¥ iij vitellos ouorum numer quatuor pul rosar rubr florum chamemel melior an â„¥ ij far fabar hord ana â„¥ j. misce fiat cataplasma secundum artem Or for a Medicine sooner prepared thou must take of the crummes of bread and so let it be a little boyled with Oxycrat and the Oyle of Roses As concerning the curation of such Apostumes which happen in these Wounâ—es it is expedient that their Medicines should bee diuersied according to their times For some medicines are proper in the beginning others in the augmentation and others in other times as hath beene sufficiently declared by Galen in his thirde Booke and ninth chapter of the faculty of Medicines And by Guido in the curation of Apostumes and by those that haue written thereof And where Nature shall incline to suppuration it is most needful to attend her as sayth Hippocrates for the Physitian and Chirurgean are but the ministers and helpers of Nature to ayde her in those thinges whereunto commodiously she enclineth CHAP. XI Of such Buâ—lets which haue remained in certain parts a long time after the Curation of the wounds SOmetimes the Bullets of Lead haue remayned a long time within the members as for the space of seuen or eight yeeres and more there following neuerthelesse not any euill accident nor hinderance of the consolidation of the wound they haue continued there so long till they haue bene thrust forth by the expulsiue vertue discending downe by meanes of their grauity and heauinesse into the inferiour parts in the which they will manifest themselues and then ought to bee drawne forth by the operation of
the Chirurgean Now this continuation of them so long in the body without any corruption or euill accident in my opinion doth proceede from no other thing but from the matter of the Lead whereof the sayd Bullets were composed For so it is that Lead hath a certain familiarity and agreement with nature especially of the fleshy parts euen as we see by ordinary experience which teacheth vs that Lead being outwardly applyed hath the vertue to close and cicatrise old vlcers but if the bullet were of stone of Iron or of any other mettal it is a most assured thing that they couâ—d not abide long in the body because that the Iron Bullet would rust and thereby corrode the part where it lyeth from whence would ensue many pernitious accidents But if the bullet be in the neruous or noble parts although it were but of Lead it could not continue there long wiâ—hout bringing with it manie great inconueniences therefore when it cometh to passe that it remaineth a loâ—g tiâ—e in the body it is in the fleâ—â—y parts and in bodyes of good temperature and habitude otherwise it cannot stâ—y there without inducing pain and many other accidents as hath bâ—ne sayd CHAP. XII Of the great Contusions and dâ—â—acerations made by the Bullâ—ts of great shot MOreouer if the Bullet of a great peece of Ordinance do strike against any member it for the most part doeth eiâ—her carry it away or else breake and batter it in such a fashion through the great vehemeâ—cy thereâ—f that it shiuereth and breaketh the bones not onely of those which it toucheth but also of those that are farther off because that the bonebeing hard doth in some sort make a liâ—tle resistance by which meanes the Bullet hath the greater force against it That this is true wee see ordinarily that â—he saide Ordinance hath much more action effect against a strong wall then against a rampire of earth or a Woolsacke and other soft things as we haue said here before Therefore it is no meruaile if after such wounds made by Gun-shot there follow dolor inflammation feauer spasme Apostume Gangrena Mortification and oftentimes death For those great contusions of the Neruous parts the breakings or vehement concussions of the bones made by the saide Bullets do cause greeuous accidents and not the combustâ—on and venenositie of the powder as many doe thinke not considering the matter of the sayd â—owder the which as I haue said it is not venomous for if the wounde bee made in a fleâ—â—y part without touching the Neruous parts it onely requirech such remedies for their curatiâ—n aâ— aâ—l other contused woâ—ndes do without they degenerate as I haue saide here before into an euill quality through the corruption of the aiâ—e the which causeâ— not many yeeres since the wounds that were then receiued to bee much altered and corrupted with a great putrifaction in the fleshy and bony partes From the which as I saide before were eleuated many vapors into the Braine the Heart and the Liuer from whence proceeded many euill accidents death to the most part CHAP. XIII Of the meanes which ought to bee obserued to rectifie the ayre to râ—borate the noble parts and to fortifie the whole body AND