The first Chapter.

IF therefore Hiero, the indication which first springeth of y^e nature of y^e thing, doth find out what is to be done, then y^e beginning of fin­ding out remedies, must of necessitie be takē of the nature of diseases thēselues. For truly it is against all reason, that one thing should shew the waie of curing, and another that is cured, for each thing can better shew of himselfe, than of another, but this shall be made more euident héereafter. And for because all men do graunt the first indications to be taken of y^e affects, we shall not néede further trauaile héerein, to proue that héereof we must take our beginning: nay, rather let vs goe about to shew that it is neither the whole, neither any great portion, as the Methodicians doe iudge, but rather the least part, and onely the beginning. Therefore they themselues doe affirme, that the stone in the bladder, (because that it is altogether against nature) doth shew that it must be taken awaie. In like sort Acrochordonas, Mirmicias, Atheroma­ta, Steatomata, Meliceridas, and other of like kind. Also the intestine that is now fallen into the purse of the testicles, and all that are dislocated, because they are in a place a­gainst nature, they shewe that they must be reposed and put in their naturall seate. And all these trulie are so farre from anie cunning, that they are manifest euen to euerie priuate person, for they will bidde that the member which they perceiue dislocated, to be put into the ioynt agayne. Also Achrocordonas or Warts to be taken awaie, an Vl­cer to be brought to a Cicatrize, and a fluxible bellie to bée stopped, but by what meanes those thinges may bée done, trulie they doe not knowe. And this is it which ought to bée knowen of the Phisition: wherefore the indication which is taken of diseases, is onelie the beginning, (and as I may tearme it) the place from whence the waie of curing procéedeth, béeing yet no portion of the arte of Physicke, or no great or proper parte, but such a one as is common to [Page 42] euerie vulgar person: therefore he is worthilie called a cu­rer of diseases, that can of himselfe finde out those thinges, by which may be performed that which is of the first indi­cation shewed, which if he doe it by experience, then he is to be named, an obseruer, and an Emperike. But if he doe it by a certaine reason and methode, then he is to be called a Logitian, Methoditian, and Dogmatist. Now there com­meth to the Phisition a vulgar person, (I must repeate this thing againe) willing him to put the mēber into the ioynt, or perhaps to vnite and forme a broken bone, or to haue Meliceris taken awaie. But by what waies, anie of these things are to be brought to passe, that to find out, is certain­lie the office of the art of Phisicke. And the Emperikes do boldlie contend, that all things are to be found out by expe­rience, but we trulie doe affirme, that they are found out partlie by experience, and partlie by reason, séeing that nei­ther experience onelie, neither yet reason, can finde out all thinges. Notwithstanding we think it not good to set out a confused and mixed doctrine, but Experience by it selfe and Reason by it selfe, that thereby it may easilie appeare of what force each of them is.

And now trulie we haue determined to speake of that inuention which springeth of Reason: now therefore haue we anie method following, how we may finde out euerie of the forenamed remedies? I meane to take awaie that which is altogether against Nature, and that is dislocated, to put in his proper place, and to vnite the solution of con­tinuitie, shall we require experience héereto? I trulie am fullie perswaded, that ther is a method, by which thou maist finde out things required, whose originall is that, which euerie disease doth shewe to bee done. For the solution of vnitie, requireth vnition: and the fracture of the bone, called in Greeke, Catagma, in the fleshie parts, an vlcer: like as al­so a wound and ruption, called Regma, and conuulsion, na­med Spasma: for a wound truelie is a certaine solution, lefte in the fleshie parte of wounding. A ruption and conuulsion, bée solutions made without woun­ding.

The first is diuision of the fleshie partes, the other is of the neruous parts, & all these shew that there must be made vnion, but whether in all it may be performed, or y^t it can­not in many, that onelie behooueth the Artist to consider, for no common person doth know how that the Diaphragma, or the smal intestines, can attain the scope, of which they giue indication: also he is ignorant that the foreskin called Peri­putium, and the thin part of the chéeks, be of lyke condition. Furthermore, whether Caries in the bone (the Gréekes call it Teridon) may be cured, like as erosion in the flesh, he vn­derstood not. Againe, whether a fracture will grow toge­ther like as a wound, or doth further require to be adcon­glutinated with Callus, he perceiueth not whether there is to be hoped the growing of Callus in fractures of the head, or else is otherwise to be cured. Further, he is more ignorant whether there is anie hope of recouerie in wounds of the heart, lungs, stomacke, and liuer. And to conclude, no com­mon person knoweth anie thing beyond the first indication. Therfore the first worke of this art is, to consider whether we may performe that we take in hand, or not, and this is knowen two waies, neither can the third be added or kno­wen. The first is, by experience, which requireth long vse & practise: the other is, by the nature of the thing it selfe, for this doth set out both the substance of euerie part, and also his action, vse, and scituation, with which things procéeding, he shall not onelie foresée what cannot be cured, but also de­liberate of inuenting remedies for that which maye bée cured.

The second Chapter.

THerefore it is manifest that we must begin of simple things, and truelie there is nothing more simple than the wound in the vpper part of the flesh: therefore the cure of this wound, in that it is onelie a wound, is vnition, but if it be with hollownesse and putrefacti­on, there is a double scope, in as much as the effect is dou­ble, that is to saie, an vlcer, which is, solution of vnitie, [Page 43] and hollownesse which springeth of the lost substance of the part, in which kinde it cannot often chance, that thou shalt fulfill both the scopes aforesaid, as if not onlie the flesh, but also the bone vnder it is perished, for such hollownesse can­not exactlie be filled, but you may bring it to a cicatrise, but this is the cure of the vlcer, and the hollownesse remaineth notwithstanding vncurable: Therfore this thing it beho­ueth to know, either by experience, or else by reasons help. But Thessalus vseth not these, neither putteth he to a third, & yet is not he ashamed to trifle, but let y^e passe, & rather let y^e Phisition who followeth Thessalus, teach vs how to cure a hollow vlcer in the fleshie part, nothing being hurt vnder y^e vlcer, he answereth, by applying medicines which do en­gender flesh, they call them Sarcoticall. Well said, a greate facilitie, peraduenture you may better tearme it, stupiditie, when he thinketh sufficientlie to haue answered the que­stion, by naming a sarcoticall medicine: for if we know this Sarcoticall, what doe we further require, shew vs I praie thée what Sarcoticall is, that thou wilt vse: I suppose that thou wilt answere, Olibanum, or Iris, or Aristolochia, or Er­uifarina or Panax, for I will first make mention of drie me­dicines: now go to. By what meanes hast thou found these medicines? thou answerest by Experience, what is it then that thou hast added heereto? for euerie person doth know, that that which is holow, must be filled, but experience hath taught of what things, and by what medicines that should be done: trulie Thessalus knoweth not that medicine, nei­ther as an emperike, neither as a logitian: as an emperike because he will not: as a Logitian, because he cannot: for I trulie doe vnderstand, that he knoweth this medicine as an Emperike, for séeing there are two instruments of eue­rie inuention, that is to saie, Experience & Reason, he which doth know that is inuented, and yet can giue no reason thereof, doth shew himselfe to haue found it by experience, therfore y^t he may vnderstand how greatlie he hath erred, let him a little giue audience vnto vs, for I will haue to doe in fewe wordes, with the professour of onelie Experi­ence, for it is méete that he also do vtter by what meanes [Page] he hath found out this drying medicine that dooth incar­nate, which hée nameth Cephalicin, and that is compound of Iris, and Aristolochia, and Eruus, & Olibanum, and Man­na, that is to saie, the drosse of Olibanum. There is also a­nother medicine, which besides these that are rehearsed, hath the rinde of Panax, and another medicine to, which is mix­ed with washed Cadmia.

Now let him tell me how these medicines be found, but what skilleth it (saith he) to aske of y^t finding of thē out, is it not better to vse those things that are found out right? And this at the first they answere, afterward they saie, that these medicines be found out by dreames, in the meane time by chaunce one medicine was put to another, afterward one was bolde to vse them mixed, but yet they shewe not the successe of their boldnesse. Therefore these be manifest tri­fles. The third waie of inuention, trulie is reason, or some prouing euerie one of those simple medicines separatlie, to be Sarcoticall, afterward beholding y^t sometime it doth not make flesh, he findeth out by reason, that euerie one of those agréeth not to euerie nature, for vnto whome Aristolochia doth not fill the vlcer with flesh, there Olibanum hath, and where Olibanum hath not profited, there Iris hath done good, for I suppose that to be reasonable, that all men are not affected to all things alike. And when this came first into reasoning, it was thought good that many medicines of one kinde should be mixed together, that there might not want a méete medicine for euerie nature. And friend, the action of euerie substaunce doth not remaine in mixed kindes, so that in euerie kinde of bodie, there might be present that should helpe the disease, for if they coulde finde out the na­ture of the bodie, or the force of the Medicine applyed, per­aduenture there should not néede such varietie in them, in as much as they shoulde alwaie readilie finde that one me­dicine that should agrée to one bodie.

Now for as much as they are ignorant in both, they doe crookedlie mixe all together, studying to make one medicine that might agrée to all natures, and I suppose this reason of compounding medicines to be found out of the first Phi­sitions, [Page 44] and you receiue it as an auncient inuention, not­withstanding I suppose that it is not so farre from the true medicinall method, as it is reasonable to be emptied into a­nother, for if they doe not first thinke of that method, whose composition standeth in medicines like of kinde, and not of that which is of contrarie, by and by you shall finde in the mixture of these medicines, some one that may be profitable to the sicke, and peraduenture not one: contrariwise, sea­uen or eight which shall not néed, so that the medicines shal more hurt that profit.

These thinges I saie, if he doeth not remember, I will account him more ignoraunt than to knowe the thing it selfe, for oyle being put into a hollowe wound, is most contrarie of all other medicines, for if thou wilt that waie cure, thou shalt by vse finde the vlcer to be filthy and stinking, but if the time also of the yéere be hotter, or y^e man hath Cachochimia, or by nature is apt vnto rumes, or offend in his diet, it is to be feared least y^t part do putrifie, in which the vlcer is made. In like sort, if thou doest vse waxe either alone, either dissolued in oyle, for they trulie do make the vlcer putrifie: but if thou doe put in Aerugo beaten fine, they shall by no meanes putrifie, yet it bringeth great paine and corrosion.

Furthermore, it doth eate and prouoke inflammation, and if thou vse it more largelie, it will also make conuulsi­on, therefore séeing that neither oyle, nor Aerugo, nor wax, can fill an hollow vlcer with flesh, it is manifest that none of those which professeth onelie Experience, will mixe them together, yet I trulie will mixe them, yea, in due waight, not onelie these, but a thousand other medicines, which bée not hurtfull to a hollow vlcer, for if they hurt not with the same faculties, but as it were with their contraries, trulie they are vnlike and immoderate to fill an hollowe vlcer: notwithstanding like as of too immoderate temperatures, there shall bée one made temperate, that wée haue set out in the waie of compounding medicines: therefore it is not hard to make a medicine of oyle, waxe, and Aerugo, that shall make flesh, for if thou doest know that the same vlcer [Page] is moderatlie to be dried, and doest not vnderstand the wax or oyle doth not drie, neither that anie of them, or both mixt together, can fill a hollow vlcer, nor that Aerugo alone can moderatlie drie: therefore if thou doest mixe all these toge­ther, thou maist make a medicine which shall moderatlie drie, what the quantitie or proportion of euerie one of them should be, that I haue now set out in my bookes, which be entituled, the composition of medicines, and nowe also if it be néedfull, it shall be declared in talke héereafter.

But first we must driue from these our bookes following, this Thessalus, but first declaring vnto him, howe much hée hath erred frō a truth, for vnto anie that is wise, that which is now spoken, doth sufficientlie shew what the methode of curing ought to be, but with these we néed not talke. Ther­fore it is necessarie that we dispute yet with those, taking héere our beginning.

Euerie hollownesse that is against nature, doth require to be filled, wherefore also that which commeth in the fleshy part, and that filling in the end, of finding out remedies, which we desire. And that thou maist finde those remedies, which doe fill, thou hast néede of much reason and manifold indication, and exact, reasonable, and perticular method, for thou hast often séene vlcers harde to cure, not to be cured, neither of those which professe experience, I meane those which abound in remedies, neither of those, which claiming reason to themselues, for these Thessalians, whō they name, Methodicians, being indeede most farre from a methode, as the Asse to the Harp, be vnméete to heare this speculation, much lesse cure, they find out by reason, that which is right. Thou hast seene many times in the like vlcers, the Empe­rikes to goe from one medicine to another, when truelie no reason did shewe them the waie, because they haue tried manye thinges which may fill a hollowe vlcer, the same as they call it, Idiosyncrasian, that is, properties of bo­dies, in which euerie of them are séene to haue force, neyther can they discerne, neyther yet remember. Therefore now also, not knowing whether to goe, but trusting in the proofe of many perticulars, whatsoeuer they finde by the [Page 45] waie y^t may profit, they goe from one to another, following Fortune rather than Reason, which may help in the inuen­tion of remedies, like vnto these, although they will not be these Dogmatists, which are not able by reason to vnder­stand the naturall principles of bodies, but of these Thessa­lions voide of method, what doest thou yet speake? There­fore those which cure by right method, doe finde apt reme­dies for euerie kinde of vlcers, as also conuenient diet, they do most apparantlie declare by the things it self, how much it profiteth, and how great light it doth bring to the arte of curing, the Treatise of nature it selfe declareth: for I haue not once declared vnto you, how that sometime they which goe from one medicine to another, doe let slip and neglect that which is profitable, and that with some one of their re­medies, which they haue vsed, the same vlcers haue béene cured, therefore they haue worthilie despised the facultie of such remedies, which because of the vntimelie vse, they haue séene, not onelie the profite, but much for to hurt, and that in the first vse it hath done no euident thing. Further­more, thou hast séene no lesse the grieuous pains of the eies to be healed, either with bath, either with drinking of wine, either with foments, either with letting of bloud, eyther with purging, vnto which these common sort of Phisitions haue applied no other thing, than these medicines which are made of Opium, and Mandrake, and Henbane, bringing great daunger vnto the eies, inasmuch as they taking no other thing awaie for y^e present but the paines it selfe: these doe kill the sence, as thou hast knowen many, by the vse of these medicines, when they haue bene too much applied, neuer after to haue come to their naturall state, and that first their eyes were dim, and they haue hardly séene, after to be vexed with suffusion (which is called Hipochysis) or with too greate dilatation of the ball of the Eie, na­med Mydriasis, or with Tabes or Corrugation, called Rhetiosm.

Thou hast knowen also, being with me from sixtéene yéeres of age, neuer to haue seene vnder anie maister this worke, but to haue excogitated it by reason, and how long [Page] time I did consider that Aphorisme, of vnalayde wine, or bath, or foment, or letting bloud, or purging, taketh away the paines of the eyes. And what trust I had by the rest of Hippocrates laborers, that there was nothing in this Aphorisme, either false or might not be brought to passe, & that was it which stirred mée to search, vntill (going Hippocra­tes way) I found by what meanes I should discerne, when and how, euery of the forenamed should be vsed. By which reason I made manifest to many, which haue séene the like things, of how great force the medicinall methode is, and how great occasion of euill they are, which haue not ob­serued the olde arte of Phisicke, haue builded new sectes, and now truely, although from the beginning I haue refu­sed it, yet by entreating, you haue compelled mée to take al this whole worke in hand, which I pray the gods may be profitable, by others truely I haue small hope, aswell for the contempt of good letters, which now do raigne, as also for the admiration of riches, estimation and ciuill power, vnto which whosoeuer doe turne himselfe, is not able to finde the truth in any thing: But these things shall be de­termined as pleaseth the gods, and we now for our power, shal restore the Methode of curing, which was found of the auncient Phisitians, being now neglected: repeting againe the disputation which we haue begunne of the hollow vl­cer, and of the first inuention of those things, which doth fill an vlcer with flesh, let that suffise, which hitherto we haue saide, and let vs graunt if they will, vnto the Empericks all that they say. And for the vse of things foūd out, I haue often shewed to thée in themselues, and now nothing lesse, I will go about to demonstrate by reason, how these Em­pericks, cannot by certaine reason, go vnto another medi­cine, whē they haue nothing profited with the first, and that rightly chaunceth: for when as they know not the cause, of the vnhappie successe of the first medicine, neither can de­clare the lyke in the second, and when they are ignorant of the cause, wherefore the first medicine doth not his affect, neither are able to vnderstād, why it taketh no place, this thing truely being not knowen, they cannot reasonably go [Page 46] to another, when as they cannot in the same medicine per­ceiue the like cause.

The third Chapter.

NOw therfore let vs set out Hyppocrates waie, and the true method of curing an hollow vlcer, surelie it beho­ueth to begin thus, that is, of the substance of the thing, therefore séeing that an hollow vlcer that is our scope, that y^e flesh which is lost may be restored, it is néedfull to knowe that the thing which engendereth flesh, is good bloud, nature as I may tearme it, being the workman and author, not­withstanding it is not sufficient to name simplie Nature, vnlesse we consider also whose nature, and where. For it is manifest, that Nature it selfe is the ingenderer of flesh, of those bodies that be subiect, whereas flesh is to be made, and surelie it is declared, that the nature of euerie bodie doeth consist of the temperament of hot, cold, moist, and drie: there­fore it is manifest, that the iust temperament of these, in those parts whereas we shall restore the lost flesh, is as it were the workman. And first of all, in euerie hollow vlcer, these two things are to be considered, whether the bodie be­ing subiect, be in iust temperature, that is to saie, whether it be according to nature. For we haue declared, that health of similer bodies, is the iust temperature of the foure qua­lities, and whether the bloud that floweth to y^e part be good, or else but indifferent, for if either of these doe offend, there are trulie many affects against nature, notwithstanding there is now put to vs but onlie the hollownesse in the fle­shie parts. Therefore let vs imagine the part to be sound, and the bloud which floweth to the parte, to be frée from fault, either in qualitie or quantitie, surelie these thinges béeing, as is sayde, there is no impediment, but that flesh shall prosperouslie growe, and that without the helpe of a­nie outwarde medicine, for both causes which ingender flesh, béeing present, and nothing outwardlie hinde­ring, then it cannot bée, but that flesh must bée ingende­red.

But in the first engendering of flesh, there must of force spring a double excrement, as we haue shewed in our com­mentaries of Nature, that there followeth euerie mutation of the qualitie of the nourishment, an excrement grose and thicke, and another thin. And these excrementes chauncing euer through the whole bodie, that which is thinner, is in­uisible, by persperation, notwithstanding it is forthwith vi­sible, as often as the naturall heate diminisheth, or that hée vseth more large diet than is méete, or that there happeneth to the creature more vehement motion. The other excre­ment is the filth, that is sent to the skin. Furthermore, in vlcers, the thinner excrement is called Sanies, in Gréeke I­cor, the groser is named Sordes, and the vlcer is made moist by the thinner excrement, in like sort as by the groser it is made filthie, and for that cause it néedeth two kind of me­dicines, that is to saie, exicatiues, to expell or drie y^t which is moist, and mundificatiues, to purge the filth.

Now then, séeing that nature ceaseth no time, truelie there can be no time found, in which both these excrements may not be gathered together in an hollow vlcer: Where­fore there shall be no time in which thou shalt not vse both kindes of medicines, that is to saie, which shall exicate and mundifie.

And now we haue found out of what kinde the medi­cine ought to be, but that is not sufficient, for it is néedfull to inuent some perticular, which is to be applied to the vl­cer. Now by what method, and howe shall they be found out? forsooth by the same which is set out in our bookes, of the faculties of simple medicamentes, for we haue shewed in them certaine medicines desiccatiue, certaine humec­tiue, certaine refrigeratiue, and certaine to make hot, yea, and certaine by coniunction, to make hot and drie, or to re­frigerate and moist, or to heate and moist, or to refrigerate and drie, and that there is in euerie of them a difference, more or lesse, but in multitude infinite.

Notwithstanding they be contained within limites to their vse, which doe easilie comprehend them in the first or­der or degrée, or second, or third, or fourth, now of what de­grée, [Page 47] shall that medicine be, which is méete to engēder flesh, which must both moderately dry, and also mundifie? truely of y^e first degrée, for that medicine, which surmounteth this degrée, doth not onely cōsume the aboūdaunce of the humor flowing to the part, but doth also deuoure the bloud flow­ing, letting the part to be restored cōsuming the flesh, or the matter wherof the flesh groweth: surely it is declared that such be Olibanum, and the meale of barly, beanes & Eruum, and Iris, and Aristolochia, and Cadmia, and Panax, & Pom­philix, and we haue shewed y^t all these, differ among them­selues, more or lesse, and that some of them abound onely in simple qualities and other some in compound. For Ari­stolochia, and Panax, doe drye more than the rest, and also by nature are more hot, barley and bean flower, doth much lesse drye than these, and haue no heate at all.

Olibanum, doth moderately heate, but doth lesse dry thā these, in so much as in certaine bodies, it dryeth not at all. The meale of Eruum, and Iris, and Aristolochia, and Panax, are in a meane. But now let vs repeate againe, that wée haue profitably touched.

Olibanum, in bodies of moist nature, is able to engen­der flesh, but in dry natures he cannot, for it is néedefull to consider, that there is a two folde difference of the first in­dicatiōs, that which is according to nature, shewing the cō ­seruation of it selfe, & further doth also require things lyke to it selfe, and that which is against nature, declaring the taking away of it selfe, and also requiring things contrary: for euery thing perisheth or is ouercome of his contrary, and in his contrary. And truely the Vlcer, how much it is to moist, doth so much the more require medicines, which doth drye. But the nature of y^e bodie how much it is more moist, so much the lesse it requireth a medicine which doth exci­cate, wherefore if there be any vlcers in which there is like humiditie, because they are in a bodie of dryer tēperament, truely it is requisite the more to be excicate: that which is in a moister temperature, doeth so much lesse néede drye medicines, as there is difference betwéene nature and nature. For it behoueth the flesh that is engendred, to be [Page] like that which was there before. Therefore whereas the flesh is dryer than in times past, it is conuenient that the new be made dryer, so that it ought to be the more largely to be dryed, & how much the more it shall be drye, so much the more shall the medicine which shalbe applyed, haue a dissicatiue vertue: but in a moist nature, there is so much lesse néede of a medicine dissicatiue, how much the flesh is lesse drye. Therefore like as Olibanum, hath such tempera­ment cōcerning the nature of mans bodie, y^t is agréeable to a temperate & meane nature, but it doth somewhat more largely drye. These that be moyster in like sort, as it is to moist for them that be most drye, so that of right Olibanum maketh mattier, both in certaine Vlcers and also natures, & doth not engender flesh, and in certaine it doth engender flesh. Therefore if thou dost marke, thou shalt finde y^e suc­cesse aunswerable vnto reason, for in a moister nature it may engēder flesh, in a dryer it cānot. Doest thou not ther­fore perceiue of how many Theoremes, or intencions of cu­ring, he hath néede, y^t will cure an vlcer by a right Methode? for after y^t it is found out, that y^e fault is in moisture, alto­gither it sheweth foorthwith, y^t ther must be prepared a dis­sicatiue medicine: but for y^t there are of drying medicines, some y^t dryeth more, and some lesse, that which is expedient must be taken, partly of the diuersitie of the vlcers, & partly of the nature of the sicke. Therefore he y^t will rightly cure an vlcer, must not onely cōsider the nature of the body, but also to haue learned, all the speculation of medicines dili­gently, and also to know the signes of bodies, which are of dry or moist temperament.

