The Compleat Surgeon Part 41

The Knee-Pan is luxated by starting upward; and to reduce it, the Patient's Leg is to be held streight, whilst it is thrust back into its place with the Hands. Then he must be oblig'd to keep his Bed; and the same Bandage is to be apply'd with that which hath been describ'd for the Luxation of the Knee.

If the _Perone_ or _Fibula_ be remov'd from the _Tibia_, the sides of the Foot are to be press'd, to draw it back again; and it may be kept close {314} with the Bandage which is appropriated to the Fractures of the _Tarsus_.

The _Astragalus_ may be also luxated in the fore-part; so that the Operator ought to thrust it back into its place, and to make use of the Bandage which we have prepar'd for the Fracture of the Foot.

The _Calcaneum_ sometimes flies off from the _Astragalus_ both in the inside and without; and the Bones of the _Tarsus_, _Metatarsus_, and Toes are likewise apt to be luxated. But a little Circ.u.mspection is only requisite to reduce all these Dislocations.

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A

TREATISE

OF

_Medicinal Compositions_

Necessary for a

SURGEON.

CHAP. I.

_Of Balsams._

_The Balsam of _Arcaeus_._

Take two Pounds of the Suet of a He-Goat, _Venice_ Turpentine and Gum _Elemi_, a Pound and a half of each; and of Hogs-Lard one Pound. After the Gum _Elemi_, being cut into small Pieces, hath been melted over a very gentle Fire, add to it the Turpentine, Goats-Suet, and {316} Swines-Grease; and when all these Ingredients are well dissolv'd, strain the Liquor thro'

a new Linnen-Cloth, to separate the Sc.u.m and Dregs from it; then let the whole Ma.s.s cool, and the Balsam is made.

This Balsam serves to incarnate and consolidate all sorts of Wounds and Ulcers: It is likewise us'd in Fractures and Dislocations of the Bones; as also to cure the Contusions and Wounds of the Nerves.

_The Balsam of _Spain_._

Take pure Wheat, the Roots of Valerian and _Carduus Benedictus_, of each one Ounce, and beat 'em well in a Mortar with a Pint of White-Wine; strain the whole Composition into an Earthen Vessel Leaded, having a narrow Mouth; stop up the Vessel, and set it upon hot Embers during twenty four Hours: Then add six Ounces, of St. _John_'s Wort; set the whole Ma.s.s in _Balneo Mariae_, till the Wine be consum'd and let it be strain'd and squeez'd.

Afterward add two Ounces of Frankincense well pulveriz'd, with eight Ounces of _Venice_ Turpentine, mixing 'em together over a gentle Fire, and the Balsam will be made.

This is the Balsam which was always us'd by _Hieronymus Fabritius ab Aguapendente_, a noted _Italian_ Surgeon, and is excellent for all kinds of Wounds, even for the Nervous, which (as it is avouch'd by some Persons) may be cur'd by it within the s.p.a.ce of twenty four Hours. But the Wound must be at first wash'd with good White-Wine cold, and afterward anointed {317} with this Balsam well heated. If the Wound be deep, it may be syringed with the same Balsam very hot, and the sides of it anointed when drawn together.

Then a Bolster steep'd in the Balsam is to be apply'd to the Part, and upon that another Bolster soakt in the Lees of Wine; as also over this last another drie Bolster.

_The Green Balsam._

Take Linseed-Oil and that of Olives, of each one Pint; one Ounce of Oil of Bays; two Ounces of _Venice_ Turpentine, half an Ounce of the destill'd Oil of Juniper-Berries, three Drams of Verdegrease, two Drams of Sucotrin Aloes, two Drams and a half of White Vitriol, and one of the Oil of Cloves.

Having made choice of the best Olive and Linseed-Oil well purify'd and mingl'd together in a Skillet or Pan over a very gentle Fire, let the Turpentine and Oil of Bays be incorporated in it; then having taken off the Pan from the Fire, and left the Liquor to be well cool'd, let it be intermixt by little and little with the Verdegrease, the White Vitriol, and the Sucotrin Aloes beaten to fine Powder: Afterward the destill'd Oils of Cloves and Juniper-Berries being added, and the whole Composition well mingl'd together, the Balsam will be entirely compounded according to Art.

This is the Balsam that hath been so much talkt of at _Paris_, and which many Quack-Salvers, pretending to the Art of Physick and Surgery, keep as a great Secret. Indeed it is very good for all sorts of Wounds, whether they {318} be made by the Sword, or other Iron Weapons, or by Gun-shot. But it wou'd be requisite at first to wash the Wound with warm Wine, then to anoint it with this Balsam very hot, and to apply Bolsters that have been steept in it, as also a large Bolster over the other, dipt in some Styptick Liquor. This Balsam mundifies, incarnates, and cicatrizes Wounds; being likewise good against the Bitings of venomous Beasts, and fistulous and malignant Ulcers.

__Samaritan_ Balsam._

Take an equal quant.i.ty of common Oil and good Wine; boil 'em together in a glaz'd Earthen Vessel, till the Wine be wholly consum'd, and the Balsam will be made. I have produc'd this Balsam in particular, by reason of its simplicity, and in regard that it may be readily prepar'd at all times. It serves to mundifie and consolidate simple Wounds more especially those that are recent.

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CHAP. II.