therefore the Chirurgian ought to haue a great care to administer all thinges which haue power to rectifie the aire and to roborate and strengthen the noble parts also to fortify the whole body which shall be done by the ensuing things which are to be administred both inwardly and outwardly For the Patient shall take inwardly in the morning three houres before hee â—ate any thing of the Tabul Diarrhodon abatis or de aroiâ— ros de triasant diamoschi de Laetificans Galâ—nt and other of the like vertue Outwardly shall be vsed Epithemes vppon the Region of the heart and Liuer a little more then luke-warme applied with a peece of Scarlet or Sponge Felt or a fine linnen cloth This following may serue for a form vnto euery Chirurgian â„ž Aquae rosarum â„¥ iiij Aquae buglo aceti boni an â„¥ ij Coriand praeparat Ê’ iiij Garyophyllor Corticum citri an Ê’ j. santali rub Ê’ ss corall vtriusque Ê’ j. camph. ℈ j. croci ℈ ss pul diarrho abbatis Ê’ ij theria mithridat an â„¥ ss pulu florum camomillae melilio ana â„¥ j. misce fiat Epithema Moreouer you ought to giue the patient odorifferous and refrigerant things to smell to often to roborate the animall faculty as this which followeth R Aqua rosaceae aceti boni ana â„¥ iij. garyophyl nucis mosca cinamoni conquatassorum therica Galeni ana Ê’ j. And therein let a Handkercher or sponge bee dipped which the Patient shall aiwayes hold to his nose He may vse also an aromaticke Apple or Pomander for the same intention as is this â„ž Rosar rubrar violar ana Ê’ iij. baccarum myrrhi Iuniperi santali rubr ana Ê’ ij ss benioin Ê’ i. camph. ℈ ij fiat puluis Postea â„ž Olei Ros. nenuph. ana â„¥ ss styracis calamitae Ê’ ij aquae rosarum quantum satis est liquefiant simul cum cera alba quantum suffic fiat Ceratum ad comprehendendos supra dictos pulueres cum pistillo calido fiat pomum Another â„ž Radic ireos florent maioranae calami ariomatici ladani benâ—oin rad cyp garyoph ana â„¥ ij mosci g. iiij fiat puluis et cum gummi tragachan quantum sufficit fiat pomum Another â„ž Ladani puri â„¥ ij benioin â„¥ ss styrac calam Ê’ vi ireos Florentiae â„¥ ss garyophil Ê’ iij maiora rosarum rubrarum calami aromat ana Ê’ ss puluerisentur omnia et bulliant cum aqua rosarum quantum sufficit et colentur et colata liquefiant cum cer alb quantuÌ„ sufficit styracis liquidae â„¥ j. fiat ad modum Cerati comprehendantur per pistillum addendo moschi Ê’ j. fiat pomum In like manner you may apply of your Frontals to roborate the animall faculty to prouoke sleepe and to mitigate and ease the paine of the head as this following â„ž aqua rosaceae â„¥ ij Olei rosar et papaueris ana â„¥ j ss aceti boni trochiscorum de Camphora Ê’ ss fiat Frontale The way to apply it is thus Take a linnen cloth and folde it vp fiue or six times double that done dip it in the aforesaid commixtion and so apply it on the Temples a little warme which being dry ought to bee renewed againe Herein note that in this case the head ought not to be bound hard lest that therby the free pulsation of the arteries of the temples be hindred whereby the paine of the head might bee augmentrd There are many other exteriour remedies whereby the aire might be corrected as to make a good fire in the Chamber of the patient with the wood of Iuniper of Bayes vine braâ—ches Rosemary of Floure de Luce roots also by things sprinkled in the chamber as water and vinegar
The said Frications did reuoke and attract the spirits and the blood and resolued such fuligenous humors which were detained betweene the skin and the flesh And therefore the parts were afterwardes better nourished and refreshed so that so soone as his paines beganne to passe away as also the Feauer he began to sleepe well and to haue a good appetite and therefore we caused him to vse good Meates and to drinke good wine and good beâ—râ— we brake our fasts together hee and my selfe euery Morning with good nourishing Brâ—thes and by this meanes he became fat and lasly and perfectly cured Onely it remaineth that he cannot wel bend his knee Now the reasons that mooued mee to recite these Histories is onely to instruct the yong Chirurgian to the practise thereof and not that anie glory of praise might be attributed to me but to restore them to God knowing that all goodnesse proceedeth from him as from an euerlasting fountaine and nothing of our selues And therfore we ought to giue thankes vnto him for all our good workes humbly beseeching him to continue and augment them more and more in vs through his infinite goodnesse CHAP. XV. An Apologie touching wounds made by Gun-shot THere hapned into my hands not many dayes past a certaine Book written by a Physitian wherin he very openly contradicteth that which I haue written heretofore as concerning wounds made by Gunshot