Now therefore consider what great rashnesse is of pro­nouncing these Methodicians, which think that they haue done sufficiently to the curing of an hollow Vlcer, if they vnderstād that it must be filled with flesh. Truely the way of curing cōsisteth not in this, but in finding that out which shall fill it with flesh, but that shal fill with flesh (quod he) is alreadie founde by experience: then confesse that which shall cure, to be founde out by experience, neither doe they vainely boast, neither extoll the Methode, although experi­ence [Page 48] is cōdemned, yea, of the Empericks themselues, which is without certaine limitation: for they write in their com­mentaries of medicines, in this manner. An Emplaister for those that haue soft bodies, and for children and women, & they know how that Olibanum in such natures can engen­der flesh, and fill hollow Vlcers, so that there be no other accidence: notwithstanding where such bodies are moist, and because of their moystnesse require moderate drying Medicines, or that there is some other cause of the successe, they cannot tell. Againe they shall finde an other medicine written for olde folkes, and another against those Vlcers which will hardly be brought to a cicatrice, and hath the sides swollen, called in Gréeke Oxthothe, and they write in all their cōmentaries curatiue, many other seperatiues, for which as néere as we can inuent a conuenient medicine, to the propertie of curing nature, for seperations in euerie Arte, go about to deuide that which is proper, from that which is common, and how much any doth diuide or parte more thinges, so much he commeth néerer vnto the proper­tie, but the proper thing it selfe, cannot exactly be either written or spoken: and for this cause those Emperickes which were most diligent in their Arte, as also well néere all the dogmatistes, doe acknowledge that there cannot be left in writing any exacte curing, but that which wanteth concerning the coniecture of the nature of the pacient.

Some of them affirme, that it is to be added or considered of the proper vse of euery Phisition, other some by reaso­ning artificially, but yet none of them was so rash to pro­fesse, that he had one medicine which might engender flesh, in euery hollow vlcer, for truely thou shalt not finde in au­thours such a Medicine that will cure euery hollow Vlcer, but that the medicine is to be chaunged, according to the humour and temperament of the pacients member.

Therefore wée leauing here the impudencie of the Metho­dicians, goe to, lette vs heare what the Emperickes saye, who doe iudge that sometyme is to be added or con­sidered in the finding out proper remedies for the pacient, by the proper vse and exercitation of euery one, for as wée [Page] haue after sayd, there is not in phisicke any thing, or any remedie, which is not in fine difficil, but in euery thing his qualitie cannot be hiddē, for either it may be spoken, writ­ten, or perceiued. For in an vlcer, moisture and filthinesse, may be shewed, but the quantitie in neither may be shew­ed, although we studying to goe néerer vnto y^e thing it selfe, naming it, wée say small, and plentifull filthinesse, or thin and grosse, or very much or little, and indifferēt, and com­petent, or else calling it otherwise in like sort, whereby we may come néerer, to shew the quantitie.

Now therefore I will haue thée diligent to attend, that thou maist know how much it is better, to doe euery thing by a method, rather than by experience only, be it so know­en that this or that medicine, hath vertue to fill an hollow vlcer, in those whome wée name of moyster complexion, as an obseruer or empericke, in those which haue soft flesh, and to women and children, & that he hath not now, any thing profited with such medicine. Therefore wée will séeke out the cause, why it dyd not profit, and will reduce this, vnto one of these two, for either the medicine hath dried to little, or else to much, the signes of which, be Sordes, and Sanies, for if there be more Sordes, in the vlcer, and that all the vlcer is moister, y^e medicine hath dried to little, but if it be cleane and without moysture, it hath dryed to much. Therefore forthwith wée may know the measure also of the excesse & effect, by the manner of the signes, and we shall afterward make our medicine, which shall be applyed, so much y^e more or lesse drying, but the Empericks truely if any medicine applyed doth not make flesh to grow, hée verely beholdeth, but yet being ignorant, whether that springeth because his medicine dryeth to little or much, he cannot go vnto another medicine. In like sort truely, both Erasistratus, and Hero­philus, being as I haue shewed halfe dogmatistes, shall ill cure an vlcer, for they attempt to cure onely those affects by reason, which are proper to the organicke members, but an vlcer as we said, is common both to similer and also instru­mentall parts, therefore so farre forth as it is in the similer partes, so farre foorth they will cure it Emperiquelie.

Also, if they proue to cure those vlcers, whose substance is vtterlie perished, or else is vnperfect & diminished, in these also it followeth necessarilie, that they maye manifoldlie erre from curing reasonablie: for if that is lost by anie si­miler substaunce, it is necessarie that he who will looke to the restoring of this againe, be skilfull of vniuersal nature. But of these we shall héereafter speake, in the meane season I suppose it to be most euidentlie set out, that euerie one cannot rightlie cure an vlcer, and that the first indication, of all which is manifest to euery priuate person, is the least part of curing. For it is necessarie that by demonstration he hath learned, how that heate and colde, moisture and drynesse, be qualities actiue and passiue. And further to know all those things which we haue written in our bookes De Temperaments, or else where, in other volumes belong­ing héereto.

And hetherto our talke hath bene of the hollowe Vl­cer, we onelie curing the hollownesse it selfe, for it is not yet set out what is the proper curation of an vlcer, but that shall also be performed after the same methode, because it is taken both of the temperament of the affected parte, and also of the facultie of medicines, and surelie both these doe depend of the Treatise of Elements, for if that be graun­ted, that in a methode the foure qualities are causes of ge­neration and corruption, it shall not be lawfull either to haue begunne, either to procéede, or to finish a methode: for trulie it belongeth to the Treatise of Elements, that thou mayest shewe the qualities, to doe and suffer naturallie. Therefore that we héeretofore haue shewed, is now confir­med in this present talke, that no Phisition can consider of anie similer partes, without naturall knowledge or specu­lation, (but there is onelie set out of similer parts.)

Héere now our talke doth somewhat insinuate, that nei­ther in the instrumentall parts anie can finde out the per­fect cure, which haue not attained the speculation or true knowledge. But this shall bée more euidentlie set out in the worke.

The fourth Chapter.

BVt now it is time to go to the verie cure of an vlcer, which is alone or simple, the vlcer trulie shall be alone, if there be nei­ther affect or accident present, but if the part vlcerate be not molested with fluxe, nor visited with ill iuyce, neither out of his naturall temperature, neither is there anie hollownesse, or yet losse of skin, for this thing a good sort of Phisitions do let slip, not vnderstanding howe there remaine two af­fects in the part, after the hollow vlcer is filled with flesh & made plaine, the one being the losse of the substance of the skin, the other, of the solution of continuitie. Therefore as often as this one thing commeth, that is, solution of conti­nuitie, whether that be of the ouer skin, the Gréekes cal it Epithermia, or whether it be of y^e skin called Thermia, or it be the affect of the flesh vnder it, which is called an vlcer, it doth onelie require to be adglutinated, for if the sides of the skin be perfectlie ioyned together, there shal be nothing in the middest of a contrarie kind, like as in y^e vlcer which is now filled, and is made plaine, for in this the sides of the vlcer touch not, but the skinne of all the exulcerate part is porished, which ought forsooth to be restored. But in that wound whereas there is diuision made with anie edged toole, there is onelie adglutination required, & not also the generation of skin. Therefore as often as we purpose to finde out the cure of a simple vlcer, we in this talke pre­suppose that the fleshie part is diuided, without losse of a­nie portion of the same, for it wanteth a broad skin, which we haue called in Gréeke Epithermia, which must be made by inducing a ciccatrize. Therefore it is necessarie both to regenerate this, & also to vnite it together, & so there be two things vnto which thou must looke as in an hollow vlcer, because there is a double affect in both. But peraduenture some of them will saie, how is a plaine vlcer knowen from an hollow? if there be both a double affect in either, & also a [Page 50] double scope of curing appointed, that is to saie, the multi­tude of the lost parts, where in an hollow vlcer, not onelie the ouer skin is perished, but also the skin it selfe, yea, and sometime no small portion of the flesh. In an vlcer filled, there wanteth not flesh, but yet outwardlie there lacketh his couering, but we will shew héereafter what the cure is of those kindes of vlcers, now let vs vnderstand what is y^e due cure of an vlcer, in that it is onelie an vlcer, & hath no other affect ioyned with it, therefore for that héere is onelie diuision put forth, it behoueth to ioyne the sides that are di­uided, and not onelie to ioyne them, but to make them also to indure surelie, they which are ioyned shall remaine to­gether two waies, when as some of themselues doth so re­maine, other by y^e helpe of other things, of themselues they onelie remaine, which doth grow together and close by the helpe of other, those which are gathered together, and so hol­den with anie glutenous thing, but those y^t grow together must of force be naturallie soft. Trulie such is both the flesh it selfe, and also whatsoeuer commeth of flesh, but whatsoe­uer are hard & drie, their parts cannot grow together, but doth require some glue or band, whereby the sides ioyned may so remaine. But the cure of such bodies shal be set out héereafter. Héere let vs procéede with our talke begun, of those which may be vnited, scarching out also the cause of ioyning & closing, for like as in hollow vlcers there must be flesh ingendred, so in a simple vlcer that the sides may close. And nature trulie is the cause, that if thou dost exactly put together the sides which are separated, they wil close toge­ther without anie outward labour, and now there spring­eth another scope for thee, to consider the bringing of the sides together, beginning with which thou shalt finde out, with what thou shalt bring this to passe, for thou shalt close them together which are separated, either with a rol­ler, with two ends put about, or with stitching, or hookes, which the Gréekes call Agkleras, or with some of these, or else all, it is necessarie that the roller which is put about bée not too softe, or will bée broken lyke Alga, (the Gréeke writers doe call it Vrouothes, that it maye [Page] safelie holde, neither yet so hard, that in compressing it may offend, then let not thy rolling or binding be so loose, that it cannot doe good, neither yet so straight, that by compressing it may cause dolour. These thinges if thou shalt obserue, without doubt the vlcer will close, if that it bée frée from all iuyce or fluxe, or intemperatnesse, or inflamation, or anie other fault. But if for the greatnesse it cannot be that the partes diuided may from the bottome bée exactlie ioyned, neither being able with stitching, neither with splents, nei­ther with rolling to come vnto them, or that there is Sa­nies nowe gathered there, or some dolour annexed, such an vlcer cannot close together by the onelie ioyning of the sides, when as that that is pained, causeth somewhat to flowe more, yea, and although that which floweth bée ac­cording to nature, yet the strength of the parte which are méekned, both for the dolour and paine, and also thorough the wound, cannot beare that which is iust, but are bur­thened, as though it were the contrarie, and héereof sprin­geth superfluous Sanies, yea, and it is meruaile if there followeth not inflamation also, if there be Sanies collected in the middest of the sides of the vlcer, without paine, or that there bée anie meane place betwixt, which is voide of Sani­es, but yet is filled with the aire, the Vlcer cannot bée ad­glutinated by closing together the partes diuided, when as the Sanies do deuour the vnion, and the voide places which are betwixt the partes to be ioyned, doe let the frontes of the inward sides to touch. Therefore at the least that those partes of the vlcer maye close, they require Natures helpe to bée filled with flesh, and surelie these are so little, if the sides of the vlcer bée rightlie ioyned, that it may be done in one daie, or in two at the most. Therefore for this time it behooueth to vse some desiccatiue medicine, which may drie the part, that it may consume the Sanies, if anie there bée, or if anie shall flowe into the voide places, to kéepe it back. Now therfore thou shalt cause me to call to remembrance y^e medicine which doth incarnate & moderatlie drie, y^t we may knowe whether y^e glutinatiue medicine ought to be drier or [...]: truly y^e incarnatiue medicine if it shuld cōsume al y^e [Page 51] bloud which floweth, it should by that meanes take away the matter it selfe whereof flesh springeth. But truelie a glutinatine medicine either néedeth not at all the genera­tion of flesh, or else verie little. Wherefore it behooueth it to be more desiccatiue than that which must incarnate, so that by this reason, there is but a small difference betwixt these medicines, but yet by another reason ther is great dif­ference, in as much as that which doth incarnat, ought eft-soones also to haue a vertue abstersiue, whereby it may not onlie dry y^e abundance of moisture, but also may take away all the filth: Aglutinatiue trulie neither may mundifie, nei­ther purge, but to bring all the whole substaunce together. And medicines which be called Abstersiue and astringent, hath such facultie, for these surelie haue facultie to constrain and stop, and not to mundifie and purge whereof it follow­eth, that when we studie to incarnate, we must chiefly flie an astringent medicine, because it fixeth y^e filth more strait­lie than may easilie be loosed. Therefore wine is the best medicine for euery vlcer, in that it is an vlcer, and if it be not added that it is an vlcer, I suppose thou wilt vnder­stand.

For it is onelie added for remembrance sake, least anie should thinke, not as defining anie thing necessarie, so that if thou shewest thy selfe mindfull of all those things, which in the former booke are set out, of naming euerie thing, and also of the subiects, there is no cause that hence forth I shal define such things vnto thée, it shal be abundantlie for me, if I onelie in euerie of them separate the simple effects from those that are compound, of which things I haue som­what before spoken, and nowe neuerthelesse shall speake, not so much trulie for the things it self, as that many Phi­sitions deceiued by the word, thinke hollowe and vnequall, new and old, filthie, and cleane with inflamation and with­out inflamation, to be differences of vlcers.

Therefore it is necessarie to make distinction, which bée the proper differences of Vlcers, and which be complec­tions of other affects, but of this a little héereafter. True­lie the wonted doctrine of the olde Physitions which I [Page] would were now in vse, is altogether natural, for they shew the cure of euerie simple effect, but of them all, that doeth chieflie Hyppocrates, for the curatiue methode shall best procéede, if we shall speake seuerallie of euerie simple by themselues, & after shew another method of all compounds, as if there were two diseases in the order of diet, retaining and flowing, as Thessalus supposeth, when as we had spo­ken of the cure of either of them seuerallie, we must doe in like sort of these both ioyned together. So in like sort I sup­pose, because there is one kinde of all vlcers, in that they are vlcers, and also one other kinde of inflamations, in that they are inflamations, it behooueth to set out the cure of an vlcer by it selfe, and the cure of an inflamation by it selfe, & after to ioyne both cures together, which thing if we shall doe, truelie we shall finde by the methode declared, that eue­rie vlcer ought to be dried and bound, but yet not mundi­fied, the hollownesse in the flesh also to bée dryed and mun­dified, but yet not to bée astringed.

Also after the same manner which wée spake of in hol­lowe Vlcers, wee shall for the portion iudge Nature, whe­ther it bée softe and loose, or harde and drie, and impact, for the first, how much moyster it is, so much lesse néed it hath of desiccatiues, the last howe much drier it is, so much the more it requireth vehement desiccatiues, and medicines astringent, the emperike I suppose, will héere make menti­on of children, and women, and delicate bodies, and will account young folkes Plowmen and Marriners, of contra­rie sorte, but séeing that he vnderstandeth not that the me­dicine doth profite children and women, though the moy­stures of their complection and another, agréeth in lyke sorte, with Plowmen and Marriners, because of their drie temperament, neither can he gesse exactlie the cure of eue­rie bodie, neither yet finde out the cause of errour, whereby it dooth come to passe, that he knoweth not how to goe to an apter medicine, when that which he first knewe by experi­ence doth little profit.

And thus we haue brieflie spoken of glutinatiue medi­cines, and héere followeth another method pertaining to the [Page 25] preparation and composition of them, for by and by wée ap­plie to an hollow vlcer what we list, whether it be a medi­cine drie or moist, for we may strow it in euerie part of the vlcer, or else annoint it, but in woundes we cannot so doe, where there is a greate déepnesse, for as soone as thou hast ioyned the sides of the wound, thou canst not touch the parts which are in the bottome diuided. Therfore it is to be con­sidered, whether the medicine be moderatly drie and astrin­gent, but also whether it may come to the bottome. Cerussa and Litharge be moderate drying and astringent, but if thou doest strowe it vppon the wound like as ashes, thou shalt not profite, for the vertue of the medicine that is so drie, can­not come to the profunditie, therefore there is requyred some moistures, or else of some moisture medicine, that it may be plaister like, but these belongeth properlie to that speculation, which sheweth the composition of medicines, and not to that which sheweth the reason of curing. But if we shall néede it vnto this matter, we shall touch it in our worke héereafter.

The fift Chapter.

NOw will I turne again to the vlcer which requireth to be cicatrised, of which a little before we made mention, & the end of these also whereto we drawe, is of the like kinde y^t an hollow vlcer is, for it behoueth to re­genereate somwhat y^t is lost, and not onely to vnite y^t is diuided, but y^e which is here to be regenerated, is after an other sort than in an hollowe vlcer, séeing y^t the matter there is bloud, but héere it is flesh, for that which is hollowe is filled by engendering flesh, whose beginning is bloud, and that vlcer is cicatrised that is alreadie filled by engendering skinne, which is made of the flesh subiect, and surely the flesh which may ingender in an hollowe vlcer, may be like to that which is lost, but the skin which shal be restored, cannot in all pointes be like y^e which was before, but a thing like the skin, which also may supply y^e office of y^e [Page] skinne, but yet is not the skinne in déede. And the cause trulie wherefore the skinne perished, cannot be againe in­gendered, like as flesh and fatnesse be, is to be sought out of naturall problemes. But we must héere learne both how to imitate nature, and also the vse of the skin, and of this thing we will now shew the methode, and for that our purpose to couer the flesh with some naturall couerture, for that is to cicatrise an vlcer, either we must regenerate skin, or make the vpper part of the flesh like vnto skinne, but skinne in­déede cannot be engendered, therefore let vs attempt that which may be done. But what waie shall we do this? for­sooth by alteration for we labour that some part of the flesh may no longer be flesh, but maye bée lyke skinne, but by what waie sayest thou, shall it be altered? forsooth by the helpe of some medicine, whose qualitie will alter, and héere against my will in this place, commeth the talke of ele­ments, without which, neither can there be founde a medi­cine which can cicatrise, much lesse anie that hath vertue to incarnate and glutinate, therefore because the skin is both drier and thicker than flesh, if we shall drie and binde the flesh, we shall also make it like the skinne. And thus thou hast the summe of the medicine which doeth cicatrise, but this trulie is not sufficient, for glutinatiues be also dry and binding, there if thou doest marke the substaunce of things, thou mayst find how these differ from them, but for because in the adglutination of vlcers, wée must drie that which floweth, so that the sicke part may be frée from superfluitie in making a cicatrise, we do not onelie consume that which floweth, but also the moisture contained in the flesh, true­lie it is conuenient that the medicine which doth cicatrise, bée a great deale drier than that which [...]th adglutinate, when hée that will adglutinate hath his scope, that he doe consume the abundance of the moisture, which is according to Nature, he that will cicatrise, doth not take awaie one­lie this, but also some parte of that which is according to Nature.

Therefore vnripe g [...]s, and the Pomegranad rinde & the fruit of y^e Egyptiā spine, are moderate desiccatiues, Calcites [...] & [Page 53] aes Victū, & aeris, Squāma, & Misi, & Fissum Alumen, be a great deale more vehement, and chifely Misi, & Chalcitis, but aeris, Squamma, is more gentle, and yet aes Vstum, much more than this, and if thou doest wash it thou shalt haue a medi­cine lesse corrosiue, surely this also belongeth to the specu­lation of compounding medicines, which in order next fol­loweth the Methode curatiue, for to know the faculties of Medicines. That truely must go before the curatiue Me­thod, and we haue hereof intreated in an other place, but the composition of medicines must follow, for where vni­uersally it is commaunded either to drye or make moyst, or to make hot, or refrigerate, and that it must be done either moderatly, or vehemently, or lightly, we haue vnderstoode the facultie of euery simple medicine, it is conueniēt to cō ­sider this by it selfe, and alone, and also how any may mixe them profitably to his vse, and by this meanes there is a double knowledge of medicines, one that sheweth their vertues, an other of their composition and preparation, but wée must retourne to that which yet remaineth of the Me­thode of Vlcers.

The sixt Chapter.

THere resteth as I suppose to speake of that superfluous fleshe, which the most part of Phisitions call in Gréeke Hyposarcosin, surely this sicknesse is of the kinde also of those which be in quantitie or magnitude, call it as it please you, by either name. Of this sort, was hollownesse, of which we haue alreadie en­treated. Therefore like as that wée call an hollow vlcer, is not one affect, but that the hollownesse and vlcer are two, so the vlcer that hath supercrescent flesh, is not one disease, but the supercrescent flesh and the vlcer be two, the magni­tude which is against nature, sheweth the first indication, which we haue named the waye of finding out remedies, that is to say, the taking away of that which aboundeth, & this is perfourmed by the onely helpe of medicines, and not [Page] by natures diligence, for it is contrarywise that it was in engendring flesh, and adglutination, for they be iudged na­tures worke, we onely remouing by medicines applyed, those things which doe hinder hir, but the taking away of supercrescent fleshe, is no worke of nature, but is done by medicines, which doe vehemently dry: surely those medi­cines are next to those which doe vehemently mundifie, and also to those that doe ciccatrise, in so much that through er­rour, many take that medicine which taketh away flesh, for that which doth mundifie, or for that which doth cicca­trise. And that wée go not from our example, if thou doest apply to a moist nature Misi & Chalcitis, thou shalt finde y^t it will rather take away flesh than ciccatrise. Wherefore, if we in the want of other medicines, be cōpelled to vse these, in making a ciccatrise, putting but onely the point of our probe in it, being beaten into most exact lightnesse, in after applying to the partes which require to be ciccatrised, as it were in most fine flower. But if we intēd to diminish that which ouergroweth, then we put it in more largely, truely Aerugo, can take away flesh more than these, in so much as it passeth y^e boūd of ciccatrising medicines, but if thou doest burne them, like as they shall be lesse sharpe, so shall they be found more apt to make a ciccatrise, but if thou doest also wash them, they shall be yet more gentle. Thou remēbrest one I thinke, which without reason did cure a filthie vlcer, with that notable gréene medicine, mixing Honey with it, after many dayes past, he finding the vlcer as filthie as be­fore, he voyde of knowledge, neither vnderstanding what to doe, for it chaunced that the filth was not purged, but also some part of the fleshe vnder it, was diminished and dissolued, because the medicine was to vehement, (like an egregious Phisition) he added more Honney continually to the medicine, whereby it might more vehemently mun­difie, as though the medicine before applyed, had not suffi­ciētly done it. It came to passe cōtrary, for how much y^e more he made his medicine sharp, so much y^e flesh subiect was cō ­sumed, so that the filth in the Vlcer which sprang of the dissolued flesh, the Phisition imputeth it to the medicine, [Page 54] as though it had not wrought, and his ignorance was not onelie in the curatiue method, but also in iudging, for if the vlcer be found to be in like sorte, most filthie and moist, of either medicine, trulie the hollownesse is made greater by the vehement dissoluing medicine, as also the vlcer is séene to haue swollen lips, and to be redde, and vexed as it were with inflamation, and sometime also the patient féeleth ma­nifest corrosion by such a medicine, but that medicine that doth lesse drie than is requisite, doth neither corrode, neither yet doth anie of these things rehearsed. I thinke it there­fore euident by this, that an Emperike, although hée vseth most distinct experience, cannot artificiallie, where thinges prosper not, go to that which cureth by a right method, which I now doe institute and begin.

