M. le Clerc

“ As for external Remedies in the beginning of the Gangrene, the Spirit of Wine apply'd hot is excellent; and yet better if Aloes, Frankincense, and Myrrh be intermixt therein. It ought also to be observ'd, that Camphire must always be mingled in the topical Medicines for the Cure of the Gangrene.
A Decoction of unslack'd lime, in which Brimstone hath been boil'd, with Mercurius Dulcis, and the Spirit of Wine, is a very efficacious Remedy. ”

“ But it is not convenient to take out the Grains of Powder that remain in the Skin, because they are apt to break, and to be more confounded or spread abroad; so that they must be left to come forth in the Suppuration.
When the Wound is superficial, and the Skin as yet whole, peel'd Onions with common Honey are an excellent Remedy; but if the Skin be torn, it is not to be us'd, by reason that the Pain wou'd be too great ”

“ If the Bullet sticks so far in a Bone that it cannot be taken away without breaking the same Bone, it is more expedient to let it lie therein; but if the Leg or Arm-Bones are very much split or shattered, then the Amputation of 'em becomes absolutely necessary. The Pain and Inflammation of the Part may be asswag'd by letting Blood, topical Anodyns, cooling Clysters and Purgations; but in case much Blood hath been already lost, Phlebotomy must be omitted. The Clysters may be made with Decoctions of Mercury, Mallows, Beets, a Handful of Barley and Honey of Roses. ”

“ But if the Escar be too hard and obstinate, it is requisite to proceed to Incisions to make way for the Sanies, lest a deep and putrid Ulcer shou'd be engender'd Underneath. As soon as the Humour is evacuated, the above-mention'd Emollient Medicines may be us'd, till the separation of the Escar; then the Ulcer may be consolidated with Digestives and Mundificatives; such as the Ointment of quick Lime with Oil of Roses, and the Yolks of Eggs. The white camphirated Ointments, and that of Alabaster, are also good for the same Purpose.
If a Gangrene ensueth, Sudorificks must be taken inwardly ”

“ The common Remedy is a kind of Cataplasm, made up with the Powders of Aloes, Dragons-Blood, Bole Armenick and Whites of Eggs, which are mix'd together and laid upon the Wound. But the following is an excellent one.
Take two Ounces of Vinegar, a Dram of Colcothar, two Drams of Crocus Martis Astringens; beat the whole together, steeping Muscus Quercinus therein; then throw upon it the Powder of Mushrooms, or of Crepitus Lupi: Apply this Remedy, and you'll soon stop the Hæmorrhage, taking Care nevertheless to bind the Part well, otherwise the Astringents do not readily take Effect. ”

“ If a Plaister be apply'd to the Wound after the Stitching, a small Bolster is to be laid over the Knots, to prevent their sticking to the Plaister. In case any Inflammation happens in the Wound, the Knots may be loosen'd and ty'd again when the Symptoms cease: But if the Inflammation continue, the Threads are to be cut by passing a Probe underneath: When the Wound is clos'd, the Threads are cut in like manner with a Probe; and in drawing 'em out, a Finger must be laid near the Knot, lest the Wound should open again. ”

“ The Re-Union in Wounds is properly the Work of Nature; but it may be promoted by putting into 'em a little Balsam of Peru, and drawing together their Lips with the Fingers. Afterwards the Lips must be kept closed with a Bandage, a Glutinous Plaister or a dry Stitch, provided the Wound be only superficial, hindring the Air from penetrating into it. For Want of Balsam of Peru, an excellent one may be made with the Flowers here specified. ”

“ When the Persons are tender, or of a weak Constitution, a single Friction may be sometimes sufficient. Thus the Patient must be rubb'd at the Fire, after he hath taken a good Mess of Broath; but I would not advise it to be done with more than one or two Drams of Mercury at a time, without reckoning the Grease. Then the Patient must be dress'd with a Pair of Linnen-Drawers or Pantaloons, and laid in his Bed, where his Mouth may be lookt into from time to time, to see whether the Mercury hath taken effect ”

“ Balsam of Peru us'd in the same Manner, is an excellent Remedy, and the Oyls of Worms, Snails, St. John's-Wort and Turpentine are frequently apply'd with good Success.
If the Convulsion proceeds from the Biting of some venomous Creature, Cupping-Glasses or Leeches are to be immediately applied, putting into the Wound Treacle with the Spirit of Wine or even Fire it self, and leaving to the Physician's Care the Prescription of other vulnerary Remedies proper to be taken inwardly.
What is to be done to draw the Extraneous Bodies out of a Wound? ”

