The Compleat Surgeon Part 42

{323}

If it be desir'd to give a Rose-Colour to this Ointment, it wou'd be requisite a quarter of an Hour before it be strain'd the last time, to throw into it two or three Ounces of _Orcanet_, which is to be stirr'd into the Ointment. If it be thought fit to retain the White Colour, and to produce the smell of Roses, it may be done with Damask-Roses without _Orcanet_. If you are desirous to give it the Consistence of a Liniment, you may add Oil of sweet Almonds to the quant.i.ty of a sixth part of its weight.

This Ointment is a very good Remedy against all manner of external Inflammations, particularly against _Phlegmons_, _Erysipelas's_, and Tetters; as also against the Head-ach and Haemorrhoids or Piles.

__Unguentum Alb.u.m, aut de Cerussa_._

Take three Pints of Oil of Roses, nine Ounces of white Wax, one Pound of _Venice_ Ceruse or white Lead, and a Dram and a half of Camphire.

The Ceruse being pulveriz'd by rubbing the pieces upon the Cloath of a Hair-Sieve turn'd upside-down; the Powder is to be receiv'd on a Sheet of Paper laid underneath, and to be often wash'd with Water in a great Earthen-Pan, stirring it about with a Wooden _Spatula_, and pouring off the Water by Inclination as soon as the Powder is sunk to the Bottom. When the Water of these Was.h.i.+ngs grows insipid, the last Lotion is to be made with Rose-Water, leaving it for the s.p.a.ce of five or six Hours, which being expir'd, it is to be pour'd off by Inclination, and {324} the Ceruse must be dry'd in the Shade, cover'd with Paper. Then the broken Wax and prepar'd Oil is to put into a glaz'd Earthen-Pot, and the Pot into the boiling Bath.

As soon as the Wax is melted, the Pot may be taken out of the Bath, and the dissolv'd Liquor stirr'd with a Wooden Pestle till it begins to grow thick.

Afterward the pulveriz'd Ceruse is to be infus'd, and the Ointment stirr'd about till it be almost cold. If you shall think fit to add Camphire, let it be dissolv'd in a little Oil, and incorporated with the Ointment when it is cold. The Whites of Eggs may be also well mixt with the Ointment, by stirring it about, to make an exact union of the several Ingredients.

This Ointment is good for Burns, _Erysipelas's_, the Itch, and many Distempers of the Skin; it allayes the Itchings and intemperature of Ulcers; it dissipates the Chafings and Redness that happen in the Bodies of Infants; It is of great efficacy in the healing of Contusions, and it serves to consolidate and cool light Wounds.

__Unguentum aegyptiac.u.m_._

Take eleven Ounces of Verdegrease, fourteen Ounces of strong Vinegar, and twenty eight Ounces of good Honey.

Let the Verdegrease be put into a Copper-Pan or Skillet over a very gentle Fire; then bruise it with a Wooden Pestle; work it well in the Vinegar, and strain the whole thro' a Hair-Sieve. If a little Verdegrease remains on the Sieve, it is to be put again into the {325} Skillet bruis'd and beaten small therein, as before, with a Portion of the same Vinegar, straining it thro' the Sieve, till the unprofitable drossy parts of the Copper be only left. Afterward this Liquor is to be boil'd over a gentle Fire, with the Honey, stirring it about from time to time till it hath acquir'd the Consistence of a softish Ointment, and a very red Colour.

This Ointment consumes putrify'd Flesh, and the Superfluities of Ulcers and Wounds.

__Unguentum Basilicon_, or Royal Ointment_.

Take yellow Wax, Mutton-Suet, Rosin, s.h.i.+p-Pitch, and _Venice_ Turpentine, one Pound of each; with five Pints of common Oil.

Cut the Suet, Rosin, and black Pitch into small Pieces, and let 'em be melted together, with the Oil, in a Copper-Pan over a very moderate Fire; then after having strain'd the Liquor thro' a thick Cloth, let it be incorporated with the Turpentine, and the Ointment will be made.

It promotes Suppuration, and cicatrizes Wounds when the purulent Matter is drawn forth. It is often laid alone upon the Bolsters, and sometimes mixt with the Yolks of Eggs, Turpentine, and other Ointments, or with Oils and Plaisters. {326}

_A cooling Cerate._

Take a Pint of Oil of Roses, and three Ounces of white Wax.