The seauenth Chapter.

FOR the Methode which the methodelesse Thessalians doe professe, thou doest know to be nothing but the bare name, voide of all ef­fect, which séeing there is such and so mani­folde a method in curing an vlcer, which they neither vse the differences of Emperikes in finding out remedies, neither as Dogmatists, taking indi­cation of the nature of things to be done, but propounding that which the common people knowe, they thinke to haue declared a certaine method of curing vlcers, that is to saie, that an hollow vlcer requireth to be filled with flesh, the vl­cer filled to be brought to a ciccatrise, that which aboundeth with supercrescent flesh, to be taken away, that which is fil­thie to be purged, y^t which is cleane, to be either adglutina­ted or cicatrised. So farre wide be they, that they knowe not how to moist natures medicines, lesse drying are con­uenient, as vnto drie complections, those which do more ex­icate. Therefore y^t which hath appeared most manifest in all our whole disputation, we must againe repeate, y^t we may be to him most attentiue, & that all other may vnderstand how much they haue erred that do corrupt the method of the [Page] olde writers, I will begin with that vlcer which requireth to be filled with flesh, putting that one for example, because of it I haue last made mention, and after this I will speak together of the vniuersall curation, therefore I suppose one thing to be manifest, not onelie to them which consider by reason, but also to them which also follow experience, that euerie nature doth not require like medicines, but y^t those that be weaker and more delicate, require more gentle me­dicines, those y^t are more strong & drier, do in lyke sort re­quire more vehement: so trulie standeth the case in those where a Cicatrize was to be made, and also in those which néedeth adglutination, for no delicate bodies forsooth can in anie wise suffer a medicine to vehement.

In the like discourse of our talke, it is euident that both the nature of the Patient is to be considered, and also that there is a proper curation for euerie man, and yet further­more, the third thing, that is to saie, because there is an in­effable propertie of euerie nature, neither comprehensible by the most exact knowledge, he is the best Phisition of eue­rie perticular patient, which hath gotten the method, wher­by he may discerne natures, and also coniecture which are the proper remedies of euerie one. For it is an extreame madnesse, to iudge that there is a common curation of all men, as these most foolish Thessalians doe thinke, and for that cause they suppose, that all the Theoremes of Phisick are ordained, that is, they are such as skilfull men doe and performe, a farre knowledge of themselues, and that the art is a certaine knowledge of communities, and not proper­ties, as though they should cure a vniuersall and not a per­ticular man, therefore lyke as in all other, euen at the be­ginning they erre, so they erre also in this, for the generall or common man is not cured, but euerie one of vs hauing another complection and nature. But these truelie thinke ther is a cōmon cure of al men, I trulie iudge cōtrarie, for if I knew how to find out exactly euerie priuate nature, I would think my self to be such a one, as I conceiue in my minde, was Aesculapius.

But forasmuch as that is impossible, surelie I will goe [Page 55] as man maye doe, and I haue decréed to exercise my selfe, and doe also exhort others to doe the same, and the empe­rickes as much as they can, to learne those things that are common, so to draw néere to those that are proper, but yet how much they are wyde from the perfection of the thing, it is before spoken. For these notes for children or women, or olde folkes, or those that haue soft fleshe, and white, and such lyke, are not to be put as they think, for sure differen­ces, but rather how the bodie is affected, in moystures and drynesse, and it is conuenient as much as may, to allow the Emperick Phisitions both for many other things, and al­so for that they go as néere as they can, to the propertie of the sicke. For after all their other separations, which they make, they adde also that which is taken of custome, as though hereby they shall finde remedies, which are more proper for the pacient. But we will speake hereafter more largely of custome, when we shall proue the difference of custome, inuented by the olde writers, for the knowledge of the propertie of the pacients nature.

These with the rest, the Empericks receiue, and also do confesse, that the Phisition which visiteth the pacient, shall better cure him, than he who hath not séene the sicke. Yet for all that, when as they haue added all these things, they will not as yet, saye that they haue a sound and skilfull knowledge, of the proper curation of the pacient. But that most impudent Thessalus, onely vnderstāding that an hol­low vlcer must be filled, affirmeth the Theoremes of Phi­sicke to be constant and firme, although as before is saide, all men know at the least this thing, not onely they which now be after this Thessalus, as another Aesculapius, was borne, but I suppose also those that were before Deucalion, and Phoroneus, if these were reasonable, and besides, if they knew how a hollow vlcer is to be filled with flesh. Further, they were not ignorant, that he is a Phisitiō, which know­eth those medicines, wherewith such an vlcer is to be filled with fleshe.

But if these medicines be inuented by experience, it is most certaine, that we must cure Empericklye, but if [Page] they be found out by reason, then we must cure reasonably, for truely he findeth not out one medicine, and vseth now an other aptly, but if this our strife is with the emperikes, that truely which I began to say, true Phisicke it selfe doth make coniecture of the nature of the pacient, I suppose the common sorte call it in gréeke Idiosyncrasian, and all they confesse it to be incomprehensible, and therefore they leaue the true arte of Phisicke to Aesculapius, and Apollo. Sure­ly all this knowledge standeth of a double beginning, for an obseruatiō, the Emperickes take the beginning of those thinges which manifestly appeare, the Logicians truely of the Elements themselues. For that another medicine hath profited other, very children doe now well néere vnderstād, and reason which is grounded on the Elements, doth also confirme the same. For if thou doest make xv. differences in the complexions of men, by reason of excesse and defect, and that onely in moyst nature, truely it shall also be necessarie that thou knowest xv. differences of medicines, which thou wilt vse, of which some drye more, and some lesse, whereby thou maist finde that agréeth to euery nature, and if also in drye complexions there be put other xv. differēces, and thou require other xv. medicines also to these, thou shalt haue in all .xxx. medicines, which shall agrée to xxx. natures, which onely he can rightly vse, which hath diligently exercised himselfe in the temperaments of bodies. Whether there­fore, if all the bodie be of a dryer complexion, shal it be cu­red by medicines which doe more exciecate: if any part of the same be dryer by nature than the rest, shall it require lesse drying medicines.

Also whether is it here euident that what parte hath a dryer temperament, requireth dryer medicines, that which is more moist, lesse desiccatiues. And all this truely these methodlesse Thessalians doe let passe, which thinke one me­dicine to agrée with euery part, truely the Emperickes how much in this thing doe they excell these Thessalian Metho­dicians, so much are they inferiour vnto true Methodicians and Logicians, although they in déede being taught by vs, haue also one medicine for Vlcers in the eyes, another for [Page 56] those in the eares, or ioyntes, or flesh, or onely skin, but that in those they cannot go to an other medicine, it may easely appeare by that we haue heretofore spoken.

The eight Chapter.

NOw seing that wée haue sufficiently spoken of these thinges, let vs againe returne to the beginning of our disputatiō, and let vs mixe with an vlcer, all such affectes which are cō ­plicated with it, beginning first with intem­peratures. If the exulcerate flesh, either bée­fore by any occasion, or in the time of y^e vlceration, be made either more hot or colde than is méete, it doth require a re­medie which doth not onely moderately drye, but doth also make hot or refrigerate, so much as the part affected is gone from his naturall state, when as it cannot come to passe, that either there shall be flesh ingendred in the vlcer, or the hollownesse filled, or adglutination to be made, or to cicca­trize well, except the fleshe subiect be according to nature, neither was it spoken in vaine, that these are the woorkes of nature, but filthie vlcers may be mūdified, they that are supercrescent diminished, the flesh not keping hir naturall state, for that they onely are the woorkes of medicines.

Wherefore thou must haue the more regard of the iust tē ­perature of the vlcerate partes as often as thou wilt either incarnate, or glutinate, or ciccatrise, the motions of nature are to be obserued, which euery of these rehearsed, doe fol­low, but otherwise they shall not be obserued, except y^e part be founde according to nature, as if there were inflamma­tion.

With an vlcer, no man will attēpt either to incarnate, or conglutinate, or ciccatrise, before the inflammation be ex­pelled, so in lyke sorte I suppose, that if there be onely in­temperatenesse without inflamation, we shall not hope for any of y^e foresaid, before this be cured. Therfore hereof sprīg­eth again a certain indicatiō of y^e finding out of medicines, which were before cōprehended, for all they were siccati [...], [Page] but they did differ among themselues, by reason of excesse and defect, & it is not before defined, how forsoth they should make hot or refrigerate. But the Methode as it were, en­forceth to search out also this thing. But it behoueth to marke, not onely whether it doe exciccate, but also, whether it doe greatly heate or refrigerate. Wherefore thou shalt es­chew the vse of Altercum and Mandrage, and Meconium, although they excicate, as much as is méete for an vlcer, be­cause they vnmeasurably refrigerate. Resin, and Pitch, and Asphaltus, although they doe moderately exciccate, yet they be moderately hot, therefore no man will vse these alone, neither otherwise than mixed with other, which doe gently refrigerate, making of all one temperate medicine. But if these thinges are thus, as truely they are, it is conuenient also to marke the temperature of the ayre, for this being as a certaine medicine comming outwardly to our bodies, if it be to hot or colde, it hindreth the cure. Therefore diligence is to be had, that the medicine doth helpe the excesse of it. Therefore Hippocrates vseth medicines of colder facultie, in the hot times of the yeare, and in colde times hotter me­dicines.

And here truely thou art not ignorant, howe a certaine dul methodician did cōfesse that he did marke how the ayre about the pacient was affected, in heate and colde, and yet not to suffer the times of the yere to be regarded, as though the names it selfe, of the times of the yere, did either profit or hurt, and not their temperament, or that the olde wry­ters for this cause had not respect to it. But I thinke it a­bundantly shewed, that who so will by a certaine methode cure an Vlcer, he must of force both come to the first Ele­ments, and also consider the times of the yeare, and the temperaments of bodies, not onely in the whole, but also in euery part.

Againe, we must repeat that, y^t hath béen spoken of indi­cation, which is taken of moist and dry, for like as the moist nature requireth moister medicines, and dryer natures dri­er medicines, so here y^e hotter nature requireth hotter ayre, the colder requireth colder. For y^t in those which are against [Page 57] nature, and those which are according to nature, there is a contrarie indication. For those that are according to na­ture shew the lyke, those that are against nature, contra­ries. If wée will conserue them, these must bée of force re­mooued.

The ninth Chapter.

ANd thus I suppose y^t I haue cléerely taught that he who shall well cure an vlcer, must consider the complection of bodies, times of the yeare, & natures of partes, also that the first indication curatiue is taken of the one­lie effect, but for all that the remedies can­not be thereby found out, except we first do ascend to y^e ele­ments of bodies, and way the patients temperament, not onely of the bodie, but also of the sicke part, and considering with these the temperature of the aire, which truelie doe both pertaine vnto the present state, and also vnto regions, that there are together in one curation contrarie indicati­ons, & how to vse them it shall be set out héere after more largely, notwithstanding now also it shall not be from the purpose, to speake also in this place thereof in few wordes, for I do think no meruaile, although the patients complec­tion be moister, and yet the part affected to be drier, or con­trariwise y^t the part be moister, & the tēperature of y^e whole bodie drier, in like sort than, the part is of contrarie tempe­rament, in hotnesse & coldnesse with the whole bodie, there­fore like as if the whole bodie were in meane temperature, which we haue called best, we shuld not neede to alter anie thing in medicines, touching the nature of the Pacient, so whereas the bodie is soone drier or moister, or hotter or col­der, than is requisite, it behoueth so much to increase the force of medicines, as the bodie is declined vnto natural in­temperatnesse. We haue not forgotten to thinke what na­turall temperatures is, & what is against nature, for wée haue spoken of y^t inother our works, but chieflie in y^e booke which is intituled, of inequall temperatures, admit there­fore y^t the whole complection of y^e sick bodie is more moist, [Page] and for that cause require medicines lesse de [...]iccatiue, & that the affected part is in the number of those which are more drie, such we haue said be the parts lesse fleshie, as about the fingers & ioynts, also the parts about the eares, nose, eies, & téeth. And to be briefe, wheras there are many cartilages, & cotes, & ligaments, & bones, & nerues, for héere is no fat or flesh, or but verie little, the indication within these is héere taken of the nature of the part, is contrarie to that which is taken of the nature of the whole bodie, wherfore if so be that howe much the complection of the Patient is more moist than is requisite, so much the parte affected is more drie, we shal neither adde, neither yet subtract from the me­dicine, but we must vse such a medicine as we wold apply to the vlcer, made in the parte of meane temperature, and where the bodie is moderatlie temperate, but if the part be so much the more drie than is requisite, as the temperamēt of the bodie is moister, we must so much increase y^e drinesse of the medicine, or the temperament of the part, excéede the temperament of the whole, as if the exulcerate part excéed in drinesse foure parts the iust temperatnesse, & that the pati­ents nature is thrée degrées moister, it is manifest y^t the part which is nowe vlcerate, requireth a medicine one degrée drier, than where as the part is temperate, it is euident y^t all these are taken by coniecture, and that he shal best con­iecture, which is exercised in reasoning of these, & trulie in all such there are together at one time contrarie indicati­ons, neither shall I néed to speake also of those indications, which are taken of hot & colde, because they may be vnder­stood by y^e which is spoken. Trulie in other, the indications are separated by times, in which there are finished, & it be­houeth also chieflie in the beginning of the curation, y^t one to cease, & the other to doe his part, example, if an vlcer bée with hollownesse & verie filthie, there is a thrée fold affect, against nature, the vlcer, the hollownesse, & the filth, the or­der of curing in purging the filth, because the vlcer cannot be anie thing adglutinated or filled with flesh before it be cleane, the cure of the hollownesse hath the second place, for if we shal either adglutinate or incarnate, or to speak brief­ly, [Page 58] cure the vlcer, we cannot fill the hollownesse: imagine therefore, y^t not onely these thrée do infect the part, but also inflamation or Erisipelas, or Gangrena, or some intem­peratiues, either simple or compound, whether or no it is manifest, that the vlcer cannot be filled with flesh, before y^t this be taken awaie, it is before saide, that generation of flesh commeth of that which is sound vnder, but new flesh cannot grow, of that which inflamation infesteth, & is in­temperate, & to conclude that which is sick, therfore there is of them to be considered a thrée fold end in all such coniūc­tions, one as it were taken of the cause which is to come af­ter, another hath the reason, without which not, the third is named such as do inforce and accelerate. For y^e iust tem­perature of the flesh, is as it were the cause, which maketh that is vlcerate to growe with it, and filleth the hollow­nesse. The purenesse & cléernesse of the vlcer hath the place, without which not, for the filth letteth, this doeth prolong the cure, the hollownesse hath the place to the vlcer, with­out which not, for if the hollownesse be not filled, the vlcer cannot be cicatrised, therefore if thou doest regard these, thou shalt finde the order of curing, as if inflamation & hol­lownesse, & an vlcer, & filth, be found together in the part, we must first cure the inflammation, secondlie the filth, thirdly the hollownesse, & last the vlcer. And truelie in the rehearsed, both the order and the inuention of things to be done, is taken of these, but the indication of that which en­forceth or accelerateth, is not héere reckoned, in other truly it is, for that affect is first of all to be cured, whereof there first followeth perill to the man, yea, & not onely first, but onely it, as if the head of a muscle be prickt, there followeth conuulsion, which cannot be remitted by the helpe of conue­nient medicines, for thou shalt heale the conuulsion, y^e mus­cle being cut ouerthwart, notwithstanding thou hast cor­rupted some motion of the part, in like manner when ther immoderatlie floweth bloud out of a veine or arterie, if thou cuttest the whole vessell ouerthwart, although thou canst not cure the Vlcer, yet thou hast taken awaye the perill, which should haue come through the fluxe of bloud. [Page] Now we are constrained after to cut a nerue ouerthwart, as often as we sée either conuulsions, or madnesse, or both, being great, and hardlie curable, to follow after wounding. In like sort, where luxation chaunceth in anie of the grea­ter ioyntes, we cure the vlcer, but leaue the luxation incu­rable, for if we wold cure also this, conuulsions would fol­low. The third end to put before our eies of curing is, vn­to that which enforceth & accelerateth, and is contrarie to the other two rehearsed, neither is it all one, to consider a­nie thing as the cause, or as that which hath the place, with out which not, or as that which enforceth and accelerateth. But we haue said, that which enforceth is such sometime, that it leaueth the other affect vncurable, and also that both we make the affect, partly in the pūcture of a nerue or ten­don, or profusion of bloud, of the vessels, and partlie in the muscle whose head is wounded, for wheras the luxation is with the vlcer, we make not the affect, but leaue onelie that vncured which is made. But we shall speake more exact­lie of these héereafter.

The tenth Chapter.

AT this present it pleaseth vs to go to the dif­ference, and to comprehend brieflie our pro­pounded talke, that we ouerpasse not anie indication of inuēting remedies, if anie yet remaine. Therfore they doe call as differen­ces of vlcers, an vlcer without inflamation, & a rotten vlcer, and a deuouring or corrosiue vlcer, & an vlcer with Gangrena and Erisipelas, and a Cancerous vl­cer, & an vlcer with paine, & an vlcer voide of paine, & such like, if anie cōming forth setteth out the emperike curatiō, & thinking no other thing, nameth them differences of vl­cers, we wil not contend with him, for we haue said a thou­sand times, y^t it behoueth not to contend about names, but if he goeth about as it were, to shew anie artificiall thing of indications, he is to be taught that all the rehearsed af­fects be compound, & that ther are other differences of a sim­ple and sole vlcer, & to which there is no other affect ioyned, [Page 59] for if there be diuision with anie edged thing, if the forme of that which did wound be imprinted in the part diuided, there shal truly be so many differences of vlcers, of oblique, right, retort like a bristle crooked like an hooke, and so being euerie waie, and all these differences be of the figure. A­gaine, there are a thousand other differences of the magni­tude, for an vlcer both is, and is also sayde to be bigger or lesser than another, also great & little, also a short & a long, a shallow and a déepe, and in euerie of these, both that it is more or lesse, such a one whether it be in y^e differēce of space, or magnitude, or quantitie, or call it after what manner you will, but if this so be, then trulie an vlcer equall or inequall, shall be with the profunditie of diuision, for if it chaunce that the thing being cut in length, the higher parte of the diuision may go in déeplie, the lower part to be in the vpper part of the bodie, or contrarie, the higher part of the wound to bée in the vpper part, the lower to bée déeper, al­so these, that is to saie, to bee diuulsed in some part, or to­tall, and to haue bene cut, and where that wound went ouerthwart vnder the skinne, the one part of the vlcerate parte to be séene, the other to be hidden vnder the skinne, and that to be in the higher partes or lower, or sides, all these be differences of vlcers. Againe, of the time there are other differences of vlcers taken, as an olde or new vlcer, of small or long time, and in all these, the reason of more & lesse is to be numbred. And these differences are taken of the nature of the vlcer most proper, which are taken of the substance of the thing, for those that are taken of the fi­gure and magnitude of diuision, and that either in length or déepnesse, or in both dimensions, also in these with equa­litie or inequalitie, these that come outwardly, and hath the place of y^t without which is not, also of the time in which the vlcer is made, for so one is called a new, another an old vlcer.

Also of that that either part or all, is not séene or séene, also of the generation, for that is all cut, or all broken, or part cut, and parte broken, and if thou wilt perceiue the differences of the place in which the vlcer is, as in the end [Page] of a muscle, or beginning of a muscle, or middest of a mus­cle, or that the skinne is vlcerate, or that the vlcer be in the liuer or bellie, they be forsooth differences of vlcers, not ta­ken of the proper nature of them, but of the places in which they are, but when anie saith the vlcer is not infected with inflamation, or pressed with supercrescent flesh, or hollow, and thinketh that they be like those which lately I rehear­sed, he must of force be deceiued in the curatiue method, for in Gréeke Phlegmon Elcos, by the forme of speech hath the like figure of interpretation with a little vlcer, but yet that which is meant thereby is not alike, for déepe and hollowe when we speak of an vlcer, we shew these proper differen­ces, but Phlegmon is not at all the difference, when as the part may be infected with inflamation, yea, whereas there is no vlcer, so that I thinke it lawfull to chaunge the forme of spéech, if thou wilt saie, an vlcer with inflamation to haue come to anie man, thou shalt goe néerer than to the nature of the thing, and shalt interpret it more cléerely, but not if thou shalt saie, some with bignesse and some with lit­tlenesse, to be made, for thou maist speake more euidentlie, and after the nature of the thing, if thou shalt saie he had a great vlcer, and a little, so that if it maye be done, that the forme of spéech be chaunged, both more conuenient to the nature of the thing, and more manifest to the hearers, we shall not leaue of, whereby it may lesse be done, for the waie to flie deceit in things, is that, to vse defined spéech, therefore what methode may we appoint, in such there is to be noted a certain precept, and as it were, a scope, wher­by the diligent may easilie discerne by and by, whether a­nie speaketh of the difference of anie affect, of the ioyning of another affect.

Therefore let this be to thée a difference, that which may seuerallie and by it selfe stand, that shall neuer be dif­ference of anie other affect, therefore magnitudge, littlenes, equalitie, inequalitie, time, and figure, be of the number of those which happen to other, but an vlcer, & inflamation, & Gangrena, and corruption, maye stande seuerallie and by themselues.