and their curations I protest that if there were no other cause or that there were no other interest heerein then the contemning of me and my Book I would let these things alone and passe them away vnder silence knowing well that all answers and replies whereby we striue to stop the Mouths of euill speakers do oftentimes rather giue them a further occasion of speaking then otherwise and that there is no better way to stay such Controuersies then by not answering one word Euen as we see that the fire is extinguished when the combustible matter ceaseth by taking away the wood But when I did consider the euident danger that many wold fall into if they came to follow those rules and instructions that the saide Physitian setteth downe for the cure of the saide wounds I therefore thought it my duty to preuent this euill and to hinder it as much as lieth in mee in regard of my profession The which beyond that common affection which all men owe to the publike weale doeth binde me particularly to this in such manner that I could not with a good conscience become deaf and dumbe when both my particular and generall duties do binde and constraineime to speake This therefore was the true cause that did solicite me to make this Apologie rather then any passionate or boyling desire in me to haue my reueÌ„ge of him who hath truly assaulted me Now in this booke he pretendeth to despise contemne the application of suppuratiue Medicines as Bassilicon and others of that nature Also of those that are sharpe as Egyptiacum and such like For saith he such remedies haue beene the cause of the deathes of an infinite number of men whereunto they haue beene applyed yea although that their wounds were but superficiall and in fleshy parts And that heerein the counsell of Hippocrates ought not to be followed who saieth that all contused wounds ought to be broght to suppuration because sayth he this is a new disease and vnknowne to the Ancients and therefore it requireth new remedies Also that thunder and the violent effect thereof ought not to bee compared to the reports of Artillery Now seeing that he striueth to contradict all that I haue written before in my book of wounds made by Gunne-shot Arrowes and Dartes I am constrained for my defence to repeate somewhat of that which I haue heeretofore divulged to reproue all these points as I hope one after another First of all that suppuratiue Medicines are not proper in such wounds it is against reason authority and experience for euery one knoweth that the Bullet being round and massiue cannot make any entrance into our bodies without great contusion and bruising the which cannot bee cured without suppuration according to the authority not onely of Hippocrates but also of Galen and all other Authors both Ancient and Moderne And what doth it serue him to call such new woundes to derogate from the saying of Hippocrates whom we hold to be the Father Author and Founder of the Lawes of sacred Medicine which are worthy of all esteeme and praise aboue all others because they are not subiect to change as all others that are established by Kings and Princes neyther are they tied to the prescription of times nor the customes of Regions Therfore if I haue herein followed the Hippocratick Doctrine which is alwayes found true and stâ—ble I perswade my self to haue done well And therein I haue not bene in that conceit alone for Mounsieur Botall Physitian in ordinary to the King and Mounsieur Ioubert Physitian to the King also and his Lecturer in ordinary in the vniuersity of Mont-pellier men well experimented both in Physicke and Chirurgery haue lately written of this matter Commending and commanding the application of Bassiâ—icâ—n other suppuratiues in the beginning of such wounds These men because they haue followed the warres haue seene more wounded by shot then our Physitian hath done all his life time As for experience there is an infinite number of other good Chirurgians and greatly experimented who haue and do vse of these remedies in the beginning to bring those wounds to suppuration if there be no Indication that doth contradict it I know moreouer that an Empericall Chirurgean a neighbour of his called Doublet hath many and sundry times done meruailous cures by applying onely in those woundes a suppuratiue Medicine composed of melted Bacon the yolke of an Egge terebinthinae with a little Saffron and this he held for a great secret There was also another at Thurin in the yeere 1538. I being then in the seruice of the late Marshall of Monte-ian Lieutenant Generall of the King at Piedmont who had the report aboue all the Chirurgeans in those partes for his excellent curâ—ng of those woundes with Oleuâ— Catellorum the description whereof I procured of him