_Of Ointments._

__Unguentum Althaeae_._

Take of the Roots of _Althaea_ or Marsh-Mallows, six Ounces, the Seeds of Line, and Fenugreek, and Squills, of each four Ounces; of yellow Wax one Pound; Colophony and Rosin, of each one Pound; _Venice_ Turpentine, _Galbanum_, and Gum _Hederae_ pulveriz'd, two Ounces of each. The Marsh-Mallow-Roots being newly gather'd, are to be well wash'd and slic'd, as well as the Squills. After they have been put into a Copper-Pan or Skillet, tinn'd over on the inside, together with the Seeds of Line and Fenugreek, and a Gallon of fair Water pour'd upon 'em, the whole Ma.s.s is to be macerated during twenty four Hours, over a very gentle Fire, stirring the Ingredients from time to time with a Wooden _Spatula_: Thus they are to be boil'd slowly, often reiterating the stirring, till the Mucilages are sufficiently thicken'd; then, after having well squeez'd and strain'd 'em thro' a strong and very close Cloth, and mingl'd 'em with the prepar'd Oil, they are to be boil'd together again over a very gentle Fire, till the Superfluous Moisture of the Mucilages be wholly {320} consum'd: Afterward having strain'd the Oil again, the yellow Wax, Colophony, and Rosin cut into small pieces, are to be melted in it; and if any Dregs appear at the bottom of the Pan, when the whole Ma.s.s is dissolv'd, it is to be strain'd a-new, or at least the pure Liquor must be separated from the gross or impure by Inclination, whilst it is as yet very hot: The Ointment is to be stirr'd about with a Wooden Pestle; and when it begins to grow thick, you may add the Turpentine, the _Galbanum_ purify'd and thicken'd, and the Gum _Hederae_ beaten to fine Powder, all which Ingredients were before incorporated together. Then the Ointment is to be continually stirr'd, till it be altogether grown cold.

This Ointment serves to moisten, mollifie, and heat gently; it also allayes the Pains of the Side, and softens Tumours, particularly the _Parotides_.

It may be us'd either alone, or with other Ointments or Oils.

_The mundificative Ointment of Smallage._

Take three handfuls of Smallage-Leaves; with Ground-Ivy, great Wormwood, great Centory, Germander, Sage, St. _John_'s-Wort, Plantain, Milfoil or Yarrow, Perewinkle, the greater Comfrey, the lesser Comfrey, Betony, Honey-suckle, Fluellin, Vervein, Knot-Gra.s.s, Adders-Tongue, and Burnet, of every one of these Plants two handfuls; a Gallon of common Oil, white Pitch, Mutton-Suet, yellow Wax, and Turpentine, of each two Pounds. {321}

Bruise all these Herbs in a Marble-Mortar; let the Wax, white Pitch, and Mutton-Suet cut into pieces, as also the Turpentine be melted in the Oil, in a Copper-Pan lin'd with Tin, over a moderate Fire; put the bruis'd Herbs in it, and cause the whole Ma.s.s to simmer together very slowly, stirring it about from time to time with a Wooden _Spatula_. As soon as it shall be perceiv'd that the Oil of the Herbs is almost quite consum'd, the whole Composition is to be strain'd, and strongly squeez'd. Then after having let the Ointment cool, to draw off all the Dregs and Moisture, it is to be dissolv'd over a very gentle Fire; and after having left it a little while to cool again and thicken, you may add thereto Myrrh, Aloes, _Florence_ Orris, and round Birth-Wort pulveriz'd very fine. When all these Ingredients are by this means well incorporated, the Ointment will be brought to perfection.

This Ointment is of singular Use to cleanse Ulcers; as also to mundifie, cicatrize, and consolidate all sorts of Wounds.

_The black or suppurative Ointment._

Take a Quart of common Oil, white and yellow Wax, Mutton-Suet that lies near the Kidneys, pure Rosin, s.h.i.+p-Pitch, _Venice_ Turpentine, of each half a Pound; and of Mastick beaten to fine Powder, two Ounces; let all that is capable of being dissolv'd, be liquify'd in the Oil; and add the Powder of Mastick to make an Ointment. {322}

This Ointment searches and opens all sorts of Impostumes, as well as Carbuncles, and Pestilential and Venereal Bubo's. The use of the same Ointment is also to be continu'd after the opening of the Abcesses, till their perfect Cure be compleated.

__Unguentum Rosatum_._

Take Bore's-Grease well purify'd, and often wash'd, and Red Roses newly pickt, of each four Pounds, with the like quant.i.ty of White Roses.

The thin Membrane or Skin which lies upon the Bores-Grease, being taken away, it is to be cut into small pieces, well wash'd in fair Water, and melted in a glaz'd Earthen-Pot over a very gentle Fire; the first Grease that is dissolv'd is to be strain'd thro' a Cloth, well wash'd, and mixt with the same quant.i.ty of thick Rose-Buds well bruis'd. Then the whole Ma.s.s is to be put into a glaz'd Earthen-Pot with a narrow Mouth; the Pot is to be well stopt, and set during six Hours in Water, which is between luke-warm and boiling hot. Afterward it is to be boil'd an Hour, strain'd and strongly squeez'd. In the mean while four Pounds of White Roses newly blown are to be taken, well bruis'd, and mingl'd with the former Composition, the Pot being cover'd, which is likewise set for the s.p.a.ce of six Hours in Water, between luke-warm and boiling hot: Then the Liquor is to be strain'd and strongly squeez'd. Lastly, after the Ointment hath been cool'd, and separated from its _Faeces_ or Dregs, it may be kept for use.