There are certaine affects of our bodies against nature, as chance necessarily to affects, for vnto al these it followeth necessarily y^t they be either little or great, or equall, or ine­quall, or new, or olde, or they appeare euidently, or they are hid & not séene. To be infected with inflamation, is not of y^e sort which happen to an vlcer, as neither to begin to putri­fie, or infected with Gangrena, all those be in the number of diseases, for they are affects against nature, & corrupteth the action. Againe, there are other as it were, differences of vlcers spoken of, as a tormenting vlcer & a filthie vlcer. But héere also is some compound shewed, but after another sort than was spokē of an vlcer infested w^t inflamation or a rot­ten vlcer, for héere inflamation and putrefaction be affects, their dolour & filthinesse be of the kind of accidents: in like condition whē we saie, Cachochimō vlcus, that is, an vlcer infested with ill iuyce, or an vlcer vexed with sluxe or coro­sion, y^e cause is coupled with the affect. And hereby it is ma­nifest, that the first & simple imfirmities void of cōposition, be as it were the elements of the curatiue method, which is now instituted. Wherefore the rather I haue numbred all such infirmities, in our cōmentaries of the differences of in­firmities. Trulie all is one, whether thou call thē the first or simple, when that which is first is simple, & that which is simple is first, & therfore elementarie. There is an indica­tion taken of the differences, although not of all, for a new or olde vlcer sheweth nothing, although some thinke con­trarie, but these deceiue themselues, not otherwise than in the order of diet, where they affirme, that there is one indi­cation in the beginning, another in the augmentation, ano­ther in the vigor, & another in the declination, of which see­ing héereafter I shal more largely intreate, ther is no cause why héere I should make more words, yet for all this I wil here ad y^e shal serue y^e time present. They think y^t a new vl­cer, whē as it is frée frō anie other affect, & hath no accident ioyned with it, doth shew another curation than an old vl­cer. But y^t is not so, for in y^t it is onelie an vlcer, and no other thing, it is such a one as hath no hollownesse, or do­lour, or filth, and is free from euerie other affect, doth onelie [Page] require the cure of an vlcer, whose end set by vs, is either vnition, or adglutination, or coition, or continuation. For I haue a thousand times said, that thou maist cal it as thou pleasest, so that the thing it selfe be not chaunged, therefore this kinde of vlcer, whether it be new or olde, requireth al­waie the same curation. That difference which is taken of the time sheweth nothing proper at all. But if the vlcer hath hollownesse déeplie hid vnder the skinne, it behoueth to consider whether it be in the higher part, that the matter may readilie flow out, or in the lower part, so y^t it is there stayed. The cure of that vlcer where ther is no fluxe, is like the cure of other. But it behoueth that we make certaine issuing out where there is none, and that is two waies, ei­ther the hollownesse being cut in the pendent place, onelie opened, both the nature of the partes, and also the bignesse of the vlcer shal shew, when as either of them must be done, for if the places themselues make the cutting dangerous, and the vlcer shall be great, it is more conuenient to open in the pendent place, but otherwise it is better to make in­cision, and wheras there is an issue, let the rolling be begun aboue, and end beneath. We haue héeretofore spoken, that the difference of vlcers which is taken of all the wounded partes, is verie necessarie to shew the cure, but the indica­tion was of similer, this which I now speake of, is as it were of instrumentall, trulie we will in the bookes follow­ing speake more largelie of that indication, which is as it were of similer bodies, or as of instrumental. Now we must goe to the proper differences of vlcers, and define of it, whe­ther it be ouerthwart, or right, or déep, or shalow, or little, or else great. Vlcers made ouerthwart, for that their lips do gape more, and are asunder, do require to be more diligently ioyned, & therefore we must vse both stitching and hookes. Those that are made in the length of y^e muscle, if thou bind it with a roller of two beginnings, thou shalt not néede ei­ther stitching or hookes, but if thou wilt otherwise binde it, vse thou either stitching or hookes. Few stitches shall in this suffice. And thou shalt cure greate vlcers with vehement desiccatiue medicines, if thou remembrest that [Page 61] which before is spoken. The medicines which doe moderat­ly drye, will abundantly heale small vlcers. Déepe vlcers be euer also great, therefore they must be rolled with two beginnings, and the lippes of it be spedely adglutinated, and those which are both verye déepe and also long, as they are great two wayes, so doe they shew a double indication, therefore they require vehement siccatiues. Neither ioyne thou the lippes to soone together, and rolle it with two be­ginnings, and take déepe stitches.

In like sort, if there come many differences together, of which euery one hath his indication, it is expedient to vse them all, so y^t they be not contrary. But if they be con­trary among themselues, wée haue heretofore shewed how it behoueth them to be denied of these, but wée will more largely set it out hereafter. And now it séemeth good in this place to ende this third booke: In the fourth, which shall follow, we will dispute of those affectes which for the more part accustome to fol­low vlcers, and with these there shall be set out the curations of inward causes.

The first Chapter.

WE haue said that there is one kind of disease that is called solution of continuitie, which cōmeth into all the parts of the bodie of mankind, howbeit it hath not one name in them all. For solution of continu­itie in the fleshie part, is called an vlcer, in the bone a fracture, the Gréekes call it Catagma, in the nerue, a conuulsion, the Gréekes call it Spasma. There be of the same kindes of Solutions, which the Gréekes call Apospasma, Regma, & Thlasma. Thlasma in the ligament, Apospasma & Regma in the veines and muscles, because of anie violent stroke or grieuous fall, or anie other great mo­tion. The solution of continuitie, called Ecchimosis, in the Gréeke, commeth most often with concussion and ruption. Sometime solution of continuitie commeth by opening the orifices of the veines, in Gréeke named Anastomasis. Also it commeth of that which is called of many Diapedisis. O­ther solutions of continuitie happen of Erosion, in Gréeke called Anabrosis. But it is a disposition alreadie medled and composed with an other kinde of disease that consisteth in the quantitie of the partes, as before hath bene shewed, when as we did intreate of hollow vlcers, which doe pro­céede of two causes, that is to saie, of Exition and Erosion. It is manifestlie knowen by what meanes exition com­meth. And if erosion abound inwardlie, it commeth of Ca­chochimia, if outwardlie, it is done either by strong medi­cine or fire, it behoueth then, as is said before, to take dili­gent héede, and discerne the simple diseases from the com­pound, for to a simple disease, a simple remedie is conueni­ent, and to a compound disease, a compound medi­cine.

Also we haue said before, what method must be kept to cure cōpoūd diseases, yet notwithstāding it is not inough to [Page] know the generalitie of the said method, but to be exercised in all parts thereof. Séeing then that in the same is néede by manner of speaking of sundrie perticular methods, be­cause that euerie kinde of disease hath his owne methode, then that which resteth of the curation of vlcers, must bée performed in this booke, taking the beginning héere.

Euerie vlcer is simple and alone, without other disposi­tions and affects with it, or it is with some other dispositi­on, or diuerse, whereof some haue not onelie stirred vp the same vlcer, but hath augmented it. The other are, without which the said vlcer cannot be cured. Of thē we haue spo­ken héere before, we shal speake in this present booke of the dispositions which augmenteth the vlcer, in the which lyeth double counsaile of curation, that is to saie, either to take the said dispositions all wholie out of the bodie, or to sur­mount the incommoditie that aboundeth in it. The which thing may be easilie done, if the dispositiō be little, but if it be great, y^e vlcer may not be cured, vntill y^e same disposition be taken awaie. Wherefore we must diligently consider, what the said affects and dispositions be, and how many in number, in taking our beginning, as is sayd before. Eue­rie vlcer is by it selfe alone, or with hollownesse, y^e the flesh being subiect be natural, and that there be nothing betwixt the ioyning of the lips, that may let y^e conglutination ther­of, which oftentimes happeneth either by haire, a Spiders web, mattier, oyle, or such lyke things, that may let the ioy­ning together.

And these things are as Symptomata and accidents of the sayd wound, which if they be present, maye hinder the curation, but if they be not, they let not, but the disposition of the flesh, is cause of that which followeth. For with the same flesh, and by the same, lips that were asunder are clo­sed, and the hollownesse filled.

It behoueth then that the sayd flesh be naturall, because that these two things may be wel and commodiously made perfect. Then it is naturall if it kéepe his owne tempera­ment, which thing is common to all other partes, for it be­houeth that the flesh subiect be wholie temperate, as well [Page 63] to close the vlcers, as to fill them with flesh. But is that enough I praie you? Must not the bloud that commeth to it be good also, and moderate in quantitie? I thinke this trulie to be true. For that bloud which is corrupt, doeth so differ from adglutination and filling the flesh, as also som­time to exulcerate and erode the bodie. And if it be ouer­much in quantitie, it engendereth excrements in the vlcers (as we haue before spoken,) and hindereth the curation. And also there be thrée kindes of vlcers which are difficill and hard to be cured. The first aboundeth by the vntempe­rature of the flesh, being subiect. The second by the vice & ill qualitie of the bloud comming to it. The third, of a great measure and quantitie of the said bloud. Ought not the di­uision to be made thus or otherwise? That is to saie, the cause wherefore some vlcers are stubburne and difficill to be healed is, for the mistemperance of the flesh exulcerate, or else for the gathering of humors vnto the vlcerate part. Yet againe the mistemperate flesh ought to be diuided in­to two differences. The first is, when y^e flesh being subiect is out of his nature onelie in qualitie. The second is, whē with the euill qualitie it hath tumor against nature. The flowing of humours is diuided into two differences, that is to saie, into the qualitie and quantitie of humours.

Sometime diuerse of the said dispositions are mixed toge­ther, and sometime all. But the methode for to cure them, ought not to bée giuen all together, but each one by him­selfe.

The second Chapter.

AND if the distemperance of the flesh bée drie, moderate it with bathing and wet­ting in temperate water. But at all times that this remedie shall be vsed, the end of the bathing and wetting shall be till the particle come ruddie, and rise in a lumpe. Then cease the bathing and moisting, for if you bath it a­nie more, you shall close the humour againe that was loo­sed, [Page] and so you shall profit nothing. Likewise the moist­ning facultie of medicines ought to be greater than is accu­stomed in a whole part. If the flesh be more moist than na­turall habitude, you must haue regard to the contrarie, for the facultie of medicines in y^e case ought to be desiccatiue, and to vse no water. But if thou must wash the vlcer, take wine or Posca, that is to saie, Oxicratum, or the decoction of some sharpe hearbe. Likewise you shall coole the pride of y^e flesh that is too hot, and heat that which is too cold, you shall know such intemperatures, partlie by the coulour, and part­lie by féeling of the diseased patient. For sometimes they confesse they feele great heate in the particle, sometime ma­nifold coldnesse, and so delight themselues in hot or colde medicines. And sometime appeareth rednesse, and somtime whitenesse. But to distinguish these thinges, it is not the duetie of this our proponed worke, in the which worke we shew not the method to know the affectes, but to cure them, in such wise y^t by consequence of words, we bée come vnto the said methode, to knowe the affects. Againe let vs returne to our purpose.

If anie parts are vlcerate with tumour against nature, first the tumour must be cured. What ought to be the cu­ration of all tumours, we shall saie héereafter. Presentlie we shall intreate of that which is ioyned vnto vnkind vl­cers. But when the lips of the vlcers are discoloured and somewhat hard, they must be cut vnto the whole flesh. But if such affect is like to procéed, further deliberation must be had, least that which doth séeme to be repugnant vnto na­ture, shall be cut out, or in longer space to be cured, & with­out doubt in such a case it is good to know y^e patients mind. For some had rather to be long in curing, than to suffer in­cision, and other are readie to endure all thinges, so that they may the sooner be made whole. Likewise héere shal be spoken of the ill iuyce which floweth to the exulcerate part, and in as much as it is a malignant and a wicked humor, it shall be spoken of héereafter in his owne place. When as therefore the humour which floweth to the vlcerate parts, is not farre of, nor doth abound in qualitie or quan­titie, [Page 64] it shall be then conuenient to direct it, and to restraine the fluxe which commeth vnto it, and also to coole the heate of the parts that be néere the vlcer. Furthermore, you must behold the ligature or rolling at the vlcer, and leading it to the whole part, as Hyppocrates commandeth in the frac­tured bones. Also that the medicines that are ministred to the sayd vlcers, must be more stronger than they that are applied to a simple vlcer. And if the fluxe of humours wil not staie with conuenient medicines, then you must séeke further the cause of the said fluxe, and take it awaie. If the fluxe come by weaknesse of the member that receiueth it, the sayd weaknesse must be cured. And such curations also shal be proper for the vlcerate part. But if the cause of the fluxe be through the abundaunce of y^e bloud, or of the ill disposition of all the bodie, or of anie of the superiour parts, you must first take awaie the said causes. The weaknesse of the part, forth of which abundance of iuyce doth flow, cō ­meth whole of the intemperancie, & not altogether. Wherof it followeth, that the vlcerate flesh is only intemperate, and not weake and féeble, & sometime it chanceth both the one & the other. For the great intemperancie is y^e cause of the im­becilitie of y^e affected part, the which intemperancie is cured as is aforesaid, in refrigerating the heate, humecting y^e dry, warming the cold, & desiccating the moist. And if the place be too colde & moist together, the medicines must be in war­ming & drying together, & so of the other intemperances, in putting away euery qualitie y^e surmounteth by his contra­rie. The reason is: Euerie thing y^e behaueth it selfe wel, is according to nature, not only in liuing things, but in plāts, & also in al other things ther is an equality, which y^e Gréeks cal Simmetron, & without excesse of al vicious humors. For the thing where nothing can be taken fro or put to, neither anie part, or anie qualitie, it is all perfect in one equalitie: contrariwise, the thing that must haue taken fro it, or else somewhat added to it, is not in a naturall & perfect estate. Wherefore it is not possible to cure rightlie, but in taking awaie that which is excesse, & putting to it y^e which lacketh. In another place we must speake of y^e ouermuch or lacke [Page] of things, but when anie qualitie is ouer much, it is neces­sarie that the other qualitie contrarie to him, ouercome him againe, and the corruption of humors or intemperancie, bée remoued in restoring the said qualitie that wanted, for in cooling that which was too hot, thou shalt restore that which lacketh, & diminish y^t which was too much abundant. Thus it is necessarie that the curation of the things that are put farre from their naturall habitation, by some intemperan­cie, be made perfect againe by thinges of contrarie vertue. And thus the flesh or anie part thereof, wherein is fluxe of humours, because of weaknesse, ought to be made in this manner, (as is sayd before) and when the intemperancie is cured, then procéede to the cure of the vlcer, first curing the intemperancie, as if it had come without the vlcer: By the which thing it is manifest, that all such curation is not pro­per to the vlcer, but to the intemperancie.

Likewise if anie fluxe of humours happen to the vlce­rate partes, as wel by the occasion of anie perticular mem­ber, as of all the bodie, wherevnto the bloud or anie ill hu­mours doe resort, first, remedie must be had either to the particle that is cause of the fluxe, or else to the whole bodie. Thus then we shall cure first the varices, that are often re­sorting vnto the vlcered place, before you cure the vlcer, and then afterward you may the easilier cure the vlcer. Like­wise in them that haue a disease in the splene, or in anie other notable part, first it behoueth to cure the sayd parte, and then after to procéede to the curation of the vlcer, how­beit none of the curations héereof is proper to the vlcer, but some other affects or dispositions, that either engendereth the vlcer, or that nourisheth and conserueth it.

The third Chapter.

BVt now I thinke it time to define that there is no indicatiō of outward, or (as they terme it) of primitiue causes of curation, but the indication or curation to haue his beginning of the affects it selfe. But those thinges that [Page 65] ought to be done perticularlie, are found out either of that which the indication sheweth, either of the nature of the affected part, or of the temperature of the aire, or other like things, but to speake brieflie, no indication may be taken of things that be not yet come. But forasmuch as we ought to know the affect, that is not manifest vnto vs by reason or wit, we are often constrained to enquire of the extreme and primitiue cause. For this occasion the vulgar people supposeth, that the saide primitiue cause is Indication of curation, which is altogether otherwise. As it appeareth likewise in those, where the affect may be exactlie know­en. For if Ecchymosis, or an Vlcer, or Erisipelas, or putre­faction, or Phlegmon, bée in anie parte, it is a superfluous thing to enquire the efficient cause of these diseases, except they be remaining. For in so doing we shall cure that thing which is alreadie finished, and shall prohibite the efficient cause to procéed anie further. But if the said efficient cause which produced the effect, hath no longer biding there, then we shall remooue awaie the affect. For to put awaie the cause that is not there, it were impossible. For curation appertaineth to the thing present, as prouidence to the thing to come. For that thing which doth not now hurt, neither is to be feared that it will hurt héereafter, is out from both the offices of the arte, that is to saie, from curation and prouidence. Wherefore in such thinges there ought to bée no searching of anie indication, neither yet to cure, nor to prouide (as is sayd before) notwithstanding the knowledge of the primitiue cause, is profitable to vs in things vnkno­wen. Neuerthelesse the Emperikes take sometime the pri­mitiue cause as parte of the course of the disease, that the Gréekes call Sindrome, wherein they haue obserued and ex­perimented y^e curation, as in that that hath bene hurt with a mad dog, or venimous beasts.

Thus doth also some Dogmatists, which doth affirme to cure such diseases by experience onelie, without ratio­nall Indication, for they take the cause primitiue, as part of all the Syndrome and vniuersall course: but the primi­tiue cause serueth nothing to the indication of curing, al­though [Page] it be profitable to knowe of the nature of the dis­ease, to them that haue not knowen the nature of veni­mous beasts, by vse and experience, and thereof taketh in­dication curatiue, trulie the outward cause of curation bée­ing knowen, doth nothing profite to the indication, but to the knowledge of the present affect. For put we the case that we knowe that the venime of a Scorpion is of a colde nature, and for that cause, as of a colde thing, I take Indication for the remedye, howbeit the case is suth, that I haue no signe, whereby I doe vnderstand that the bodie is hurt of a Scorpion: it is manifest that if I doe knowe that the bodie is hurt of a Scorpion, that then I would in­force me to warme all the whole bodie, and also the part af­fected, without abiding for anie experience, in taking mine indication of the nature of the thing. We haue declared in the booke of Medicaments, wherein it behoueth them to be exercised, that will take anie profit of these present Com­mentaries, no such facultie can be foūd without experience. Truelie it should be a gifte of felicitie, if anie hauing the sight of Litargerium, Castoreum, or Cantarides, forthwith to vnderstand their vertues: For like as in all things is com­mitted error, as well by those that excéede, as by those that lacke, so héere (as the Prouerbe is among the Gréekes) this Thiapauson, that is to saie, they differ among themselues. Also they affirme, that the vertue of medicines is not yet knowen, and that after so great experience, & the other that suppose and saie, that the saide vertues be knowen onelie by experience. The first speaketh vndiscréetlie, if that be a thing imprudent, to affirme a thing impossible, & the other be altogether stupidious, sturdie, and foolish. But for this present time we will saie no more, because I haue spoken more plainlie in the third booke of Temperamēts, & also in the bookes of Medicaments. Neuerthelesse for the know­ledge of diseases, some primitiue causes are profitable, but after that the present disease is altogether knowen, then the cause primitiue is totallie vnprofitable.

Now we haue declared that it doeth not become vs to meddle and confound both the doctrines together, but the [Page 66] Emperikes ought to be spoken by themselues, and the ra­tionals by themselues. We must now call to mind, because we haue purposed in this present Commentarie, to intreate of the doctrine Rationall, although to some things y^t we do saie, we doe not adde absolutelie that all be not true, but on­lie after the sentence of the methodicall sort: but that euery man ought to adde and reason that thing by himselfe. And at this time we haue said that there is no cause primitiue, which is profitable to the Indication curatiue, although it serueth well to the knowledge of the disease. And we con­fesse that the cause primitiue is part of the Syndrome, and of all the Emperikes course, that they cure all diseases by reason & by experience. But in all y^t we shall saie héereaf­after, it is not necessarie to adde such words. Then let vs returne to our first purpose, in taking the principall indi­cation certaine and vndoubtfull, whereof we haue also vsed héere before, as we haue said, that the disease y^t requireth to be cured, iudgeth the end whervnto the Surgion ought to intend, and of the same all other indications are taken. Wherefore we haue begun to speake, that the said indica­tion hath no manner of affinitie with the cause primitiue: for put we the case that anie vlcer be come of a fluxe in a­nie part, then it is manifest that the sayde vlcer procéedeth of corrupt humours, for nature is accustomed so for to doe in diseases, when she purgeth the bodie, and sendeth all the corruption to the skinne, in such sort, that the skin is vlce­rate, and all the bodie purged.

What is then the curation of such vlcers? certainlie as of other vlcers, wherein no corrupt affect or disposition is, which the Gréekes call Cacoethae. But if it be so, it is eui­dent y^t no indication is to be taken of the cause which hath excised the vlcer, but if the vicious humour remaine, some indication might then be taken of the saide cause, for otherwise it should be an absurde thing, y^t that which is no more remaining, shuld require curation, or if he shuld shew curation where there is no néede. Wherfore it is a strange thing, and wholie against reason, to saie that the indicati­on curatiue ought to be taken of the cause primitiue.

And for because that the said Indication is not taken of the same cause, it is euident, that it must be taken of the cause present.

But what is such an Indication? forsooth if a man will properlie define it, it is a thing which appertaineth to pro­uidence, (which the Gréekes call Prophalacticae,) but if a­nie will abuse the word, it is called Therapeutica. But for as much as of the vlcers themselues, certaine be simple, and certaine be hollow, (if a man will diligentlie marke and consider) the curation of them is brought to passe in es­chuing and foreséeing those things which bée hurtfull vn­to nature. And when we woulde bring anie thing to good successe, wee had néede of Natures helpe, as in closing of an Vlcer, and regeneration of flesh, in the which things the chiefest care and regard appertaineth vnto that part of the arte, which is called Prouidence, but it is called vulgarly healing.

And therefore this part of the art that is named Proui­dence, is diuided into two kindes. The one is that which doth remoue awaie the disease present, the other which withstandeth the disease, that it maye not come to his ful­nesse. Therefore the younger Phisitions héere doe not vn­derstand, that their disputation and contention consisteth onely in names, wherfore if they were studious in things, they should finde out that there were two differences of the functions and actions of medicine, that is to saie, the disease alreadie come, or to withstand those that are not yet pre­sent. Then there is no man but he wil confesse, that to cure or to heale, is no other thing, but to take awaie the disease that is present, whether it be done awaie by the worke of nature or by medicines, but prouidence is a thing that let­teth the disease, that hée may not come, & truelie they which doe cure the ill humours which come to the vlcer, doe mini­ster the art of medicine by reason and methode, in purging and taking awaie those things which doe hinder the course of Nature. And these two manners of curing are proper­lie called in Gréeke Prophilactica, (for they let, as it was sayde before,) that the filthie mattier engendereth [Page 67] not in the vlcer, neither yet ouermuch moisture, which may hinder the curation.

The fourth Chapter.