thorough my earnest intreaty This oyle is of power to lenisie and appease the paine and to suppurate those woundes beeing applied a little more then luke-warme and not boyling hote as manie will This an infinite number of Chirurgeans haue vsed after that I had described it in my Booke of wounds made by Gun-shot with good and happy successe As for that which he writeth against the Vnguent Egyptiacum certainely I beleeue that he abideth in that opinion and heresie alone because there hath not bin yet discouered a more singular remedie to correct and preuent the putrifaction which happeneth most commonly in those wounds the which doe degenerate oftentimes into virulent corrosiue ambulatiue and malignant Vlcers casting forth a
stinking Sanies whereby the part salleth into a Gangrena vnlesse it be preuented by Egyptiacum and other sharpe medicines And for this cause they haue bene very much approued by the saide Botal and Ioubert and of all good Chirurgeans yet neuertheles our Physitian maintaineth that they are venomous because saith he that being applyed in woundes by Gunne shot they haue beene the cause of the death of many persons which is a thing so absurd and against reason that I will leaue the resolution thereof to the Towne-Barbers who I am sure are of skill sufficient to confute the grossenes of that imputation or if their want of iudgement be such that they cannot yet the consideration of euerie one of the ingredients of the sayde Aegyptiacum would suffice to shew that it is so free from anie venomous quality that it doth resist is directly contrary to all sorts of poisons and putrifactions which may happen in the fleshy partes by reason of any wound or vlcer He saith moreouer that the disposition of the aire caÌ„not be the cause to infect or restore wounds more daungerous at one time then at another Herein also he is of this opinion alone But if hee had well read and vnderstood Hippocrates he had not so lightly contemned the constitution of the seasons and the infection proceeding from the aire not simple and Elementary for being simple it neuer acquireth any putrifaction but by addition and commixtionwith other corrupted vapors as I haue written in my treatise of the Pestilence For inasmuch as the aire that doth incompasse inclose vs is perpetually necessary vnto our liues it followeth therefore that according to the indisposition thereof our bodies also altered in manie and sundry manners because we do draw it continually by meanes of the Lungs and other partes seruing vnto respiration and also by the pores euery little inuisible hole throughout the bodye and by the Arteries dispersed in the skinne And this is done both for the generation of the spirite of life and also to refresh and foment our naturall heate For this cause if it be immoderately hotte cold moist or dry or otherwise distempered it altereth and changeth the temperature of our bodies vnto its owne quality This is cleerely seene for when it is infected by the putrified and Cadaueruous vapors produced from a great multitude of dead bodies that haue not bene buried soone enough as of men of hoâ—ses and other beasts As it happeneth after any battell or when many men haue perished by shipwracke and haue bene cast ashore through the violence of the waues As for example the memory is yet fâ—esh of the corruption of the aire which proceeded from deade bodies at the castle of Pene situate vpon the riuer of Lot in which place in the yeare 1562. in the moneth of September whiles the first troubles hapned about Religion there was a great number of dead bodies fell into a pit of an hundred fathome deepe or thereabouts from whence two moneths after there was eleuated such a stinking and venomous vapor which dispersed it selfe ouer all the countries of Agenois and the neighbouring places within the compasse of thirty miles round that thereby many were infected with the pestilence whereof we need not wonder for the wind blowing and driuing the exhalations and corrupted vapors from one countrey to another doeth infect them with the saide pestilence In like manner the euill constitution of the aire whether the cause be manifest or hidden may make wounds to become putrified alter the spirits and the humors and cause death This therefore ought not to be attributed vnto the woundes because that they which are hurt and those that are not are both equally infected and fall into the same inconueniences Mounsiâ—â—r d' Alechamps in his French Chirurgery speaâ—â—ng oâ— these thinges which hinder the câ—â—â—tâ—on of Vlcers hath not omitted that when either the pesâ—â—lence or any Epidemicall Disease reigneth in any Prouiâ—ce through the corruption of the Aire it maâ—â—th Vlcers become incureable or of most â—â—fficult