“ The Liquors are usually made of Briony-Roots, the greater Celandine, Lime, and Yellow Water; a Tincture of Myrrh, Aloes and Saffron, and Whey, whereto is added Saccharum Saturni; so that the Ulcers may be wash'd or bath'd with these Liquors; and very good Injections may be compounded of 'em.
The Powders are those of Worm-eaten-Oak, Allom, and Cinoper, the last of these being us'd by burning it, to cause the Fume to be convey'd to the Ulcer thro' a Funnel. The Country People often make use of Potter's-Earth to dry up their Ulcers, with good Success ”

“ Let the Matras be cool'd, and afterward broken; avoiding a kind of Flower or light Powder, which flyes up into the Air as soon as this Matter is remov'd; whereupon you'll find nineteen Ounces of very good corrosive Sublimate; but the red Scoria or Dross which settleth at the bottom must be cast away as unprofitable. This Sublimate being a powerful Escarotick, eats away proud Flesh, and is of singular use in cleansing old Ulcers. If half a Dram thereof be dissolv'd in a Pint of Lime-Water, it gives a yellow Tincture ”

“ If the Wound be yet larger, and hath a Scab, open all the Pustules, and endeavour the two first Days to cause the Escar to fall off by the Application of a Liniment made of the Mucilages of Quince-Seeds steept in Frog's-Sperm, with fresh Butter, the Oil of White Lillies, and the Yolk of an Egg: Otherwise,
Make a Liniment with fresh Butter well beaten in a Leaden-Mortar, with a Decoction of Mallows, which being spread upon hot Colewort-Leaves, and apply'd to the Escar, it will fall off. ”

“ Afterward the Patient must be often purg'd with twelve Grains of Scammony, and fifteen Grains of Mercurius Dulcis; and these Purgations must be continu'd, till it appears that the Fluxes are neither yellowish nor greenish, nor of any other bad Colour. When they are become White, and grown Thready, they may be stopt with Astringents: Amber and dry'd Bones beaten to Powder, eighteen Grains of each, with one Grain of Laudanum, the Composition being taken in Conserve of Roses, are very good for this Purpose. ”

“ The Panacæa is made of sweet Sublimate, and the later of corrosive Sublimate: To make the corrosive Sublimate, put sixteen Ounces of Mercury reviv'd from Cinnabar, into a Matrass, pour upon it eighteen Ounces of Spirit of Nitre; place the Matras upon the Sand, which must be somewhat hot, and leave it there till the Dissolution be effected: Then pour off this dissolved Liquor, which will be as clear as Water, into a Glass Vial, or into a Stone-Jug, and let its Moisture evaporate gently over the Sand-Fire, till a white Mass remains ”

“ When these Wounds penetrate into the Substance of the Brain, or Marrow of the Back-Bone, or into the Heart, Pericardium, great Vessels, and other noble Parts, Death always inevitably follows, and often happens at the very Instant. ”

“ CHAP. VII. Of Ulcers in general. What is an Ulcer?
An Ulcer is a Rupture of the Natural Union of the Parts made a long while ago, which is maintain'd by the Sanies that runs out of its Cavity; or an Ulcer takes its Rise from a Wound that cou'd not be well cur'd in its proper time, by reason of the ill quality of its Pus or corrupt Matter.
What difference is there between a Wound and an Ulcer?
It is this, that a Wound always proceeds from an external Cause, and an Ulcer from an internal, such as Humours that fall upon a Part; or else a Wound in growing inveterate degenerates into an Ulcer. ”

“ The Spring and Summer are the proper Seasons of the Year for undertaking the Cure of this Disease: In order to which, it is necessary that the Patient begin with a regular Diet, lodging in a warm place, and taking such Aliments as yield a good Juice ”

“ For the better curing of these sorts of Wounds, it is requisite to be inform'd of the Quality of the Fire-Arms by which the Wounds were made, in regard that a Musquet is more dangerous than a Pistol, and a Cannon much more than a Musquet; as also to examine their situation and concomitant Accidents; for by how much the more complicated they are, so much the greater is the danger. ”

“ Or else take what quantity you please of quick Lime well wash'd, and pound it thoroughly in a Leaden-Mortar, with May-Butter without Salt, to make an Ointment, which may be laid altogether liquid upon the affected Part: Or else,
Take as much quick Lime as you can get up between your Fingers at two several times; Milk-Cream and clarify'd Honey, of each about half the like quantity; let the whole be intermix'd to the Consistence of an Ointment, and apply'd: It is an approv'd Remedy ”