IT is but in vaine truelie, thus carefullie to striue about the name, but it is more conue­nient (in my iudgement) to giue some good method to cure the vlcers, such as I haue spo­ken of, as wel in the booke going before, as in this. But I doe much meruaile at the dul­nesse of Thessalus, writing thus of the curation of vlcers, the which are called Cacoethae. The communities of vl­cers that continue long time, and that are vncurable, or els returne againe after the matter induced, be verie necessa­rie, in likewise as in vlcers that may not grow together & be closed, it must be considered what is the cause that let­teth and procureth the saide growing together, the which cause ought to be taken awaie. But in them that renue y^e ciccatrise againe, it behoueth to kéep the same ciccatrise, that is to saie, in strength, (for so we haue translated To meta­fuicrinen) and in comforting the suffering member or all the bodie in common, and in ordering it, that it endure not lightly, by y^e remedies appropriate therto. And when Thes­salus had propounded such wordes in the beginning of his booke of Surgerie, he writeth afterward more plainelie of this matter: The vlcers that endure long and may not be healed, or that renue and come after the ciccatrise, giue such indications, that is to saie, if they come not to ciccatrise, it behoueth you to let the vnion and comming together, & to renue the vlcerate place againe. And after that you haue made it like vnto a fresh wound, it must be healed as a blée­ding wound. But if the said cure profit nothing, you ought to mittigate the inflamation, & make as much diligence as you can. But the vlcers that come to a ciccatrise, and open againe in their accessions & exulcerations, you ought to cure them like vnto thē, where there is a fresh inflamation, & af­terward you ought to applie vpon the said vlcer a plaister [Page] of mittigatiue things, vntill the ire and fearcenesse be aba­ted: after this is done, you ought to dresse the ciccatrise, and then make the parts about it waxe red, in wrapping it a­bout with a Malagma made of mustard séed, or with some other medicament, that may change the said parts, & make them lesse subiect to diseases. And if they cease not with these things, you ought to haue cure of all y^e body, in streng­thening it with diuerse exercitations, gestings, and vocife­rations, in commanding thē that kéepe him, to such things as these be: That is to saie, in manner of liuing, by dimi­nishing or augmenting, by degrées, in beginning, & vomi­ting, made by Raphanus. You shall also vse white Eliber, and all other thinges which we vse in diseases that be dif­ficult to take awaie, which are subiect to reason and man­ner of liuing. This is the saying of Thessalus.

Now it is time to consider the stupiditie of the man, (I saie the stupiditie) if he thinke he hath sayde well, and the boldnesse of him culpable to saie nothing, and by this meanes supposeth to deceiue the Readers. But tell mée Thessalus, what is the Indication curatiue that is taken of an olde Vlcer? Trulie I neuer found out curation of the olde Vlcers, nor of the newe, not by time, in what dis­ease so euer it bée, but of the affect that I purposed to cure. But if we altogether regard time, as if the Indication cu­ratiue were taken of it, the second daie we should giue an other indication than the third, & likewise to giue the fourth daie another, then the fift, and so of the sixt, & all other daies following.

For by this meanes we shall no more consider the af­fect of the disease that we goe about to cure, and the Indi­cation no more to bée taken of them, whereby we coulde neuer thinke of a straunger reason: howe then are the communities of vlcers necessarie, that continue a greate while, seeing that the time it selfe can indicate nothing at all. For when an Vlcer is with erosion that commeth of all humours, we shall not take an Indication of it after foure [...]neths, but that which we haue taken at the verie beginning.

And for a truth, that I may not permit such an vlcer to abide so long time, but at the first I will take awaie the cause thereof. But I cannot coniecture what may shewe the time more than the number of daies, except Thessalus will saie, that to haue knowledge of such an vlcer, we must tarrie the time, but in such a case he sheweth himselfe alto­gether foolish. That is to saie, if he confesse openlie that hée knoweth not the first affect, which hath inueterated the vl­cer. Furthermore, he must plainlie also confesse the Indi­cation curatiue to be taken of the disease, and the know­ledge of the disease to be taken of other things. But bée it so, that time serueth somewhat to the disease, neuerthelesse the Indication curatiue is not taken of time. But to what purpose serueth it, if any Vlcer bée inueterate, to do away y^t which letteth the coition, & to renue the place which is pai­ned. For thou foolish fellow, if for the maligne fluxe which the Gréekes call Cachoethae, the lippes be affected in such sort, what shalt thou profit if thou doe cut them, before thou hast prouided to stop the fluxe? Trulie thou shalt but make the Vlcer wider than it is, as some doe that cure vlcers af­ter the same manner as thou doest. For the cause remai­ning, which before made the vlcer harde and flintie, thou shalt doe no other thing in cutting awaie the lips, but en­large the vlcer. For those which thou cuttest shall be made hard, & come again as they were before. Although that pru­dent Thessalus hath not added this thing, that the partes of the vlcer which are hard, stonie, and discouloured, ought to be cut awaie, but commandeth by an absolute sentence, that those thinges which hinder the closing of the vlcer, ought to be cut awaie and to be renued. But if trulie hée had counsailed to take awaie the causes that hinder the adglutination of the vlcer, and that this reason were aun­cient and olde, I would not accuse him, for it is comman­ded almost of all the auncient Phisitions, which doe write of the curation of vlcers, by a certaine reason and Method, that those causes which doe excite the vlcers ought to be cut awaie, euen trulie, as of all other diseases.

For trulie I do thinke it expedient, y^t the efficient cause [Page] remaining, which exciteth the vlcers, ought first to be taken awaie. In other diseases, it is not expedient, but chieflie there the curation must be taken in hand, where the effi­cient cause remaineth. And if the sayd Thessalus hath not spoken of the causes that let the conglutination, and hath onelie spoken of the lips (as he hath said afterward) it appe­reth that he is ignorant of more than he knoweth, of those things which appertaineth to the curation of vlcers. But it is possible that this alone is the cause which hindereth the cure of the vlcer. And it may (as it is aforesaid) be the cause that intemperauncie, which is without a tumour against nature, be in the vlcerate partes, and also that it be ioyned with a tomour, the which doth not require that the lips should be altogether cut awaie. It maye also bée the cause that Varix, which is aboue it, or that the milt which augmenteth it, or some disease in the liuer, and beside this, the weaknesse of the affected part be nothing else, but a ma­nifest intemperancie.

And besides this, a vicious humour in the bodie, which the Gréekes call Cacochimia, and the chiefest of all the cau­ses which may be to the vlcers an incommoditie. Truelie great abundance of humours, which the Gréekes call Phle­thora, resorting vnto the vlcer, doeth hinder the curation. But if Thessalus be of that opinion, that the lippes onelie must be taken awaie, I saie, that of many things he know­eth but one alone, which is so euident, that the shepheards are not ignorant thereof, for if a shepheard sawe the lips of an vlcer, hard, flintie, wan, blacke, or a leadie coulour, hée would not doubt to cut it awaie.

Then for to cut awaie is an easie thing, but for to cure by medicines is a greater matter, and that requireth a true methode. Neuerthelesse Thessalus neuer knew howe the lips might be cured by medicines, for all men confesse that he hath swarued from this part of the art, and as he him­selfe hath shewed, it séemeth that he had neither experience nor rationall knowledge of medicines, which is a mani­fest thing by the booke that he hath made of medicines, be­fore rehearsed. But of this one worke consequent, wée [Page 69] shall entreate of those things which hée hath not writ [...]n well.

And now we doe intend with deliberation to speake of the curation of inueterate vlcers, of the which he hath be­fore intreated. Certainlie it had bene better to haue called them Cachoethae, and not inueterate, & thē to declare their nature, disposition, and cause of their generation, and the curation of either of them.

And first to know the common curation of all vlcers, for as much as they be vlcers, of the which I haue written in the third booke, next after the perticular and proper cure of either of them, afterward the kinde of the efficient cause, as I haue spoken of in this present booke. And although Thessalus hath done nothing of all these things, yet he doth thinke that the vlcerate place must be renued, when it is made like vnto a new wound, to cure it as a bloudie vl­cer, what is he that is exercised in the workes of the Arte, that vnderstandeth not euidentlie, that such a doctrine hath bene written by him that neuer cured vlcer? Is it possible that a man may cure an inueterate vlcer, as you may cure a bloudie wound, and after he hath made it lyke vnto a fresh wound, shall it be in drawing of the vlcer to­gether by rollers? or ioyning them by stitches? or neither by the one or by the other? but by conuenient medicines? What is he that knoweth not, that an vlcer called Cachoe­thae is caued or hollow, séeing that it is made by corrosion? Is it possible (O foole and impudent Thessalus) that a ca­ued vlcer may grow together, and be adglutinated, before the cauitie be filled with flesh? is not that to cure an vlcer as a gréene wound? then hast thou thy selfe written in vaine, that hath taken indication to cure caued vlcers, not with closing, but with the filling of y^e cauitie. But if euery vlcer called Cachoethae were not hollowe of it selfe, yet when it is made bloudie in cutting the lips awaie (as thou commaundest) then of necessitie it is made hollow, and re­quireth great space betwixt the lips: euen in such man­ner that I cannot sée how thou maist make them conglu­tinate together as a bloudie wound: for if thou assaie by [Page] force and violence the lippes that are so farre a sonder, of ne­cessitie there commeth Phlegmon, which letteth the sayde lyppes to close together. The which thing I suppose, that Thessalus vnderstādeth not. For he saith after these words. If the vlcer be not bound, thou must mittigate the inflam­mation, for it is necessary that they be not bound, but be­cause that the same is giuen of Thessalus, and that we passe ouer so soone without any curious examination, it is eui­dent to euerye one that he followeth not the communitie which he himselfe hath giuen. For if wée take that which letteth, we shall take nothing of the communitie of inue­terate vlcers, for as much as they be such. But put wée the case that it be so, and let vs trye what followeth. Thessalus wryteth in this manner.

The vlcer that commeth to a ciccatrice shalbe cured, in the excesse, an vlcer in such a manner shalbe cured as they that haue bene lately greued with inflammation. Then after, he saith, you must cause the rednesse to come to the parts that are about it, by a plaister that he called reuola­tiue, which is made of mustrad séede. What saist thou mad foole? if thy flux be bitter and hot, must the place be made red with mustardséede, euen in such sorte, that all the part shall receiue flux by the same medicine; that is to say, that it be all vlcerate and red? For the olde writers made the parts that were weakened with abundaunce of colde hu­mors, hot againe with warming of them, and making of them red, but thou vsest rubification in all vlcers, yea and that without making of any difference. And thus if the vl­cer be not cured either by the weaknesse of y^e part, or by the making of the flux greater, thē thou turnest to another ma­ner of curing. For after that thou hast inflamed the part with Musterd séede, & hast profited nothing, then thou tur­nest againe to the curation of all the bodie. Yet as I sup­pose in my iudgement, all the countries be ordered & esta­blished, in such things, as well by reason, as by experience, that they know, that all the body should be first purged of those superfluities, before they doe minister any hot or sharp medicines vnto y^e greued part. For all those medicines that [Page 70] be hot, drawe vnto them from all partes of the bodie, lyke vnto Ventosis or boxes, and if you doe not first purge the bodie, thou shalt leaue mattier to flow vnto y^e weake place, that may be drawen by the sharpe medicine, which thing both the Emperikes and also the Dogmatists confesse, and also the auncient writers haue estéemed it so. For in as much as Thessalus hath made mention of them, it shall bee no straunge thing to alleadge to them as witnesses, that it is not lawfull to cure the eie well, before all the rest of the head, neither the head before the rest of the bodie. Such was the sentence of Aristotle and Plato, in the cure of dis­eases: likewise of Hyppocrates, Diocles, Praxagoras, and Plistonichus, but Thessalus opinion is not so, but commeth first to the composition of Mustarséed, and then he hath sol­licitated and troubled all to bodie, without shewing of anie thing wisely.

For when as it is lawfull first to purge all the bodie, and then forthwith to féede it with wholsome meates, then Thessalus commeth, and vseth for these thinges, vociferati­ons, exercitations, gestings, and chaunge of liuing, by cer­taine circuites and actes, then he commeth to the vomite made with Raphanus, and for the whole conclusion, he doth minister Eliber. Trulie he himselfe doth promise to heale all diseases, euen after this sort, verie easilie, but I cannot vnderstand how that anie hath bene cured after this man­ner, either in long space of time, or by vnprofible la­bour.

Now then like as we haue séene by vse & experience, put we the case that there be one to be cured of a maligne Vl­cer called Cachoethae, put we the case also, that there is an other that is in good health, except a scratch of his arme, or of, anie other place, by mean [...] whereof there is an vlcer or a pustle, then within a little while after there commeth an itch to the partie, and after the pustule is breken, ther com­meth a disclosed vlcer, with vnequall fretting, & that such things be come in foure daies.

To this purpose let anie of Thessalus sect answere me in what maner we shuld cure such an vlcer, I cal it altogether [Page] Cachoethae, and therefore I will consider what is the dis­position and affect of all the whole bodie. For I will first finde out of what kinde of humour this doth come, as well by the Symptomata of the vlcer, as by the signes of the bo­die, then forsooth I will purge the said superfluous humor without tarrying anie longer, least the patient get anie disease stubburne or disobedient to be cured. But the sect of Thessalus, that obserue his preceptes, will tarrie vntill the vlcer be olde, because it may returne to the wonderous and meruailous communitie of inueterate vlcers, as if it were not much better to giue the communitie of froward vlcers, I doe not meane those that be veterate, shall make mani­fest the curation.

Afterward the said Thessalions would doe one of both these, either they woulde cut the vlcer, and make it as it were fresh, and so bring the parts to adglutination, or else they would first vse the Malagma that is made of mustard-séede, and if neither of these profit, they will haue their re­fuge to the vociferations, gestations, and other exercitati­ons, and also to the manner of liuing that chaungeth by circuities, and after they will moue vomit by Raphanus, and if the vlcer be not cured by such things, then they mi­nister Eliber, and if the Eliber doe nothing profit, they send the patient into Libia for change of aire. Thessalus ought to haue added this word, after this excellent and singular cu­ration of rebellious vlcers.

For of a truth the Thessalians stand in vociferations, gestations, and other like things, as if they should cure the euill habitude of the bodie, (which the Gréekes call Cacex­ia) and not the vice of the humour (that the Gréeks call Ca­chochimia.) Is it not meruaile if they confesse that they know not the vlcer Cachoethae, as soone as it is made, and that they will tarrie till it be olde, and that often they vse ciccatrise, and open againe many times ere they vnderstand what they doe, and how they counsaile those that haue the feauers to passe the fit, which shall come the third daie, or not, they trulie haue verie well knowen the contemplati­on of the crise, and can foresée by it the chiefe increasing of [Page 71] the disease. But what chaunceth thereof most often? truely it followeth, that the pacients abide in their beds, and con­sume through their default, which might haue bene cured the second daye. Of a truth we haue not onely séene this chaunce, once, twise, or thrise, but vi. C. times, and whē the first fit was past, we washed the sicke persons that had the feuer, which thing we haue séene done of our predecessors & maisters. And consequently we haue suffered them to liue without feare in their manner accustomed, as they y^e should no more haue the feuer, whome wise Thessalus, which in­uented the first dyet, that is to say, not to eate in thrée daies, hath dryed and consumed onely through hunger. Then as I coniecture, he would féede them a little on y^e fourth day, and so nourish them by little and little, in such wise, that they y^e had but once the feuer, should skant go about their customable businesse.

Truely he consumed his pacients alway in their disea­ses, the which truely very easely might haue bene cured.

For when an vlcer dyd swell at the beginning, Thessalus did suffer it to runne a yeare and more, and taryed often so long till the said vlcer oftentimes produced cicatrice, when as before it might in fewe daies haue bene cured, and also he would often open it, to sée if it were maligne and stub­borne to cure. Then after that he began the curation, he purged not foorthwith y^e bodie, but first of all vsed his Ma­lagma of Musterdséede, and then his gestes, vociferations, & certaine manners of liuing, and then his vomit of Rapha­nus, and last of all Eliber.

What is this I praye you then for to linger a whole yeare? (Now by the liuing God) it were a great madnesse if we should prolong a moneth to know if the vlcer be ma­ligne, and then take in hand the curation, when as the pa­cient in vi. or vii. daies, at the vttermost, may be cured. But what necessitie was it to speake of the communitie of vl­cers inueterate, séeing that nothing may profit the curatiō thereof? Truely it were good leauing the cōmunitie In­dicatrice, to write of y^e curation of vlcers, I doe not meane inueterate, but such as be stuburne and rebellious in cure. [Page] For sometime it happeneth that vlcers and diseases be cō ­tumatious and stubburne to cure. How be it Indication curatiue is not taken of this contumacie and rebellion, but it is the disease that geueth the first indication of curing. And of the first indicatiō, the remedies, as I haue declared, are found out. For the way to cure by methode, is y^e which we vse, in following the aunciēt wryters, if so be that me­thode is a vniuersall way, which is cōmon to all perticular things.

Herein Thessalus truly is beguiled, for he thinketh that all the knowledge of them, which doe any thing by me­thode, is very methode, which is not so. For it behoueth that he which doth any thing by methode, haue notice and knowledge in the like and vnlike. Neuerthelesse the know­ledge of like and vnlike is not methode: for neither Aristo­tle, nor yet Plato, affirmeth that which Thessalus dare false­ly alleadge. But now it is not conuenient to proue & con­fute such matters: wherefore I will returne againe to the Methode curatiue, and truely I will shew vnto you the principle of methode in all curations, and also I will de­clare vnto you how y^e way in all particular things is like, which leadeth from that principle to the ende. Wherfore, although in all diseases there séemeth a proper methode of curing, neuerthelesse there is in all things one cōmon gen­der, for it behoueth to begin alwayes at the indication of the disease, which we take in hand to cure, & then we must way and consider, if the cause which excited the disease, be alreadie ceased, or augmenteth the same disease. If the sayd cause be eased, then we must come to the methode, whereof we haue here declared: by the which methode thou shalt learne the remedies of an inflammation, and of a Feuer, and also how I will shortly intreate of the curation of all diseases. For if nothing be done, thou shalt not take paine to enquire the precedent causes, but shalt begin onely at the disease. But if any thing be done presently, thou shalt take two indications of curation.

Now I cannot but maruell at the sect of Thessalus, not bicause they misse in such things: but because they vse these [Page 72] names, Dispathies, Metasincrisis, imbecillities, firmitudes, & other such names. And if you aske thē what such names meane, they wot not what to aunswere. Also if you aske what that signifieth, which they call in all inueterate vl­cers, in Gréeke Metasuncrinem ten texin, they aunswer nei­ther prudently, nor yet with consideration. If so be that it were an auncient name vsurped by any of the gréekes, per­aduenture by these things we may vnderstād what things they haue written, and for what intent they haue spoken the same. But because it is a point of their folishnesse, & impudencie, to saye that it is come of the Hipothese of As­clepiades, like as their other decrées, therfore it were a thing most conuenient that they interprete their owne dreames. From whēce there is a notable saying among the Gréekes: Sincrinestai, Ta somata, cai Thiacrinestai, which meaneth thus, mingle and deuide bodies, as though it were lawfull to vsurpe such little bodies, which they call Atones, & pores, passages indiuidable and vacuate, or finally the insensible and inalterable things to be the first elements, euen as they truely doe dayly vsurpe. Furthermore, Thessalus in his ca­non, when he confirmeth the principles, addeth something beside that, which was written by Themison, & Asclepiades, & as far as he vnderstandeth, he wryteth not obscurely, but he hath not imitated Asclepiades, altogither in Simitry: that is to say, that health consisteth in competēt and como­deration of small cundites or passages, and that curation is no other thing, but a returne to the first simitrie, or comode­ratiō of the said cundits. But Thessalus supposeth y^t all the state & cōdition of y^e said cundits must be changed, & by this opinion doth procede the name of Metasincrisis, which may signifie in effect Metaporopoieseseos in gréeke, y^t is mutatiō of the state of smal cūdits & pores, but it did not become him to vse y^e names of dogmatists in place where he cōmaūdeth to eschew the vncertaine & darke names.

Then his disciples answereth, y^t he must not be hard as a dogmatist, whē he vseth this name Aphelos in greke, that is to say simply. For of a truth, some of his disciples are ac­customed to defend him in this manner, in reuocing vs to [Page] another name that is Aphelian, which we translate simple­nesse, the which name truely I cannot tell what it signifi­eth. For if he send vs againe to another name more foolish, which the Gréekes call Vioticos, the which as they expound doth signifie likewise so vnto the common people: truely it were as good to say, Aphelos not exactly or well, but with­out Arte or knowledge, for they which be of spéeche most lightest, vse names of artes, vnder some sense, that hath no foundation, & when they are demaunded what they meane, they know not. The which thing those Thessalians cōfesse to be their manner and custome, when we doe obiect any thing against them. And for a truth, they will also confesse, that they vnderstand not perfectly, what Metacincrisis is, if it be spoken of the mutation of the smal cundits, which the Gréekes call Poropoia, in déede it should haue some vnder­standing, but yet many wayes friuolous and foolish. For our bodies doe not consist of little bodies called Atomes, and of little passages, or pores: but if this were true, it should not be possible to shewe in what maner, musterd might change or alter the state of the same pores, & if any of them should shew the truth, yet we would not agrée vnto their sect, because they promisse y^t they wil be content with their apparent communities: therefore lette them not vse these names, neither let them hinder vs no more in our matters. For it is lawfull without the name Metasincrisis, to say in other wordes the curation of inueterate vlcers, as the Em­perickes doe.

Also we haue declared in y^e second booke, how they talke of this woord Atonias, that is to say, imbecilitie, & yet know not what it meaneth. For if they vse this name as the Emperickes do, then it should signifie nothing else but that the actions are not kept: for if they say that certaine facul­ties, doe gouerne liuing creatures, which we & all the aun­cient writers doe affirme, but yet notwithstāding they re­pugne against the precepts of Asclepiades, & also they pro­pound vncertaine things, to the which the authors doe not agrée: they touch the truth a little, yet they commaund to eschew it.