curation The good old man Guido in his Treatise of Vlcers hath also writ â—hat the wounds of the heade were more hâ—râ—er to cure at Paris then at AuignoÌ„ and that the Vlcers of the legges were more difficult at Auignon then at Paris forsomuch as at Paris the aire is cold and moist which is a contrarie thing especially to wounds in the head Likewise in Auignon the heare of the aire doe liquefie and subtilize the humors and therefore more easilie and in greater abundance do the humors fall into the Legges whereby the curation of the Vlcers in those partes is more difficult at Auignon then at Paris But if any one alledging experience shall say the contrary that the wounds in the head are for the most part mortall in hot countreyes To him I answere that that proceedeth not from the aire as it is more hot and dry but rather because of some superfluous humidity and euil vapor communicated with the aire as in the places about Prouence and of Italy neere vnto the Mediterrenean sea Now there is not a Chirurgean of so little vnderstanding that knoweth not but if the aire be hot and moyst the wounds doe easily degenerate into a Gangrena and putrifaction As for experience I wil giue him a familiar example Wee see that in hot and moyst weather and when the Southerly winds blow that flesh doth putrifie in lesse then two houres though it were neuer so lately killed in such fort that Butchers in those times do kill no meate but euen as they sell it Also there is no doubt to be made but that humane bodies doe fall into affections against Nature when the qualities of the seasons are peruerted through the euil disposition of the aire as hath bene seene that in some yeres wounded persons haue bin most hard to cure and oftentimes dyed of very smal wounds what diligence soeuer the Physitians and Chirurgians could vse The which I noted well at the siedge which was planted before Roan for the corruption of the aire did alter and corrupt the blood and humors in such sort by the meanes of inspiration and transpiration that the wounds became so putrid and faetide that they sent forth a Cadauerueous smell and if it hapned that one day had bene omitted wherein they had not beene drest you shall finde the next day a great companie of wormes in them with a meruellous stench from whence were eleuated many putrified vapours which by their communication with the hart caused a continual Fâ—uer with the Liuer hinderance of the generation of good bloode and with the Braine they produce alienation of the spirits fainting convulsion vomitings and by consequence death and when their bodies were opened you should finde Apostumes in many partes of theyr bodies full of a greene stinking Sanies in such sort that those that were within the Town seeing these things that their wounded persons coulde not be cured saide that those
whosoeuer should follow his I am well assured he will open often both the heauens and the earth the heauens to receiue their soules and the earth their bodies But wee haue spoken enough of this matter for this time inasmuch as I am well assured that these small cauiâ—lations shall nothing at all diminish the reputation of my Booke which is by strangers so much esteemed that they haue translated it into their owne mother tongues therby to haue communication therewith Therefore now we wil bid our Physitian farewell but first would pray him to review and correct his Booke as soone as he could to the end that the yong Chirurgean bee no longer retained in those errours which they may apprehend by reading therein for the shortest follioes are the best CHAP. XVI Another Discourse about the question of the venenosity of wounds made by Gunshot NOt many moneths since I chanced to bee in the company of many learned Physitians and expert Chirurgeans who by way of discourse began to put the venenosity of woundes made by Gun-shot they principally striuing by fiue Reasons to proue that venenosity may bee conioined with those woundes not because of the powder which they confesse with mee to be free from venome or poison both in the composition and essence thereof but by reason of the bullet within the which poyson may be infused mixed and incorporated The first reason is because that Leade is verie rare and spongeous as the facility of the dissoluing and softnesse thereof do shew and therfore by consequence very easie to receiue the imbibition or infusion of any venomous liquor I answer that that consequence seemeth to me to bee but of small assurance for in all artificiall mixtions as is that whereof we speake there are two things to be considered the matter of the bodies which enter into the commixtion and the forme according to the matter Such bodies ought eyther to be liquid or soft or brittle