Let the whole Composition be put into a glaz'd Earthen-Pot, and the Pot set in _Balneo Mariae_, till the Wax be well dissolv'd in the Oil: Then take the Vessel out of the Bath, and stir the Ointment with a Wooden Pestle till it be cool'd; add two Ounces of Water, and stir it about with the Pestle till it be imbib'd by the Cerate; let as much more Water be infus'd, and again the same quant.i.ty, till the Cerate becomes very white, and hath been well soakt with fresh Water. Afterward all the Water is to be pour'd off by Inclination, and separated as much as is possible from the Cerate, which may then be kept for use; but some Surgeons cause an Ounce of Vinegar to be mingl'd with it.

This Cerate is usually laid outwardly upon all Parts that stand in need of cooling, and a.s.swages the Pains of the Haemorrhoids or Piles. It is also good for Chaps, sore Nipples, and other ill Accidents that happen in the Breast; and is us'd for Burns either alone, or mixt with other Ointments.

Whensoever it is necessary to apply Desiccatives and Astringents to any Part, this Cerate may be mingl'd with _Unguentum de Cerussa_. {327}

_An Ointment for Burns._

Take a Pound of Bores-Grease, two Pints of White-Wine, the Leaves of the greater Sage, Ground- and Wall-Ivy, Sweet Marjoram, or the Greater House-Leek, of each two handfuls.

Let the whole Ma.s.s be boil'd over a gentle Fire, and having afterward strain'd and squeez'd it, let the Ointment so made be kept for use.

CHAP. III.

_Of Plaisters._

_The Plaister of _Diapalma_._

Take three Pounds of prepar'd Litharge of Gold, three Pints of common Oil, two Pounds of Hogs-Lard, a Quart of the Decoction of Palm-Tree or Oak-Tops; four Ounces of Vitriol calcin'd till it become red, and steept in the said Decoction. Having bruis'd or cut very small two handfuls of Palm-Tree or Oak-Tops, let 'em be boil'd slowly in three Quarts of Water till about half be consum'd; and after the whole Ma.s.s hath been well squeez'd, the strain'd Decoction is to be preserv'd. In the mean time the Litharge is to be {328} pounded in a great Bra.s.s Mortar, and diluted with two or three Quarts of clear Water; but it will be requisite readily to pour out into another Vessel the muddy Water which is impregnated with the more subtil part of the Litharge, whilst the thicker remains at the bottom of the Mortar; whereupon this part of the Litharge will sink to the bottom of the Water, and the Litharge remaining in the Mortar is to be pounded again. Then having diluted it in the Water of the first Lotion, or in some other fresh Water, the muddy Liquor is to be pour'd by Inclination upon the subtil Litharge that remain'd in the bottom of the Vessel: Afterward you may continue to pound the Litharge, to bruise it in the Water, to pour it off by Inclination, and to let the Powder settle, till there be left only at the bottom a certain impure part of the Litharge, capable of being pulveriz'd, and rais'd amidst the Water. As soon as the Lotions are well settl'd, and care hath been taken to separate by Inclination the Water which swims over the Powder of Litharge; this Powder is to be dry'd, and having weigh'd out the appointed Quant.i.ty, it is to be put as yet cold into a Copper-Pan lin'd with Tin, and stirr'd about to mingle it with the Oil, Lard, and Decoction of Palm-Tree-Tops. When these Ingredients have been well incorporated together, a good Charcoal Fire must be kindl'd in a Furnace, over which they are to be boil'd, stirring 'em continually with a great Wooden _Spatula_, and constantly maintaining an equal Degree of Heat during the whole time of their boiling. At last you may add {329} the rubify'd Vitriol dissolv'd in a Portion of the Liquor that hath been reserv'd, if you wou'd have the Plaister tinctur'd with a red Colour; or else white Vitriol melted in the same Decoction, if it shall be thought fit to retain the Whiteness of the Plaister, which may be form'd into Rolls, and wrapt up with Paper.

This Plaister is us'd for the cure of Wounds, Ulcers, Tumours, Burns, Contusions, Fractures, and Chilblains, and is also laid upon the Cauteries.

If you mingle with it the third or fourth part of its weight of some convenient Oil, it will attain to the Consistence of a Cerate; and this is that which is call'd _Dissolved Diapalma_ or _Cerate of Diapalma_.

_The Plaister of simple _Diachylum_._

Take of Marsh-Mallow-Roots peel'd, three Drams; the Seeds of Line and Fenugreek, of each four Ounces; three Quarts of Spring-Water; two Quarts of common Oil, and two Pounds of Litharge of Gold.