But tell me true Thessalus, what meaneth this worde Metasincrisis? if thou saie that it betokeneth to change the pores, thou art deceiued, and supposest vncertaine thinges. But if thou saist that it is a great matter to cure the par­ticle grieued of the bodie, as the man, thou saist no more thā the Emperikes, except the name. For they doe knowe that men are made whole by medicines, but they know not the cause or reason, by what meanes the remedies restoreth health. For none of the Emperikes can tell, if the facultie of the medicaments chaungeth the pores, or if it maketh a Simitrie, or if it altereth the qualitie of the Patients par­ticle that is grieued. Howbeit the Emperikes are discréete men, if they saie that they know onelie one thing, that is to saie, if they haue noted and obserued the times, how vtilitie hath followed, when the medicament of mustard hath ben ministred to such vlcers, and in what time. Neuerthelesse they speake not of method, neither yet repugne against it, neither be displeased with the notise thereof, nor dispraise the ancient writers, neither Hyppocrates, but rather praise him, and affirme that he hath said all thinges well. But Thessalus doth not onlie despise Hyppocrates, but all y^e other auncient Phisitions, neither doth he vnderstand y^t he hath written all the precepts of rebellious vlcers, without rea­son, emperiklie. For if he had written them well, then it should haue bene counted a worke most profitable. But it appeareth not y^t he hath done so, séeing that he peruerteth y^e right order of remedies, and vseth his remedies to the grie­ued part, before he hath prepared the bodie. For this is an argument of great ignorance, séeing y^t almost it is a princi­ple in Chirurgerie, that all the bodie must be purged of the euill excrementes, before anie strong medicine be applyed vnto the affected parte. For who is he y^t will iudge either by reason or experience, for there is no other third thing to iudge by, in what art so euer it be, nor in anie part of life, he shal finde y^t it is agréeable to reason, for a man to minister strong & hot medicines to anie particle of the bodie, before he hath purged the bodie of all anoiance, & prepared y^e same to health: for the said medicine draweth the excrements and [Page] superfluities from all the bodie, like as boxing or Vento­sis doth, & it doth so fasten to the affected part, that it may be scarcelie remoued. Therefore it must be asked of these Thessalions, frō whence this opinion cōmeth to Thessalus, to write fables as cōcerning y^e curatiō of rebellious vlcers, séeing that none of the Emperiks, nor yet Rationals, haue written so before this time. For neither Thessalus himselfe, neither anie other of his sect, dare affirme, that the order of such remedies, either doth agrée with experience or rea­son. For neither can they giue Indication of time, neither yet of the affect of the disease. Yet for all that, Thessalus is not all together ignorant, because he iudgeth, that the cause y^e hindereth the ciccatrise must be considered and taken a­waie, & because also that he iudgeth, that this must be done not onelie in vlcers, but also in all other diseases, (as the ancient writers do admonish.) But they answere nothing to the purpose, for they saie alwaies, that we do not vnder­stand them, as if they knew perfectly the thought of Hyp­pocrates, and of all the ancients. And they affirme y^e Thes­salus hath a good opinion, when he saith, that there is a com­munitie of inueterate vlcers, & that Hyppocrates vnder­stood it so, in his booke of Vlcers, which writeth in this ma­ner. It is profitable that the bloud doe flowe continually from the inueterate vlcer, when so euer it séemeth néedfull. It were not farre from my purpose, if I should speak of the iudgement and opinion of Hyppocrates, though I haue not promised y^t I would so do in this place. But that which I will saie, shall be of the interpretation of the wit & know­ledge of the auncient Phisitions, the which truelie as yet haue giuen no sect, but studying with simple & pure minde, to inuent some thing profitable to mans health. It is well perceiued therfore, that they haue found some thing by rea­son, and some thing by vse and experience. Then dyd they write their inuentions, many times without giuing reason thereto, and sometime they did, and if they did giue anie reason, it was to profit the readers. For if they intended to be profitable to their successors, and when as they knew reason of inuēting things, then diligentlie they set it forth, [Page 74] and where they thought it obscure, they thought it superflu­ous to rehearse, and therefore let it passe. Now it is well knowen vnto all men, though I hold my peace, that the an­cients haue loued no verbositie. For that cause afore reci­ted, not only Hippocrates, but also all y^e other ancient Phi­sitions, sometime not making mention of the middlemost, speaketh of the third thing. For if the first be a signe of the second, the third of necessitie must followe after the second,

And thus oftentimes omitting the first and second, they spake of the third. I haue oftentimes declared how the an­cients, and chieflie Hyppocrates, haue written after this manner. But he that will know and perfectlie vnderstand the maner of curing, ought to be exercised in their stile and manner of interpreting. For this I will intreate of y^t which I haue purposed.

The fift Chapter.

FOr those Vlcers, which (after medicines to them ministred) be not cured, those the Phi­sitions cal in Gréeke Cachoethae, but we cal them maligne and rebellious to cure. But we haue spoken in the booke aforesaid, what the curation of vlcers is. Therefore in these kindes of vlcers that be maligne, we may vse these names indifferentlie, that is to saie, we call them Cachoethae, in­ueterate, or Diuturnus. In like manner the affect of the dis­ease called Cachoethae, that is to saie, stubburne and rebel­lious to be cured, that maketh some thing for our purpose to know, neuerthelesse the saide diuturnitie of the saide vl­cers, because they come againe, or be of long continuance, & waxe olde, haue no conuenient indication of curing, but that must hée considered, because the vlcerate part is ill af­fected, that ill affect béeing once knowen, the cure is ma­nifest.

But thou wilt aske, how can this be done? trulie if thou wilt heale the vlcerate part affected, thou must first take a­waie the abundance and corrupt vicious humors from all [Page] the bodie: for in cleansing awaie the same, the diuturni­tie is taken awaie, but the finding out, which is profitable to vs, commeth not first of the diuturnitie, but of the ill dis­position & malignitie of the humour, by meanes whereof these thrée things following, must chiefly be considered, that is, the signe, the affect, and curation. The signe is the diuturnitie or continuance of the vlcer, the affect, is the vi­cious humours repairing to the vlcer, and the curation is the taking awaie of the saide humours. By this meanes you shall finde that the auncient Phisitions manie times after the first, made mention of the third, leauing the mid­dlemost, as Hyppocrates did, whē he said, it is vtill to cause the bloud to flowe out often of inueterate vlcers. But it is inutill, that the indication curatiue should be taken of the diuturnitie of the vlcer, but of the ill disposition of the bloud. For a little after he saith thus: the vice and euill bloud hindereth greatlie the cure of the said vlcers. Also pu­trefaction of the bloud, & all things that commeth by trans­mutation of the bloud, letteth also the curation of the sayd vlcers. And afterward he speaketh of vlcers that come not to a cicatrise: The vlcers trulie (saith he) may not be clo­sed together, if the lips and partes that are rounde a­bout, be swart or blacke, with rotten bloud or Varises that causeth the fluxe, if you cure not the sayd partes that bée a­bout it, they will not come together. And afterward hée writeth of the cure of Varises, and then maketh mention of the purging of all the bodie, as well in woundes as in Vlcers, where feare of daunger or putrefacti­on, in Gréeke called Sphaselos, doth remaine, and besides in Vlcers called Herpes and Esthioninus, that is to saie, which doe erode and eate the skinne. And thus Hyppocrates is wont to call those vlcers, after this sorte, wherein anie ill humour doth cause erosin. And thus when he speaketh of them that ensueth, he saith in such wordes: In euerie Vl­cer whereas chanceth Erisipelas, all the bodie must be pur­ged. And finallie, if you reade diligentlie the booke of vl­cers, you shall finde that he taketh Indication alwaies of y^e affect of the disease, & if he haue anie consideration of time, [Page 75] it is onelie to knowe the affect. And that it is so, you may know it in the beginning of the said booke, which concludeth thus: You may not minister anie moist thing to Vlcers, what vlcers so euer they be, but wine. Then sheweth hée the cause, (and saith,) Drie vlcers are néerest to health, and moist the contrarie, then after he saith, it is an vlcer for that it is moist, but if it be dry, it is whole. Therfore in all his cure, in as much as he hath constituted the end of al the cure of vlcers to be drinesse, it ought to be considered. Then he findeth out the perticular thinges, admonishing vs manie times of the same end, writing in this manner: Euerie wound that is diuided with a cutting Instrument, recei­ueth medicines in the beginning that ought to be applied to rawe and bloudie wounds, the which Medicamentes in Greeke is called Enaimon, which is, drying, and letteth the wound to come to suppuration, for it is more drier by the reason of the bloud which floweth out of it. And agayne Hyppocrates sayth, All vlcers that are well purged, they come sooner to drynesse and ciccatrize, but if anie superflu­ous flesh do grow, it is by the reason of some contusion. And againe he saith, if that anie of the wound cannot consode to­gether, the moistnesse is the cause thereof. In all these say­ings, Hyppocrates admonisheth vs of the first Indication curatiue of all Vlcers: for of a truth, the curation of an Vlcer, for as much as it is an vlcer, is moderate drynesse, whereof the demonstration hath bene giuen in the booke going before.

For the curation of an vlcer that is coniunct with ano­ther affect, whereof the cure ought to procéede, is not like to a simple vlcer, for the first curation of such a one as is con­iunct with anie other affect, shall begin first of the same af­fect, and then at the vlcer. For if there be either Phlegmon or swart coulour, or Ecchymosis, or Erysipilas, or Oedema, in the vlcerate part, first you must begin the curation, at one of the sayde affectes. Neuerthelesse all men knowe well, that sometimes these Vlcers are not well cured, but are made greater, for that the partes round about the Vlcer, is affected either with Phlegmon, either by brusing, [Page] either with some other tumour, which should haue ben first taken awaie, before you had procéeded to the cure of the vl­cer. And for a certaintie, it is not possible to heale the vlcer, if the place where these be, be not first cured. And therefore Hyppocrates putteth vs in memorie of those things which he hath spoken of in the beginning of his booke, and also of those things before especified, and of those that be present he writeth thus.

Euerie wound that is diuided with a cutting Instru­ment or sharpe pointed, receiueth Medicament called Enae­mon, and also a medicament desiccatiue, that may let the filthie mattier. But if the flesh be contused or cut with a blunt weapon, remedie must be giuen in such wise, that it come soone to suppuratiō. For in so doing, it shal be the lesse molested and grieued with Phlegmon. And also it is ne­cessarie that the putrified flesh, which hath bene contused & incised, come first to suppuration, and afterward new flesh to be engendered. By these wordes Hyppocrates sheweth manifestlie, that all the affects of the vlcerate partes ought to be desiccated, except those where Pus will sodainelye bréede. And so he going forward, saith, that Pus commeth through some putrefaction. Furthermore, that all putrefac­tion commeth through moistures and heate, and therefore the Cataplasmes made of Barlie meale (séeing that they are hot and moist) we will minister it to all diseases, where it is expedient to engender Pus, for the Barlie meale with water and oyle, and likewise bread with oyle, or a fomen­tation of much hot water, or y^e Malagma, called Tetraphar­mice, and to conclude, all things that moist and heat, ingen­der Pus. And if in the parts where Phlegmon is, there ari­seth pulsation, in such wise, that there is no hope of the cu­ration of the said parts, without Pus or suppuration, all the auncients trulie applie the said medicines, and not before. The which thinges Hyppocrates sheweth plainely in the wordes before rehearsed, whereby he commaundeth to vse drie medicines to the wounded parts, where there is con­tusion, but they that be with contusion, must be quicklie brought to suppuration.

Moreouer, when he saith, that all vlcers which be not wel mundified, & begin againe to increase, in them there grow­eth supercrescent flesh, but those that are mundified as they ought to be, cōmeth soone to ciccatrize, for in thē there grow­eth no superfluous flesh, except there be contusion. Of a truth, when he speaketh of contusion, he calleth to mind that which he hath said before. That is, all vlcers require drie medicines, except those be contused. For if you doe applie to the parts where as Phlegmon is, a Cataplasma that is hot and moist, it is not done by the first and principall rea­son, y^t is as a remedie to the affected part, but to mittigate the accidents. For the remedies of Phlegmon are of desic­catiue vertue. Hearken now what Hyppocrates saith: the Cataplasmes for Oedema and Phlegmon, ought to be made of Verbescum sodden, the leaues of Trifolium, & the leaues of Piretron and Polium sodden. All these medicaments haue vertue desiccatiue, as we haue made mention in the booke of simple Medicaments.

And to be short, the curation of the parts where Phleg­mon is, is done by kinde of these remedies, which doth re­moue altogether the affects. And if the said remedies haue left anie thing remaining that will come to suppuration, it is néedfull than to haue another medicine which is more strong, to make it sooner to come to suppuration, or if y^e skin that be about be thin, and that thou wilt that the Patient shall be sooner eased, you must make incision. The taking awaie of Phlegmon, is by mittigation of Barlie meale, & not curation, for that fighteth onelie against the disease, but of these differences we will speake héereafter at large.

Now I thinke we haue manifestlie shewed, how that Hyppocrates hath commaunded that all vlcers shall be de­siccated, and that he hath confirmed it to be the proper end of curation. But now in as much as the indication is taken of the affect, and not of time. If anie desire to haue greater perswasion, let him diligentlie reade all the Bookes of Hyppoorates, that he hath written of Vlcers, for he shall perfectlie vnderstande, that there is one Indication generall of all Vlcers, which wée [Page] haue shewed in the booke precedent, and there is no Indica­tion to be taken of time, but of the affectes of the vlcers, as Phlegmon, and other such like accidences, as before is espe­cified. And séeing now we are come to the place to speake, it is a thing most true, that Hyppocrates hath bene the in­uenter, not onelie of that which we haue said before, but al­so of all other things that are to be knowen, to him that wil cure an vlcer well. It appeareth trulie that he hath inuen­ted the reason and the manner to cure simple vlcers, and also the kindes of the affects which consist in drinesse. For either the ill humours resort vnto the grieued part, or els they resort no more vnto it. If they come no more, then it is requisite to helpe and succour the grieued parte, that is, if it be pale, blacke, or red, it must be scarified, that the euil bloud may come forth, then afterward because that I may vse his wordes, you must laie thereon a Spunge more dry than moist. For I doe thinke, that there is no person so ig­norant, but will thinke y^t a drie spunge ought rather to be applyed than a moist, and also to vse desiccatiue medicines. And then if it be requisite for to drawe bloud againe, doe as you haue done before, vntill the time that health be alto­gether recouered. And if the lips of the vlcer appeare hard and stonie, they must be cut awaie, the which thing is spo­ken héere.

But if the vlcer that is round, be somewhat hollow, you must cut it according to the roundnesse which is swollen, which swelling the Gréekes call Apostema, either all the roundnesse, or as much as necessitie requireth, according to the length of the member. Also it is written of all Tumors against nature, that are ioyned with an vlcer, howe they ought to be cured. Likewise of the Varises, for they be the occasion that the vlcers be so stubburne, and hard to be cu­red, if that anie humour of the said Varises do repaire vnto the vlcer. And in like manner when the fluxe of an humor commeth from all the bodie, he commandeth that all the bo­die shalbe purged, without taking anie indication of time. Trulie it were a ridiculous thing that so many and con­trarie Indications should be taken of one communitie. For [Page 77] put we the case, indications to be taken of tyme. But if we graunt that time giueth a certaine indication, it is necessa­ry to aske what indication it giueth, and comprise it in a summe, as Thessalians doth, which taketh indication of a bodie that is bound, that that may bée vnloosed againe, and that bodie that hath a lax, is to bée stopped. Likewise in vlcers that are filthie, mundification is to be required, and those that be holow, to be filled with flesh, and those that be equall to be ciccatrized, & that which hath superfluous flesh, to be taken away. Thessalus himselfe is author of these: but now let him shew that ther is any indication proportioned to the time of the vlcer, as there is in all these that we haue rehearsed, which is not possible for him: for he biddeth that they should be cut, and a Malagma, made of Mustardséede to be applied vnto it.

I praye you what reasonable indication hath he taken now of time, which taketh and vsurpeth this vaine woord Metasincrisis, and after that he prouoketh vomit by Rapha­nus, and then when he findeth no other remedie, he vseth Eliber, and when these nothing profit, he sendeth the pacient lyke a wyse Phisition into Libia, for chaunge of ayre, the which things shal be more plainly spoken of hereafter, whē we shall shew that indication in what disease so euer it be, shall be taken of time. Yet for all y^t it shall be good to know the diuturnitie of the disease.

The sixt Chapter.

BVt I wil returne to Hyppocrates, whome I doe greatly maruail at, not onely for his diligence, but also for al other things, & chief­ly for that he hath not forgotten that which is to be considered of all Phisitions as tou­ching the indications of all diseases. That is to say, the indicatiō which is taken of the greatnesse and magnitude of the affect, which not onely the Methodicians haue permitted (this is to be maruailed at) but also many of the Rationales, yea, and of the Emperickes, although it [Page] be after another sort. For when they say that they haue cō ­sidered the euacuation in the course of the bloud, they con­fesse then manifestly, that they haue no regarde of other things that appeare in the affected part, for to come to such euacuation. But I doe not say thus, that purgation is eua­cuation, the which is no indication of the course of y^e bloud, but for bicause wée must sometime haue consideration to the letting forth of bloud, although there be no course of bloud present, which may flow to y^e greued part: for when the disease is very strong, there is none which vnderstan­deth the arte of medicine, but will let bloud. And truely the Emperickes themselues, let bloud when any is fallen from an high place, or when there is any part sore brused & hurt with any wound, though the pacient were whole and sound before, and without superfluitie of bloud. By the which it appeareth, that it is not the flowing of the bloud to the affected parte, which giueth indication, but the magni­tude and vehemēcie of the disease & the force of y^e strēgthes, excepting yet from our talke, children. As for example. If a man be whole and sound, and without any maner of hurt, and hauing abundance of bloud, it is not necessarie because of his abundance to take his bloud from him. For there is no indication to be taken of the bloud, for because the man is whole, for to such men fasting doth profit, & small eating, and sometime Purgation or bathing and Frications may suffise. Letting of bloud is not necessary to such, as y^e Em­perickes say.

Likewise Purgation is not good in the onely abundāce of humours, for euen as letting of bloud is done either for abundance of bloud or for the magnitude of the disease, so is purgation giuen either for the abundaunce of ill humours or for the force of the disease. As touching letting of bloud we haue spoken of in another booke, and shall doe againe hereafter. But in this present booke I will speake of pur­gatiōs, for they that be diseased, require them, not onely be­cause it doth euacuate the noysome and superfluous hu­mours with the which the bodie is grieued, but also put­teth foorth and clenseth the excrements within the bodie.

And for this cause Hyppocates as well in his other works as in that he hath written of Vlcers, considereth the vehe­mencie and strength of the disease, whereof he taketh In­dication of purging, and sayth thus.

Purgations of the bellie is profitable to many Vlcers, and also to woundes of the head, of the bellie, and of the ioynts, and where there is daunger of the rottennesse of the bones, or where stitching behoueth in woundes, or where erosions bée, or where Herpis & other affects be, which hin­dereth the curation of Vlcers, and also where rolling must be vsed.

By these words it is apparant truelie, that Purgati­ons are profitable both to wounds and Vlcers, at all times when they be great and grieuous. For not onelie the sayd affects, but other bée made great and grieuous, thrée man­ner of waies, that is, either through the excellencie of the afflicted part, either else through the greatnesse of the affect, or else because the said affects are Cacoethae (that is to saie, hard to be cured.)

Hyppocrates hath made mention of all these thinges perticularlie, when he dyd intreate of woundes of the head and bellie, and of the excellencie and dignitie of hurt parts. I thinke it is manifest to all men, that he must bée vnderstoode, not onelie the lower bellie, but also the superi­our, for in diuiding the Trunke of mannes bodie, which is betwixt the necke and the legges, is two greate capa­cities.

The first is contained vnder the Thorax, and aboue Diaphragma, and the second vnder Diaphragma, vnto Os Pubi, or to Peritoneum, which couereth the inwarde parte of the bellie. And for certaine, those woundes which hath pearced within the Thorax or within Peritoneum, is verie dangerous, chiefelie if anie of the inward parts bée woun­ded. Likewise there are verie fewe, but they doe know that the woundes of the ioyntes are Cachoethae, and are harde to bée cured: Which thinges the Emperikes vnderstand onelie by experience, and they that haue studi­ed, and haue attained to the knowledge of mannes bodie, [Page] vnderstand these thinges by the nature of the hurt parte. For in tendonie and sinnowie parts, where bones are void of flesh, there is great daunger of paine, waking, and pri­uation of rest, and also of conuulsion. Such woundes as these be, and such as be stitched, that is to saie, those that are so great that they néed stitching, or at the lest, of binding or rolling, requireth purgation.

We haue declared in the last booke, that all the greater wounds ought to be ioyned together, either by stitching or by binding. Likewise the vlcers where there is daunger of corruptiō of the bones, are oftentimes ioyned with great inflamations. Also they that procéede of ill humours, bée Cachoethae, and with erosion. Also Herpetes come of cho­lerike humours, and all other olde vlcers come of such like cause. Wherefore in all the vlcers before especified, Hyp­pocrates commandeth to purge by the bellie, and afterward he addeth these wordes. In all vlcers whereto Erisipel as is come, the bodie must be purged in that part most profi­table for the vlcer, so that the purgation be made either by the vpper partes or else by the lower, which difference hée hath set forth in the booke of Humours, where he comman­deth to tourne awaie the humour to the contrarie parte. As for example. There is a great flux that commeth to one part of the bodie where there is an vlcer, it behoueth to make another in the contrarie parts, and thereof he speak­eth in the said booke.

Wherefore if there be as yet a great fluxe which dooth runue to the sore part, we shall make reuulsion to the con­trarie part: that is to saie, if the vlcer be in the vpper parts, by purging downward, and if it be in the neather partes, by purging the vpper ventricle. But if the fluxe bée newe stopped in such sorte that is fixed in the member, it is expe­dient to driue it out by the next partes, séeing that the pas­sages be the next places, séeing that the accesse and attracti­on of purging medicines is more easie and prompt, to re­moue those things that be néere, rather than those thinges that be farre of, the which reason belongeth to another part of the art, which entreateth of purging medicines, therfore [Page 79] hereafter it shall be declared and made perfect.

Now I will shew the force, or if you will call it the magnitude of the disease, to be appointed for a certaine in­dication of taking away bloud or giuing purgation. And also that Hippocrates, was the first inuenter of the sayd in­dication, I will speake in the bookes following of diseases, and in this booke I will speake of vlcers. I haue alreadie spoken of Purgations. For séeing that euery disease is gre­uous thrée maner of wayes, it is either for the excellencie and noblenesse of the part, or for the magnitude of y^e affect, or for the frowardnesse of the same affect, called in Gréeke Cacoethia. Hippocrates hath made mencion of all these things where he speaketh of Purgations. But some per­chaunce will say, How then? doth not Hippocrates, councell vs to take away the bloud for these causes aboue especified? By my iudgement he commaundeth them thus, but in few wordes, and that not without demonstration, as he and all the auncients were accustomed to doe. Thou shalt vnder­stand that it is so, if that thou wilt reade againe his words, that are these. In euery fresh wound, except it be in the bel­ly, it is expedient to let bloud flow out of it, more or lesse. For by that meanes the wound shall be lesse grieuous, the inflamation lesse, and all the places about it. But if thou shalt remember hereafter those wordes that he writ when he did entreate if vlcers and also those thinges that he hath propounded in all his other bookes, that is to say, how that a Phisition ought to be an imitator and follower, not onely of nature, but also of those things which shalbe profitable, when they come to their naturall state. Then thou shalt plainly vnderstād the minde of Hippocrates, and also how that bloud ought to be drawen when wounds be great: but if out of such wounds bloud doth not flow, especially when as it is a thing most conuenient, then thou must adde and supply those thinges that be néedefull and necessarie. The matter that followeth, he conioyneth it with that which is abouesayde.

Also it is profitable that from inueterate vlcers, bloud doe flow, and also from the parts which are about them.

But forasmuch as he hath said before, that bloud should flow from euery gréene wound, except that he made men­cion now of inueterate vlcers, it would séeme to some that he dyd entreate onely of greene and fresh wounds. There­fore he did well adde this, (that is to say) how that it is a thing most méete to draw bloud from inueterate vlcers.

Wherefore now seeing that the doctrine which we haue ta­ken of him is true and firme: that is to say, how a flux be­ginning at the contrary parts, ought to be drawen, & how that which is alreadie fixed in the partie, ought to be pur­ged, either from the payned part, or from the part next vn­to it: therefore it is now easie for vs to conclude of the de­traction of bloud, how that in the beginning it ought to be done in the part farre of, and then in the vlcerate parts.