and easie to bee diuided into small portions to the end that altogither and on euery part they may meete ioyâ—e and vnite According to the forme they ought to be alliable and computible th' one with the other This is euidently knowne by the water which though it be easie to mix with an infinit number of other things yet neuerthelesse they cannot bee mixed together by the reason of the antipathy of their formes So Golde and Siluer are so amorous of Lead that when they are to bee dissolued they are mingled therewith but Brasse doth flye from Lead as much as gold and siluer do fly from Tin If therefore Lead and Brasse be melted together they can by no meanes be mixed together thogh both are contained vnder Metallicke kinds How then can there be incorporated with Lead any venomous thing being different both in forme and kinde Let vs come to the second reason Iron they say which is more hard solid and compact may neuerthelesse receiue a certaine venomous quality as we see by impoysoned Arrowes whereof our Ancestors haue heeretofore vsed and therefore Lead by more reason may receiue the like venomous quality To answere to that I confesse that the poyson may well bee receiued on the superficies of the Iron but not in the inwarde substance thereof by way of commixtion Now here the question is of incorporation and not of a simple infusion or Vnction Let vs heare the third reason Although that Lead say they when it is melted doeth leaue behinde it a kinde of grosse excrement neuerthelesse it is not therfore made vnapt to receiue the infusion of any straunge substance For euen as steele a mettall amongst all others the most solid doeth receiue in the woorking thereof a temper which doeth harden it of a cleane contrarie substance For answer I say that when the temper is giuen to steele it is not receiued within the inwâ—rd substance thereof for if such a thing were necessary for the hardning thereof it might bee easier done at that time when it is first drawn and melted then to giue it the Temper it would better incorporate therewith then afterwards when it is taken and consolidate into a barre This answer shall likewise serue to confute the fourth reason by the which say they that the iuice of Napellus and Rhododendron of Apium risus and such like who of their whole substance do hurt corrupt ours beeing mingled with Lead there may thereby be made such a venomous commixtion that those wounds which it maketh must of necâ—ssity become venomous I say to the contrarie that the mixture is only of things which may not onely be applyed but also fixed incorporated vnited the one to the other Now how can water or any other liquid iuyce only be made to adhere and cleaue to Lead which is hard solid I meane in that fashion that they may be vnited the variety heereof may bee iudged better by experience then by reason Cause Lead to be melted within the iuices heretofore recited or any other that you will choose hauing first weighed them seuerally and you shall finde the iust measure of the iuices and the true waight of the Lead as they were before a most euident signe that no part of the Lead is incorporated with the iuyces nor the iuyces to haue lost any of their substance The first reason is this The Bullet shot out of a Musket against a stone or any bodye of the like hardnesse is not thereby so much heated but that it may neuerthelesse be handled in the bare hand though it be taken presently after it was shot and therefore it is false to affirme that the poyson infused in the Bullet may be consumed by the fire of the flaming powder I answer you must note that when I said that although the Bullet may be handled neuerthelesse the fire would consume the force of the poyson my meaning was not the fire of the flaming powder when the Musket is shot off but that fire which is vsed to incorporate the molten Lead with the sayde poyson the which immediately working vpon the poyson being not yet wholly enwrapped and couered in any straÌ„ge body and hauing time and leysure to worke that effect and not at an instant and altogither it may if not consume yet at the least greatly abate the forces of the said poyson Those that wil not content themselues with these reasons let them read Matthiolus vppon the Preface of his sixt Booke of Diâ—scorides There are sayth he of late men so ignorant and foolâ—sh that they do cause to cast amongst their Gold and Siluer when it is melted wherewith they intend to make any drinking vessellâ—s of Treacle Methridate and other Antidotes to the end these mettals hauing acquired euen at the beginning the vertues of the aforesaid Antidotes may resist all poisons But howe ridiculous and foolish this opinion is they theÌ„selues may iudge if they haue but any mean knowledge of