M. le Clerc

“ As for Topical Remedies, none are to be administer'd, except it be judg'd convenient to apply to the Tumour a Piece of Lead rubb'd with Quick-silver; all others serving only to make the Skin tender, and apt to break. The Patient may also take for his Drink Water of Scorzonera and Hart's-Horn, with the Flowers of Bugloss or Borage, and Liquorice: Or else Quick-silver-Water alone, boiling an Ounce of it in a Quart of Water every time, the Quick-silver always remaining at the bottom of the Vessel.
What are the Remedies for an ulcerated Cancer? ”

“ CHAP. I. Of Tumours in general, Abcesses or Impostumes, Breakings out, Pustules, and Tubercles. What is a Tumour?
A Tumour is a rising or bloated Swelling rais'd in some part of the Body by a Setling of Humours. ”

“ It is requisite during the great Inflammation to make use of good Vinegar, in an Ounce whereof is dissolv'd a Dram of White Vitriol, with as much Sal Ammoniack, to bath the Tumour: Or else take the Tincture of Myrrh and Aloes, with a little Unguentum Ægyptiacum, and afterward make a Digestive of Turpentine, the Yolk of an Egg, and Honey, mingling it with a little Spirit of Wine, or Brandy, if there remains any Putrifaction or Rottenness.
Remedies for Aneurisms and Varices.
What is to be done in order to cure an Aneurism? ”

“ The Degenerate Cancer is that which succeeds an obstinate and ill-dress'd Tumour or Impostume, and which becomes an Ulcerated Cancer, without assuming the Nature of a blind or occult one.
What Remedies are requisite to be apply'd to a blind Cancer? ”

“ They are Blood, Choler, Phlegm, and Melancholy, every one whereof produceth its particular Tumour: Thus the Blood produces the Phlegmon, Choler the Erysipelas, Phlegm the Oedema, and Melancholy the Scirrhus. The Mixture of these is in like manner the Cause of the Erysipelatous Phlegmon, the Oedomatous Phlegmon or Phlegmonous Erysipelas, and the Phlegmonous Oedema, according to the quality of the Humours which are predominant, from whence the several Tumours take their Names. ”

“ The Powders of Toads, Moles, Frogs, and Crabs calcin'd, cleanse the Ulcers perfectly well. A Decoction of Vipers and Crabs may serve to bath 'em, and some of it may be taken inwardly. Detersives made of Lime-Water, or Whey clarify'd, and boil'd with Chervil are very good; and (if you please) you may add Camphire or Saccharum Saturni.
If the Pains grow violent, recourse is to be had to Laudanum, one or two Grains whereof may be given in a little Conserve of Roses. When the Cancer is situated in the Glandules or Flesh, the Extirpation of it may also be undertaken with good Success. ”

“ What are the causes of a Gangrene in general?
Every thing that can hinder the Natural Heat from exerting it self in a Part; as strong Ligatures, astringent or resolvent Medicines, not conveniently us'd in great Inflammations; a violent Hæmorrhage; or Old Age, whereby the Spirits are exhausted ”

“ Which is the most effectual means of curing Impostumes, that of dissolving, or that of bringing them to Suppuration?
That of dissolving 'em is without doubt the most successful, and that which ought to be us'd as much as is possible; nevertheless some Cases are to be excepted, wherein the Tumours or Abcesses are Critical and Malignant; for then the way of Suppuration is not only preferable, but must also be procur'd by all sorts of means, even by opening ”

“ When the Echymosis is great, and much Blood is diffus'd between the Skin and the Flesh, the safest way is to make an Opening to let it out, lest a too plentiful and dangerous Suppuration should ensue, or even a Gangrene it self. However, a Surgeon ought to proceed in the curing of an Echymosis in the Face with great Circumspection, which must be always prepar'd for Incision.
Of phlegmonous Tumors or Impostumes, and of Remedies proper for 'em. ”

“ But to dress the Face, a Canvass Cloth may be us'd, which hath been dipt in a Medicine prepar'd with a Gallon of Whey, two Yolks of Eggs, and a Dram of Saffron.
Moreover amidst all these Remedies, it is necessary to oblige the Patient to keep to a good Diet, and to prescribe for his ordinary Drink a Diet-Drink made of Hart's-Horn, the Tops of the lesser Centory, Pippins cut in Slices with their Skins, and Liquorish; a little good Wine may be also allow'd, with the Advice of the Physician. ”

“ If any hardness remains, the Plaister of Mucilages may be apply'd, or that which is made of the Gums Bdellium, Ammoniack, and Galbanum, dissolv'd in Vinegar. But Care must be taken not to omit the Purgatives of Jalap to the quantity of a Dram in a Glass of White-Wine; or of half an Ounce of Lozenges of Diacarthamum, which are effectual in drawing out the bottom of pituitous and serous Humours that nourish the Oedema's.
Of Oedomatous Tumours and Impostumes. What are the kinds of Tumours that partake of the Nature of an Oedema? ”

“ Malignant Impostumes or Tumours are those that are obstinate, and do not easily yield to the most efficacious Remedies.
Pestilential Impostumes or Tumours are those that are accompany'd with a Fever, Swooning, Head-ach, and Faintness: They usually arise in the time of a Plague or Pestilence, and are contagious. ”

“ The Patient must sometimes likewise keep in his Mouth a Sage-Leaf, sometimes a piece of the Root of Pellitory of Spain; and at another time Tobacco or some other thing of this Nature, which causeth Salivation. If the Tumour continues too long, and doth not yield to the above-mention'd Remedies, it is necessary to proceed to a Manual Operation, which is very often perform'd with good Success. ”

“ The Patients become stupid and drowsie, so that they fetch their Breath with difficulty, are obnoxious to Palpitations of the Heart and Coughs, and fall into Swoons: The Ulcers sometimes are so malignant, that their Cheeks are entirely eaten up, and their Teeth seen: They are also much inclin'd to Vomitting, Looseness, and Gripes ”

“ If the Burn be in the Face, you may more especially take the Mucilages of the Seeds of Quinces and Psyllium, and Frog's-Sperm, of each an equal quantity, adding to every four Ounces twenty Grains of Saccharum Saturni. ”

“ The Nature or Quality of the Tumour. 2. The time of its formation and 3. Its situation: The Quality of the Tumour is to be known, because the Natural one is otherwise handl'd than that which is Encysted, Critical or Malignant. As for the time of its Formation, it is four-fold, viz. the Beginning, Increase, State, and Declination, wherein altogether different Remedies are to be apply'd. The Situation of the Tumour must be also observ'd, because the dressing and opening of it ought to be as exact as is possible, to avoid the meeting with an Artery or neighbouring Tendon. ”

“ Thirdly, From the Parts where they are situated; as the Ophthalmy in the Eye and the Quinsey in the Throat. Fourthly, from Disease that causeth 'em, as Venereal and Pestilential Buboes. Fifthly, from certain Qualities found in some, and not in others; as the Encysted Tumours, which have their Matter clos'd within their proper Cystes or Membranes, and so of many others.
How many kinds of Tumours are there that comprehend at once all the particular Species?
They are four in Number, viz. the Natural Tumours, the Encysted, the Critical, and the Malignant. ”

“ Sometimes also these Swellings are like Trees, Fishes, Birds, or other sorts of Animals, according to the ardent desire that Women with Child have had for things that they cou'd not obtain when they longed for 'em. ”