Furthermore, if you doe adde vnto these which I haue before spoken, how that Hippocrates, coūselleth to euacuate the superfluous humour, and that detraction of bloud ought to be vsed when it surmounteth, and that a medicament ought to be giuen, which hath vertue to purge humours Chollerike, Melancholicke, and Phlegmatike: Yet haue in remembraunce all these woords, how that none of them is the curation of vlcers, no not so much as of an vlcer, but rather of Cacochimia, that is coniunct with the vlcer, or of Plethor, or of Phlegmon, or of Herpis, or other like dispositi­ons: Neither yet be not forgetfull of this thing, that is to say, that none of the accidents of the vlcer giueth such pro­per indication, as magnitude. In the booke precedent, we haue intreated of vlcers, wherein we haue declared all the differences of vlcers, how many, and what they be, & what is the indication of either of thē. Howbeit, I haue not spp­ken in the saide booke, how the indication of purging is ta­ken of the vehemencie of the disease, bicause it should not be to much prolixitie & demonstration. Neither in the saide booke, I haue connixed the curation of all the bodie with the vlcers, but yet I haue declared in this present booke, in as much as it was agréeable and vtill for my purpose.

The seauenth Chapter.

BVt the firme and perfect demonstration of this kinde of Indication, which is taken of the vehemencie of the disease, shal be shew­ed héereafter. In like maner, the indication which is takē of y^e age, & that which is takē of purging humours. Likewise the Indi­cation which is taken of the afflicted parts, shal be declared in the bookes which follow. But as yet we haue onlie made mention of the curatiue Indication that may be taken of the nature of the said parts, that is to saie, of temperance & substance. But trulie we haue nothing touched the Indica­tion, which is taken of the scituation & figure of the partes. Therefore we will speake of the indications that be profi­table for the curation of Vlcers. The part trulie that hath sharpe and quicke senses, ought as much as is possible to be cured without dolour or paine. But the Anodinon of such remedies is spoken of in the Booke which entreateth of the simple medicaments.

But he that hath but small senses, and those that be not quicke, may (if the disease require) suffer strong medicines. But we must haue regard and consideration to the strength of the principall member, whereof we will more copiouslie héereafter declare, when as we shall haue occasion to speake of Phlegmon. But if it be not a principall member, surelie without daunger you may minister vnto it such medicines as mittigate and asswage, the Gréeks call them Calasticke, whereof we will plainlie and more at large declare héere­after. At this present we will declare the indication which is taken of the scituation and figure of the partes, and then we wil finish and conclude this fourth booke. For this cause haue we excogitated and inuented certaine medicines that must be giuen to him that hath his ventricle vlcerate, the which medicines must be dronken at once, but to him that hath his throate vlcerate, they must be ministered [Page] at sundry times by little and little, because of the passing which bringeth great vtilitie to the vlcer, neither they must be ministred so, & in such case, as to him that hath his ven­tricle vlcerate.

Likewise we haue declared by the situation and figure of the said part, that such medicines ought to be made gros­ser and thick, & more clammy than the other, because that the throte is a passage of things that is eaten and dronken. And for that cause remedies which may conioyne & cleane on euerie side of it, is most conuenient, and not such as are thinne and easie to slide away. For the thicke are alwaies about the parts, and the clammy doe cleaue vnto it. Like­wise vlcers that are in the thick intestines, haue more néede of medicines which are cast out by the fundament, in as­much as they be next vnto it. But the vlcers that are in the thin intestines, because they be fardest from the funda­ment, require both medicines, that is to say, those that are receued by the mouth, and those that are cast in by the fun­dament. Now truly the cōmon indication of all the interior parts is, that we ought to choose things that be most fami­liar to the nature of man, be they meates or medicaments, and to eschew those things which be contrarie vnto it.

Although to Vlcers which bée in the outwarde partes, the vse of such medicaments be not hurtfull, as Aerugo, aes Vstum, aeris Squāma, Cadmia, Pomphilix, Litarge & Cerussa. Yet they ought not to be ministred to the vlcers of the in­ward parts, of whose nature we haue written in the booke of temperaments, and in the booke of simple medicines.

But if we go about to glutinate the vlcer, and bring it to a ciccatrise, we must choose glutinatiue medicines, & such as will not cause erosion. But if we will clense the vlcer, we must vse things abstersiue, and such as wil absterge it mo­derately, as raw Honey, which of al things for this purpose is the chiefest.

But as touching adstingent potions called Austerae, and other such like alimentes, they be knowen vnto all men. This woord Auster, is called Stiphos in Gréeke, that is to say, little astringent, and that which is lower or bitter, is [Page 81] called in Gréeke Striphnon. But the medicines which may be taken without danger, are spoken of in the booke of Me­dicaments. Neuerthelesse I wil shew some forme of whol­some Medicaments for the inward vlcers, which are these, namelie, Hipocystis, Balaustium, Cytini Punicorum, Galla, Malicorium, Terra Samia, Lemnium Sigillum, Rosarum Suc­cus, Acacia, & other or like kinde, which be profitable for in­ward vlcers, and you must minister the said medicaments with some decoction of adstringent things, as of Quinces, Lentiske, or the tops of Rubus, or of Vines, or gréene mir­tills, or with adstringent Wine. It is now manifest, and I thinke none is so ignorant, but will iudge that hée must eschue drinking of wine if there be Phlegmon, or else there is no daunger.

In like maner it is euident that the said Medicaments must be prepared & receiued with decoction of moist things. Also you must mixe gumme Tragacanthen in those medi­cines which are for the vlcers in Gula, you must vse Gar­garises in the Vlcers that are in the partes called Fauces and Paristhmia, but if the vlcer bée in Aspera Arteria, cal­led Trachia, then the Patient must be layed vpright, and kéepe the medicine long time in his mouth, in loosing all the muscles that be in that place, for in so dooing some part of medicament will flow by little and little to the grieued parte. For when the sayde Aspera Arteria is in his natu­rall state, or in good health, then we may easilie know when anie potion passeth through it. For like as we must take heede when as it is in good health, least anie fluxe fall that waie which maye hurt it: so in like manner we must be­ware when it is grieued, least anie thing doe fall that waie which may prouoke the cough: then it séemeth that the Indications of it are taken of the scituation and forme of the part.

Also Honie must be mingled in all Medicaments which are ordained for the Vlcer in the Thorax and Lungs. Therefore if we vse astringent medicines, they will re­maine in the bellie. Then the instrument which is profita­ble for the digestion and distribution of the said medicamēts [Page] ouer all the bodie shal be honie. Also it being mingled with the said medicines, shall be occasion of their quicke passage ouer the bodie, neither shall it anie thing anoie or hurt the vlcer. In like manner if there be an vlcer in the bladder & in the raines, honie and such as prouoketh vrine must bée mingled with the said medicines. But I thinke that it is apparant to all men, though they take not me the author of the same, how that the vlcerate partes may be discerned or knowen by their substance, action, vtilitie, scituation, and figure. The which things trulie haue ben amplie declared in the booke which entreateth of the signes of the affected parts, but now there is no time to talke of them, therefore I will returne to the method of curation. Also I saie and affirme, that not onelie these aboue rehearsed, but also ma­ny other, be the indications of the figure, and scituation of the partes. For you cannot well and exactlie binde the af­fected part, before ye take indication either of the figure, or scituation, or of them both. Neither can you set the pipe of a clister well, before ye take such Indication. What should I make mention of Argalia, speciallie when as you cannot minister it before you perfectlie knowe the scituation and figure of the bladder. Then trulie by these things it dooth manifestlie appeare, that the affected part giueth indicati­on to the curation. But in ruptures truelie, which the Gréekes call Regmata, many Indications may be taken to one purpose, and principallie the indication that is taken of the scituation ought to be considered. For the ruptions that be hid in the deapth of the bodie, require other curati­ons than the woundes which appeare outwardlie, and for because they be such as be with Ecchimosis, or contusion a­bout the broken flesh, therefore they declare diuerse Indi­cations curatiue. For alwaies the Indications curatiue do answere to the number of the affects, wherof we wil shew more copiouslie heereafter, when we shall speake of Phleg­mon, how that the affects that are in the déepe places of the bodie, requireth stronger medicines than those in the vpper parts. Then at the least I iudge it to be manifest, that it is necessarie that the strength of the medicamentes [Page 82] that are ministred outwardlie ought to be resolued, when the affected part which should be cured by those, is hid in y^e deapth and profunditie of the bodie. Therefore it behoueth to augment the vertue of the same medicaments, so that by the passage thereof it may be staked. Certainlie Ecchimo­sis doth indicate euacuation for the remedie of the cure. Wherefore medicamentes that will moderatlie heate and drie, be most conuenient for it. For they that do vehement­lie drie, trulie do resolue and digest more at the beginning than they which drie but simplie. But I will speake héere­after somewhat of this disease, which is difficill and serious to cure. But of that which did pertaine to the matter wee haue largelie spoken of. Truelie those medicamentes that moisteth and heateth more than they, which the Gréekes call Calasticke. Also those which doe somewhat to drinesse, which the Gréekes call Suntatica, be the chiefe and princi­pall remedies for all Ecchimosis. But we must take héede the medicines do cleaue to the ruptions that are in the deep­nesse of the bodie, and also that they be of strong vertue, & that they be sharpe and such as will digest: and to speake brieflie, such medicines ought to be of great force, inasmuch as Ecchimosis is in the déepnesse of the bodie and far from the skin. In such affects the vse of a cucurbite is profitable, which is an instrument inuented of Phisitions, to cause vl­cerate attraction. And when Ecchimosis is digested by the vse of a cucurbit, then you may minister those things which may drie the broken flesh, and conioyne it with ligature, & adde that which may coagulate and ioyne the wounde to­gether, for Ecchimosis being resolued and digested, the bro­ken flesh shall coagulate together. But if it be resolued, then corruption bréedeth in it, and occupieth the space that is betwéene the lippes of the wounde, so that the ruption cannot close. Wherefore these aboue rehearsed, declare vnto vs all causes howe small so euer they bée.

For although some hath had rigour, or though the bo­die hath béene ouerthrowen by some Feauer, so that there bath not bene good concoction, or that it hath béene [Page] defatigated and wearied, then immediatlie there shall bée paine in the part where the ruption and wound is, because that the said ruption hath bene latelie ioyned together, but not so substantiallie, because of time. Wherfore it follow­eth that a little thing may easilie part them, & fil the place againe with superfluous humours. But what engendereth in such wounds or ruptions? nothing but new Ecchimosis, and much like vnto the first: That is to saie, when the flesh was first broken, except that this Ecchimosis that is new, of more and corrupter mattier than that which was at the beginning, which came of bloud, and therefore now this is more easilie digested and resolued than that which was at the beginning. And thus y^e which we haue spoken hether­to shall suffice for the disputation of Vlcers, & thus we conclude this fourth Booke of our The­rapeutike methode, called Metho­dus Medendi.

The first Chapter.

SEeing that in the two last bookes we haue taught how anie shall rightlie cure Vlcers, we will by the waie shew, that all other Phisitions which vse the arte, not search­ing out the Elementes of those simple par­ticulars in vs, cannot cure anie thing one­lie by reason, but yet least of all other those which professe Thessalus doctrine. The rest which are by méere experience onelie taught, suppose, that at the least those Vlcers which are in diuerse partes, are to bée cured by diuerse reasons. But those that followe Thessalus, (as their Captaine) for his excellent wisedome, thinke that euerie Vlcer, in what parte of the bodie so euer it bée, requireth like curation: for if it bée hollowe, they saie it must bée filled with flesh, if it bée equall, then to bée ciccatrized, if there bée supercres­cent flesh, then that flesh must bée diminished, if it bée blou­die and new, then it must bée adglutinated: As though he that knew this, must of force cure rightlie, or that this reason were vnknowen to the common people, when as there is none that is héerein ignoraunt. But they vnder­stand not howe the hollownesse is to bée filled with flesh, neither howe that which is filled ought to bée ciccatrized, or to take awaie that is ouermuch encreased, or to ioyne together that which is pure and bloudie without hollow­nesse: such workes trulie are properlie appertaining to the art of Medicine, found out by the helpe either of Reason or Experience, or both.

Therefore repeating againe, let vs briefelie ouer-runne those things, wherby the beginning of these which are to be spoken, may be ioyned with the aid of those which we haue alreadie set out. Wée haue declared that euerie Vlcer re­quireth desiccatiue medicines, but that which hath hollow­nesse, beside that, it needeth desiccatiues, it also doeth re­quire abstersiues: that which requireth to haue the lippes ioyned together, (such is a gréene wound, called in Gréeke [Page 84] Enema) doth aske both more drying medicines, and also that be gentle astringent without anie abstersion.

Furthermore, those vlcers which néede to bée ciccatri­zed, require not onelie yet more drying medicines, but al­so strong astringent remedies, and whereas there is su­percrescent flesh against nature, there are required sharpe and abating medicines, such of necessitie bée hot and drie. If anie accident bée ioyned with the Vlcer, the Indication of curation must bée taken of the nature thereof, and of this all the faculties of medicines also to bée had. If there should superfluous mattier growe in the Vlcer, it behoo­ueth to haue medicines which should take it awaie, and such haue a greate deale more abstersiue vertue than some incarnatiue medicines haue.

Also if there bée séene more copious moisture, there is néede of a medicine more desiccatiue, but yet not to exceede his kinde, and if the medicine shoulde be glutinatiue, it ought to bée drying and astringent, if it shall incarnate, it must be desiccatiue, and some thing abstersiue, and so in all other, as is alreadie declared. Also if the flesh subiect should be intemperate, first truelie we must cure this in­temperatnesse, that which is drier, by medicines humectiue, the moist, by desiccatiues. Also that which is hot by refri­geratiues, the colde, by medicines that are hot. And if by coniunction of two qualities, the flesh bée intemperate, it must be cured by ministring a contrarie medicine, which hath double qualities, for this one thing is common to all affects against nature, that they cannot come againe to their owne nature, without such medicines as haue contrarie qualitie.

Furthermore, at this time the causes of these intempe­ratiues are to be considered, whether these be common to all the whole bodie, or else proper of some partes, which should infest the vlcerate member by societie, the Gréekes call it Simpathia. First of all trulie, the cause that nourish­eth this intemperatnesse, is to be cured, and after that the intemperatnesse it selfe which is now made, for this indi­cation, is common to all such as spring of anie cause.

We haue also declared that there are diuerse indications taken of the differences of vlcers, and also those which are taken of the temparament of the sicke bodie, haue a contra­rie reason, for those Indications séeing they are taken of those things which are against nature, declare that all con­trarie things must be applied: these Indications because they are taken of natures selfe, shew that like things must be vsed, for if how much the part is drier, so much the more it requireth to be dried, that which is lesse drie, is lesse to bée dried. In like sort trulie it is declared in making hot or colde. Neither haue we let passe that of the excellencie of the member or contrarie state. Also to the sharpnesse or dulnesse of féeling, there is to bée had a contrarie scope of curing.

The second Chapter.

THerefore we will now consider that which remaineth of the curation of this kinde of infirmities, we call this kinde, for more euident doctrines sake, solution of vnitie, neither is it anie matter, if thou call it so­lution of continuitie. This kinde doth not onelie happen in the similer and simple partes, but also in the compound and instrumentall, but yet there be other in­dications of remedies taken of the similer partes, then of the Instrumentall of which they that follow Hyppocrates methode, know both, because they know the natures of both partes. But those that follow Erasistratus and Herophilus, haue but one Indication, that is to saie, that which is ta­ken of the Instrumentall partes. Wherefore they haue no certaine method in these, which follow whatsoeuer indica­tions are taken of the bodie, or sicknesse, hot, colde, moist, or drie, but yet they are not ignorant of the Indications ta­ken of the forme, position, excellencie, quicke féeling of the part, or those which are contrarie. That which we saie shal be more manifest if we set out the the partes themselues. Therefore because alreadie abundantlie we haue entrea­ted of those Vlcers, chieflie which happen in the fleshie [Page 85] partes, it is time to speake of them which chaunce in the veine, and arterie, and nerue, and not of these absolutelie by themselues, but as they are in the instrumentall partes of man. Wherefore if anie hath a greate arterie or veine wounded, & there followeth presentlie great flux of bloud, and the wound in the veine will hardlie be glutinated in the arterie, it can more hardlie be done, as many Phisiti­ons suppose, but peraduenture cannot be done at all. Ther­fore we must againe speake of either of them, and first of the fluxe of bloud, and next of adglutination. But for that such fluxes are caused by Anastomasin and Diepedesin, as we presentlie declare, it shall not be from our purpose, for that they both haue a common cure, to make mention of them in this place, although they séeme to be another kinde of disease, trulie the bloud floweth out of the veine or arte­rie, the mouth of them being opened, or their coate diuided, or as I may tearme it, strained or sent out in manner of sweate, surelie the coate of thē is diuided either by woun­ding, or contusion, or ruption, or erosion. Anastomasis hap­peneth, both through the imbecilitie of the vessels, and also through the plentie of bloud which breaketh to the mouth of it with violence, & furthermore by anie thing cōmming outwardlie, hauing a sharpe qualitie.

Diapedesis commeth when as the coate is made more thin, and the bloud attenuated, and furthermore, it maye come to the mouth of anie of the small veines béeing opened. Therefore we must speake of either affect by him­selfe, and first of all of that diuision which we haue sayd to come of erosion or wounding, or contusion, or ruption, so that those things which doe wound are edged tooles, and apt to cutte, those that make contusion are heauie and harde, those that cause ruption, doe it by straining, the same doth also the vehemencie of anie action, the abun­dance of ill iuyce or humours, not in respect of the strength, but for that it is not contained in his vessells.

Also anie heauie or hard thing falling from aboue, en­tering in, for anie such thing when the vessels or veines are emptie, or else containing but a small substaunce entering [Page] in it, if it hath an obiect which is hard, it causeth contusion, if the vessell be full, it bruseth it, before it maketh cōtusion. When that which happeneth is like, as if thou diddest fill a bottle or bladder, and diddest let a stone fall on it, or else violently diddest strike it against a stone, truely the like to this is that which happeneth to falles from aboue, for looke what respects the bottle hath to the stone, the same hath the man vnto the ground, and whosoeuer breaketh any vessells of the lungs, with great and most vehement clamour, must refer the ill receiued, vnto the violēce of the action. In like manner he which hath broke any vessells (that is to say, a­ny veine or arterie) by bearing a great burden, or by going about to lift it on his shoulder, or else to lift it vp with his hands, & so much the rather, to whome it happeneth of most swift running, or most strong leaping, or otherwise, any part being violently extended. For it is like as if one should stretch out a rope, or leather, though many vesselles are broken because they containe not the bloud in thē, chief­ly when it is flatulent, as may appeare both in hogs-heads which full of must, doe oftentimes breake, & also in other of most strong bodies.

The third Chapter.

AND if the vessell be ruptured, either of wounding, clamour, fall, or contusion, the cause of these truely doe cease, but if it come of aboundance, it may againe happen that the vessell may be ruptured, the efficient cause is yet remayning, & also in this affect, y^e abundance truly is to be euacuated, then the bloud to be suppressed, and after the vlcer to be cured, but where as the efficient cause is ceassed, there the bloud is first to be sten­ched, and after the vlcer is to be cured. How therefore, will we stench the bloud? truely by stopping the ruptured vessel, the bloud that was caryed by it being auerted and conuei­ed to another place, for if the bloud should be caried to the place vnto which it dyd in the beginning flow, and that the [Page 86] mouth of the vessell be in like sorte open, the man truelie being vexed with the fluxe, shall sooner die than the fluxe of bloud shal cease, surelie y^e wounds wil be closed, if the sides which are diuided be brought together, or that the mouth of it be stopped, and the sides of the wounde closed by the helpe of our hands, if we may come to it with ligature, or such remedies as are colde and astringent. Neither is it lawfull to stitch the wound of a veine or arterie, as they af­firme, who saie that no Indication is to be taken of the substance and nature of the wounded part, the mouth of the vessell shall be stopped, the bloud being then coniealed, the Gréekes call it Thombros, and also by things outwardlie applied on both sides about, may be put vpon it, and also in many wounds the skin it selfe, or what else we mixt with it, such are linaments, in Gréeke called Motos, & those me­dicines, because they haue a clammie and grose substance, doe stoppe the pores, the Gréekes name them Emphlastica, as also medicines which make a crust, which the Gréekes name Escharan. The olde Phisitions despised these in such like wounds, as it were a great ieopardie. These also are done, not onelie by the fire it selfe, but also with medicines hauing a firie facultie, and the mouth of the vessell is stop­ped by these medicines, the bloud trulie shall be auerted and turned to other members, both béeing drawen vnto the next partes, and also by reuulsion to the contrarie, the Gréekes call that Parochetensis, but this Stuti Pasis, and these also bée inuented of Hyppocrates, being verilie the common remedies of all immoderate euacuation. Deriua­tion is made vnto the next parts, when as that which is voi­ded is euacuated by the nosethrilles. Also reuulsion to the contrarie partes, is when as it draweth downe­ward.

Againe, that which floweth by stoole, that is deriued by the womans shape, but Reuulsion is vpwarde, for so truelie Nature is woont to doe. To the woman, sayth Hyppocrates, which vomiteth bloud, her naturall sick­nesse following is a remedie, & for this cause if her tearmes abundantlie break out, or that bloud by anie waie floweth [Page] out of the matrice, thou shalt drawe it vpward by fixing a great cucurbite or boxe vnder the paps. For this also is inuented of Hyppocrates.

And by like reason the bléeding at the nose is stayed by great cucurbites fixed vnder the ribs, and if it floweth out of the right nosethrill, then the cucurbite is to be set vpon the liuer, but if it commeth out of the left nosethrill, then set cucurbite vpon the splene, but if the bloud floweth out of both nosethrills, then fixe the cucurbits vpon both liuer and splene, but if the patient be not yet holpen, open a veine on the cubite that is right against the fluxe, and when as thou hast taken a little bloud awaie, stop it for an houres space, and then take againe more bloud, and so againe and againe, according to the strength of the Patient. In like sort, because it is a common waie of curing, thou shalt bring all other fluxes both to their contrarie parts, and also make deriuation by the next places, for that which floweth by the stoole, to euacuate by vrine or the matrice, and that which floweth by vrine must be voided by stoole or matrice. And of the fluxes of the Eies, Eares, and pallet of the mouth, the next doriuation is by the nosethrils, reuulsion trulie of all these higher parts, is euer to be made downward, and also of the lower parts vpward. Also from the right side to the left, as also from the left side to the right. In like sorte reuulsion of that which is within must be made outward, and of that which is outward in like sort inward, therfore friction of contrarie parts is done chieflie by those medicines which doe heate.

Also straight ligatures are to be reckoned among those remedies which bring to the contrarie partes, and so also is the shutting of the naturall pores set in the opposite place, but by what medicines that shall be done, the matter thereof is set out in our bookes of Medicines. But it behoo­ueth to intreate of all Fluxes in the Bookes following. Now we must returne vnto the flux of bloud, and the band put on the vessells that flowe, are to be accounted among stopping medicines, and also our fingers, which do close and presse the vessels.

There is also another ligature hereto appertaining, which the Gréekes call Epidesis, although it goeth not roūd about the member, as a bande doth, but ioyneth the gaping lips of the wounded part by his embracing, & also holdeth such things as are put vpon the parte, and is numbred among closing medicines. Besides all these rehearsed, the apt situ­ation of the wounded part, is accompted among the reme­dies which stay the flux of bloud.