Let the Mucilages of Marsh-Mallow-Roots, and of the Seeds of Line and Fenugreek be taken, as hath been shewn in the making of _Unguentum Althaeae_, and let the Litharge be prepar'd after the same manner as for the Plaister of _Diapalma_. Having at first well mixt the Oil with the Litharge in a large Copper-Vessel or Pan, Tinn'd on the inside, being wide at the top, and tapering like a Cone toward the bottom, as also having afterward added and well incorporated the Mucilages, a moderate {330} Charcoal Fire is to be kindl'd in a Furnace, upon which the Vessel is to be set, and the whole Ma.s.s is to be stirr'd about incessantly with a Wooden _Spatula_; and as fast as is possible. A gentle Fire is to be maintain'd, and the Boiling and Agitation to be continu'd, till it be perceiv'd that the Plaister begins to sink in the Pan; then the Heat of the Fire must be diminish'd one half at the least; and it will be requisite only to cause an Evaporation by little and little, of the Superfluous Moisture that might remain in the plaister, which being consum'd, it will be sufficiently boil'd, having attain'd to its due Consistence and Whiteness.

This Plaister softens and dissolves hard Swellings, and even the Scirrhous Tumours of the Liver and Bowels; such are the Scrophulous or King's-Evil Tumours, the old remains of Abcesses, _&c._

_The Plaister of _Andreas Crucius_._

Take two Ounces of Rosin; four Ounces of Gum _Elemi_, _Venice_ Turpentine and Oil of Bays, of each two Ounces.

After having beat in pieces the Rosin and Gum _Elemi_, they are to be melted together over a very gentle Fire, and then may be added the Turpentine and Oil of Bays. When the whole Ma.s.s hath been by this means well incorporated, it must be strain'd thro' a Cloth, to separate it from the Dregs. The Plaister being afterward cool'd, is to be made up in Rolls, and kept for use.

{331}

This Plaister is proper for Wounds of the Breast: It also mundifies and consolidates all sorts of Wounds and Ulcers, dissipates Contusions, strengthens the Parts in Fractures and Dislocations, and causeth the Serous Humours to pa.s.s away by Transpiration.

__Emplastrum Divinum_._

Take of Litharge of Gold prepar'd, one Pound and an half; three Pints of common Oil; one Quart of Spring-Water; six Ounces of prepar'd Load-Stone; Gum _Ammoniack_, _Galbanum_, _Opoponax_, and _Bdellium_, of each three Ounces; Myrrh, _Olibanum_, Mastick, Verdegrease, and round Birth-Wort, of every one of these an Ounce and an half; eight Ounces of Yellow Wax, and four Ounces of Turpentine.

Let the Gum _Ammoniack_, _Galbanum_, _Bdellium_, and _Opopanax_ be dissolv'd in Vinegar, in a little Earthen Pipkin; strain 'em thro' a course Cloth, and let 'em be thicken'd by Evaporation, according to the Method before observ'd in other Plaisters: Then prepare the Load-Stone upon a Porphyry or Marble-Stone, and take care to bruise separately, the _Olibanum_, the Mastick, the Myrrh, the round Birth-Wort, and the Verdegrease, which is to be kept to be added at last. In the mean while, having incorporated cold the Oil with the Litharge, and mingl'd the Water with 'em, they are to be boil'd together over a very good Fire, stirring 'em incessantly, till the whole Composition hath aquir'd the Consistence of a somewhat solid {332} Plaister, in which is to be dissolv'd the yellow Wax cut into small pieces. Afterward having taken off the Pan from the Fire, and left the Ingredients to be half cool'd, intermix the Gums, which have been already thicken'd and incorporated with the Turpentine; then the Load-Stone mingl'd with the Birth-Wort, Myrrh, Mastick, and _Olibanum_; and last of all the Verdegrease. Thus when all these Ingredients are well stirr'd and mixt together, the Plaister will be entirely compounded; so that it may be made up into Rolls, and preserv'd to be us'd upon necessary Occasions.

This Plaister is efficacious in curing of all kinds of Wounds, Ulcers, Tumours, and Contusions; for it mollifies, digestes, and brings to Suppuration such Matter as ought to be carry'd off this way. It also mundifies, cicatrizes, and entirely consolidates Wounds, _&c._

CHAP. IV.

_Of Cataplasms or Pultisses._

Cataplasms are usually prepar'd to a.s.swage Pain; as also to dissolve and dissipate recent Tumours, and are made thus:

Take four Ounces and a half of white Bread, one Pint of new Milk, three Yolks of Eggs, one Ounce of Oil of Roses, one Dram of Saffron, and two Drams of the Extract of _Opium_.