Surely the situation shall be apt, if it be directed vnto these two endes, that the part be frée from dolor, and be di­rected vpward, for if the part hang downe or is pained, it will not staye the fluxe, but will cause it, if there be none. Therefore he that knoweth these things, if at any time he shall stand by him out of whose wound bloud floweth, (for first I will entreate of these,) let him put his finger vpon the mouth of the vessell gently, strayning it and compres­sing it without dolor, for so he shall at once both staye the bloud, & also make it congele in the wound, but if the ves­sell from which it floweth, be déepe hid, let him then surely both know the position and magnitude of it. And further­more, whether it be a veine or arterie, then put it in a hooke and lyft it vp, and a little wryth it, but if the bloud will not so be stayed, if it be a veine let him without bynding, assay it, to stench the bloud with some of those medicines which haue power to stay bloud, truely the best are those Emplastique which are made of Rosin fryed, and the fi­nest wheate flowre, and Gipsum, and such lyke, but if it be an arterie, thou shalt stay the flux with one of these two, either by binding it, or by cutting a sunder the whole ves­sell, and sometime truely we are also constrained to bynde the great veines, and to cut all these ouerthwart, and this necessitie happeneth in those where as the fluxe issueth out of the déepest place, & chiefely by those parts that be straight and principall, for so is part of the other part drawen back, and the wound is hid and couered of the parts lying on it, but it is more safetie to doe both, that is, to binde the roote of the vessell, and also to cut of that remaineth, I call the roote of the vessel his former part, which is néerer the liuer, [Page] or the heart, this in y^e neck is the lower part, in the armes and in the shankes, from the higher part, & so in all other parts, & as thou maist learne by the anatomie which these methodelesse Thessalians do not allow.

The fourth Chapter.

THese things being done, the wound is first to be filled with fleshe before thou take a­way the bande from the vessell, except the flesh engēdred doeth fill the place about the cut arterie, but y^e there is some wide space, the affect doth follow, which the Grecians call Aneurisma, wherefore I counsel thée to vse rather those kinde of medicines which stench bloud, for that through their clamminesse they stop the pores, the Gréekes call it Emplasticon, than those which make an asker, because the wound after it is soner and with lesse daunger filled, for it is daunger in y^e other, least there be made presently a new flux of bloud out of the vessel, if the crust falleth of. Ther­fore that medicine that I will now set here out, is the best that I know of all other, which I also vse without perill in fluxes of bloud, of the coates called Membrana, of the brayne, one part of Frāconcense mixed with halfe one part of Aloes, after when thou wilt vse it tēper it with so much white of an Egge, as it may be thicke lyke Honey, & put to these most soft haires of an Hare, and then apply it largely both to the vessell, and also to y^e vlcer, binding it outward­ly with a soft linnen roller, and let the roller goe foure or fiue times about the vessell that flowed, & then go toward the roote of the vessell in those parts, I meane, which may be rolled toward the roote, you may in all parts of the body except in the coates or membranes of the braine, this being done, if thou wilt lose it the third daye, if the medicine doe cleaue hard to the vlcer, put another vpon it as it were a liniament moystening that which is made of haires, and roll it againe as thou didst the first, but if the linament fal­leth away of his owne accord, then gently pressing the roote [Page 88] of the vessell with thy fingers, that nothing flowe to the wound, take this away, the hand hanging downe, and put on an other. In this wise shalt thou cure the vessel vntill it be defended with flesh, and from the beginning to the ende, keping the part vpright, keping herein a measure in this fi­gure of situation, for you must beware least that dolour chaunceth, and stirre againe fluxe, for there is nothing that doth more prouoke fluxe, and increase inflammation, than dolour.

This medicine (as I haue saide,) I vse many waies, sometime to the Aloes, the double waight of Franconcense, sometime equall portion of both, sometime the Francon­cense to be a little more than the Aloes, or else a greater portion, but not double, and sometime putting in the stead of Franconcense, Manna, for Manna is a medicine that is more restringent than Franconcense, and Franconcense is more Emplastique than manna, and it is manifest that in hard bodies there must be the more portion of Aloes, as in soft more of Franconcense, so shall the one of them be more astringent, and the other by his clāminesse and grossenesse, cleauing more to the small pores, which they call Emplasti­coteron, therefore where thou wilt studie to make the me­dicine more Emplastique, it behoueth that thou vse those Franconcense that be tough, and as I may terme it, more Rosin lyke, such truely is softer and whiter, and when it is chawed as Aloes and Manna, is not made smaller, but de­fendeth the parts, cleauing together lyke Chiamastiche, but these are proper to that treatise, which sheweth the compo­sitiō of medicines, which we could not but somewhat touch in this booke, for either we must neuer haue made mention of any particular exāple, but haue bene satisfied with vni­uersall methodes, or if particular should be put to vs the preparation of them was to be touched.

But as we before haue saide, it is conuenient that wée be here pleased with one or two examples, put out of those remedies which are inuented by Methode, and this thing I will still remember. But lette vs turne likewise, to that againe, that in speaking we haue little finished, [Page] and I haue made the longer mencion of these medicines rehearsed, because I am persuaded that it excelleth al other, and I maruell if it shall chaunce any man, to finde a bet­ter, therefore I vsed it alwayes in the Pānickles or Mem­branes of the brayne, and also in wounds of the necke, yea, of the Iugulane veines themselues, which the Gréeke wri­ters name Sphagitadas, insomuch as it also stayeth flux of bloud in them, and that without bynding, neither, in ioy­ning these, that thou make to much hast as certaine foolish Chirurgions doe vse, but compresse with the one hand the lower part of the vessell, or griping hold it with the other hand, apply the medicine to the wound and gently presse it to the wound, vntill it cleaneth being congeled, after binde it from aboue backward, and not as in the ioynts from be­low vpward, for it behoueth to make your rolling toward the roote of the vessells, and to represse that which floweth. There are many other medicines which haue an empla­stique facultie, yea, without griefe, but there is none that doth so incarnate.

It is chiefely to be regarded in this case, that the medi­cine falling of, that flesh be engendred about the vessel. But those medicines which make an asker, when the asker fal­leth of, they leaue the part more bare than for their natu­rall state, for the generatiō of the asker is (as I may terme it) of the partes subiect round about, halfe burnt, for what manner a thing these quenched coales are that they prouide against winter, such are the askers being reliques of the adust flesh, so that how much of the part is burnt to an as­ker, so much truely it loseth of his naturall flesh, therefore all that wāteth of the part where as y^e asker falleth away, and so is s [...]ne bare and without flesh. And there hath fol­lowed to many a flux of bloud, that could hardly be sten­ched, after that the asker hath fallen of, wherefore who so will in these also minister all things by a method, he will long before consider all these wayes, wherewith bloud is stenched, and choose that which is with least daunger, not omitting the other wayes as often as necessitie requireth, for I haue found great necessitie of vsing medicines, ma­king [Page 89] an asker, and also of hot yrons, whereas the fluxe of bloud sprang of erosion, of anie humour which did putrifie, as also in that affect where all that doth putrifie is taken of it, it is most safe to burne, as it were the rootes of it, or else to vse medicines which make an askar, and by this occasion we come to that necessitie both in the priuie mem­bers, and also in the fundament, because those partes both for their naturall heate, and that they be the conduites of Excrementes, they putrifie of a small cause. That scope which thou tendest vnto, for those medicines making an as­kar, must not onelie be hot, but such as hath with it also ioyned & astringent facultie, such is perceiued to be Chal­citis, and Misi, and Vitriall, whether thou vsest them crude, or rawe, or adust. Those that are made of vnflaked Lime are more vehement than these, but yet Lime hath no a­stringent vertue, therefore the askars fall sooner, of which are made with these, but those that are made with astrin­gent Medicines, doe longer cleaue to the bodies, which thing trulie is verie profitable, for that flesh groweth vn­derneath it, and is made as a certaine couering to the ves­sell that floweth.

Wherefore it behoueth vs not to bée rash, as manie bée in taking of the askers, whereas is perill of fluxe of bloud, except it bée in those affectes, whereas through the putrefaction wée are compelled to applie to the bodie hotte yrons. All Phisitions, I know not by what reason, call that affect in Gréeke Nemon, of the Verbe Nemomai, which sig­nifieth to féede or deuour, because this affect procéedeth by eating the sicke partes, vnto those that are found deuouring some part of them, so that they call it not of the substance of the thing shewed, but of an augmentation. The plentie of matter of all Medicines which haue this facultie, are set out in their proper Commentaries, I call them proper, whose Titles are De simplicibus Medicamentis, and also De compositione eorum.

The fift Chapter.

THerefore séeing we haue set out the sum of this method, whereby thou maist cure such fluxes of bloud as are in the vpper parte, we are bent to set out the Treatise of those fluxes which come out of the deapth of the bodie. The bloud that floweth out of the vessell, either is stenched for that it floweth no more to the parte, because the diuision is stopped, or else through both, which I suppose to bée most sure. But the bloud is let to flowe to the parte; either through binding, or when as it is diuerted to the contrarie partes, or is deriued to the parte adiacent, or by refrigeration, either of the whole bodie, or else of the affected partes, so that colde potions haue often staied the fluxe of bloud, as also colde things in fomentati­ons outwardlie applied. In like sorte Oxicratum and sowre Wine, and anie other, that haue either astringent vertue, or onelie refrigeratiue facultie. And the diuision is shut, if that which is diuided, be drawen together, or clo­sed, or els stopped Trulie it is drawen together both by re­striction, and refrigeration, and ligature, and binding, but it is stopped either inwardlie or outwardlie, inwardlie by the bloud coniealed, which the Gréekes call Thombros, outwardlie, both with this, and also with Linamentes, Spunges, Askars, and with such medicines, as through the clammie and grose substaunce doe stoppe the pores, the Gréekes call them Emplastica, and also with putting the foresaide medicines to the hurt parte. How euerie of these shall be done, it is alreadie set out. But the fluxes of bloud which breake out of the déepe partes of the bodie, cannot be stopped either by binding or ligature, no not with hot yrons, and to bée briefe, neither with such things as we goe about to touch the diuided bodie with, or else the part, but rather with reuulsion and deriuation to the partes which [...] next. Also meate and drinke which haue an Empla­stique facultie, and by astringent medicines. Of these thou [Page 90] half plentie in their proper volumes, what Indication is taken of the partes that happen to the common Indicati­ons curatiue rehearsed, as it were an ouerplus in euerie affect, for wée vse sometime Instrumentes according to the propertie of the part, some to the Matrixe, other to the Bladder, and other to all the thicke Intestines, for wée make mirtions of some profitable Medicines into the In­testines by a Clister, and into the Matrixe, by those which the Gréekes call Metrenchitas, as into the Bladder, by pipes directlie pearced through. And truelie the fluxes of bloud by those partes, are rare, and yet sometime they chance. And although they are not dangerous by the pro­fuston it selfe, yet when as they long continue, they are not voide of perill. For we did sée bloud flowe out of the Ma­trixe foure daies, neither coulde it bée stopped by anie re­medie, vntill wée stayed it, vsing the iuyce of Plantaine, for this medicine is most profitable to such fluxes of bloud as come through erosion, vnto which I doe vse to mixe in this case some more vehement medicine, and sometime an other which is proper for the affected parte, which thing is euer to be done, and to be receiued in all fluxes for the chie­fest document.

For in these fluxes of the Matrixe, Bladder, and Inte­stines, the quantitie of the profusion is to be estéemed, that we may take it as the first or second indication of curation, and yet by the waie, not neglecting the cause of the whole affect: for if anie great vessell bée broken or vehementlie opened, and doth gape, wée néede astringent Medicines, as Balaustium and Hiposistes, and Rhoes, and Omphacium and Acacia, and vnripe galles, and Malicorium, but if it be a lit­tle vessell that is rupturned, or but a little opened, so that the bloud bée not much which floweth out of it, A­loes and Manna, and the rinde of the Pine trée, and Si­gella Lemnia, and the fruite of the Aegyptian Spine, and Saffron, and Lapis Haematites, and such lyke, bée profita­ble medicines giuen in redde and sowre Wine, but if thou canst not get anie such Wine, nor Plantaine, nor Nightshade, (for they are also good) wée maye boyle in [Page] water the sprigs of Rubus, and of Caninus Rubus, and Mir­tus, and Lentiscus, and Iuie, and to conclude, all such as haue an astringent vertue, whether it be roote or fruit, or rinde, or bud, and by like reason the decoction of astringent ap­ples, and chiefelie Quinces, Mixtiles, and Medlers, is a conuenient remedie.

The sixt Chapter.

AND if there happen a certaine fluxe of ero­sion, the Gréekes call it Anabrosin, it is not for the more part abundant, but small, and flowing by little and little, therefore you must vse the Trochisce of Pasionis, or An­dronis, or Polyeida, or else of our inuention, which haue in kinde the same force, but more stronger. These cease the erosion, if regard be first had, (as is saide) to the whole bodie. But if the fluxe bée too abundant, wée must vse those medicines which are most vehementlie a­stringent, vntill the vehement force be broken, then mixe the Trochisce with them, and after you maye vse the Tro­chisce alone, with anie of the forenamed iuyces or decoc­tions.

And truelie the medicines which are outwardlie ap­plyed to the parte, whether they be astringent, or colde without astriction, these I doe not alwaies allow (as many Phisitions doe) for they séeme to me to doe contrarie alto­gether to that which ought to be done, to kéepe the bloud within, and fill the vessells which are in the déep parts. We did sée some of those which did cast forth bloud out of his lungs, to be manifestlie hurt by refrigerating the breast, so that some of them did vomit bloud, because their bellie was refrigerated, in like sorte, some of them that blead in the nosethrils, were worse by refrigeration of the head. There­fore I counsaile not euer, or without difference, or in eue­rie time, that the places which are about the parte where­as the bloud floweth, to be refrigerated, no not vntill thou hast first tourned it to the other partes. As for example: [Page 91] in fluxe at the nose, when thou hast vsed (as I sayde) let­ting of bloud, or frictions of the ioynts, or binding, or fixing cururbites vnder the ribbes. But thou shalt not forthwith vse to the forehead and head refrigerating medicines, but first reuulsion to the contrarie partes, fixing in the toppe of the hinder part of the neck a cucurbite, or boxing as it may be tearmed, for there is a double euersion of the fluxe of bloud at the nose, both that which is to the lower partes of the whole bodie, and that which is made to the hinder parts of the head, because the nose is placed both in the higher and also in the former parte, for that part which is low, is contrarie to that which is higher, and that which is be­hinde, to that which is before. But of fluxe of bloud, wée haue hetherto abundantlie spoken.

It is euident that the affect named Dyapedesis, is to be cured with astringent and refrigeratiue medicines, and if it chaunce at anie time through too thinne bloud, you must vse grose dyet. What this same diet is, wée shall héereaf­ter set out, and we haue alreadie after a sorte set it out in our Booke, which is entituled, De Attenuante victu. Nowe we must retourne to the curation of the forenamed affects.

Therefore the Vlcer which is in the veine, if it bée in the ouer part, hath the like curation to an vlcer in the flesh, of which I haue disputed in the two bookes going before this. For if it come of a gréene wound, thou must make it close with medicines called Enaema, or if they come of erosi­on, you must discerne them first by reason, and what is spo­ken of the curation of rebellious vlcers, to proue that by diligence they may be healed.

Also when as thou wilt vse binding, or medicines stan­ching bloud, or hot yrons, that is the scope of curation, that thou doest incarnate the places about the lyppes of the Vlcer, and that thou vsest all together the sayde me­dicines, which are set out of vs in the methode of hollow Vlcers.

The seuenth Chapter.

WE haue now saide, that the arterie béeing wounded, séemeth to many Phisitions im­possible to be closed. And that doe some of those affirme, who be professours of onelie Experience, and some vsing this reason. For they saie, the one coate of the arterie is hard and cartilagious, but such bodies cannot vnite together, when as the abilitie of vniting is onelie of soft bodies, as may appeare in extreame thinges, neuer stone ioyning to stone, or shell with shell, and also in our selues, for neither Cartilage with Cartilage, or bone with bone doth growe together, for broken bones truelie doe not cleaue together by vnition, but are ioyning together by Callus, the Gréekes call it Poron, as it were with Glew. Therefore we will also beginne first with our Experience, and put before your eyes those things that wée haue séene in women and chil­dren, both the arteries to bée conglutinated, and also to be compassed about with flesh, and that in the forehead, anc­kle, ioynt of the arme, and wrist, such a like thing hap­pened in time past to a rusticall young man, when in the spring time he would be let bloud, which our Countrie men haue in great vse, but when the Phisition who should open the veine, had bound the mannes arme, it happe­ned the arterie to rise bounching vp, and the Physition opened it in stead of the veine, trulie the Orifice was ve­rie small, the bloud straight waies issued out yeolowe, thinne, and hot, and that as it were leaping, pulse like, and the Phisition truelie, like as hée was a verie young man, so was he little exercised in the workes of the Arte, though he had opened the veine, but when I with another of the auncienter Physitions that were present, did beholde that which had chaunced, preparing a medicine of the kinde of Emplaisters that staunch bloud, I did both diligentlie ioyne the diuision, and also by and by laide the medicine [Page 92] on, and vpon it bound a most soft Spunge. He which had cut the arterie, meruailing of our straunge doing in this case, I tolde him what we had done, after we were out of the lodging of him that was let bloud, and we commaun­ded him that he did not loose it, wée béeing absent, and that hée should not goe about it vntill the fourth daie, but let­ting it remaine as it was, onelie moistning the Spunge, after we vnbinding it the fourth daie, we found the In­cision conglutinated, and we bad him applie the same me­dicine againe, and binde him in lyke manner as before, and then after many daies to loose it, and so the cut arterie of this man was healed.

Among all other, I neuer sawe none cut in the Cubite, but Aneurysma followed, to some greater, to other lesser. But how Aneurysma ought to be cured, we will héereaf­ter in his proper place set out, whereas the curation shall bée set out of Tumours against Nature. Now let vs fi­nish our disputation begun.

Surelie the nature of the Arterie sheweth diffi­cultie of conglutination of the harder coate, but yet not such as may not be ouercome, neither yet is it so drie and hard as a bone or cartilage, yea, it is a great deale more soft and fleshie than they are, so that we néede so much lesse to dispaire of the vnition of the diuision, when both the diuisi­on is little, and the mans bodie naturallie soft. It seemeth that Experience onelie doth also subscribe to Reason, when as I haue séene it glutinated in children and women, by reason of their moisture, and softnesse of their bodies and in one young man, whereas is sayd, the Arterie was but lit­tle diuided. And although an Arterie bée harder to cure than a veine, yet there is no contrarie vse of medicines in both, yea, they bée all one in kinde, varying onelie by rea­son of excesse and defect. For the Arterie doeth require so much more drying medicines than the veine, howe much by his proper nature he is of dryer temperament than the veine.

But if thou wilt engender flesh about both, they both require like medicines, for flesh is in like sorte engendered [Page] in compassing the veines and arteries, as is shewed in fil­ling of hollow Vlcers. And the veines and arteries that are in the matrix, bladder, or intestines, séeing that they re­quire medicines like in kinde, when as they are exulcera­ted, they also require Instrumentes, whereby Iniections may bée made, Metrenchitas, that is, Clisters from the ma­trice, and a pipe bound right through, and a Clister. And to these Vlcers which are in the intestines, you may make iniections of the liquide medicine, bloud warme, contay­ned in a bladder, vnto the end of which is annexed a right pipe. The substaunce of the medicines shall be varied ac­cording to the forme of the Instrument. Neither is it méete to poure into these Instruments grose medicines, but they require moisture, and therefore for the more part moderat­lie hot. Therefore drie medicines are more apt than those that are named Liquide, because they are easilie mixed, ei­ther with the iuyce of Plantaine, or anie other of like kinde. Such be Saffron, and Pompholix, and Aloes, and those that in Gréeke are called Cephalica. In the first time of engendering flesh, which is presentlie after the suppression of the bloud Terra Lemnia, is an healthfull remedie.

The eight Chapter.

BVT the Vlcers that are in the lungs, are more hard to be cured, and truelie in some the cure is not onelie difficill, but also sée­meth not to be done at all, as well to them that followe Reason, as also to them that professe Experience by Reason, so that a­mong the inward partes, it is thought to be continuallie mouing, wheras those vlcers which are to be cured, require rest and quietnesse, as Experience sheweth, because they neuer sawe anie cured that was so affected. And perad­uenture we maye doubt of Experience. For it is méete that we beginne héere for knowledge sake, for wée haue séene one, for y^e hée cried loude, another falling from an high [Page 93] place, and another striken in wrestling, not onely presently most grieuously to cough, so that also with the cough some to vomite one or two pynts of bloud, and some other more, of those that were in this case. Some of them were altoge­ther without dolour, and some complained on their brest.

Furthermore, the bloud in those that complained, was not cast out altogether, neither was it much and lesse red, or hot, as that which came a farre of, but to those that were voyde of griefe the bloud came gushing out, and much in quantitie, being red and hot, manifestly shewing that it came not farre of. Surely, the transsumption of the bloud, from the brest into Aspera Arteria, bringeth a great doubt, but of those Phisitions, who suppose that it cannot be sent out by the cote, which inuesteth the lunges. And peraduen­ture they would haue affirmed, that the bloud could neuer be voyded by the mouth, out of the brest.

Many of those that were affected, felt present dolour, & other hauing an inflammation, which after dyd supperate, shewed a manifest token that the affect was in the brest.

But now being confounded by these signes, they graunt that it commeth from the brest. But while they séeke ano­ther way, yea, by the cote of the lungs, they are constrained to bring out many, and that absurde things, although as I suppose, they sée most euidently in them, whome y^e Gréekes call Empios, the mattier it selfe, which they confesse to be in the middest space, betwixt the lungs & the brest, to be spyt out from the lungs. We verely haue vsed to them Melicra­tum, which was iniected into the brest, to be spyt out from the lungs, in those where was so great an Apostume, that part of the bones was putrified.

Surely at Rome, we haue séene such affects amongst the Romans, to haue after remained in the brest, so that of force we were faine to cut out the affected bone, and in many also the Pannickle, which within is ioyning to the ribbes. This being found putrified with y^e corrupt ribbes, we are accustomed in this cure to vse Melicratum, to be put in by the vlcer, the paciēt inclining himselfe on the affected part, to cough, and sometime hastely to blow his nose, and in the [Page] meane time with an instrument that draweth out matter, the Gréekes call it Pyulcon, to bring out the Melicratum, that remained, this being done when as we trusted that we had voyded out both all the mattier, and also y^e Sanies, by & by wée iniected Medicines, so that in these affects, if thou leauest in the cured space betwene the breast & the lungs, any moisture, thou shalt presently cause the same to be cast out with coughing. Truely wée doe maruaile of those that doubt of the waye by the lungs, why they doe not rather doubt how grosse bloud issueth out of the Callus of a frac­tured bone, for the bloud which issueth, is more grosser thā that which is natural, and the substance of the skinne is a great deale thicker than the pannickle inuesting the bones. Therefore as we saide, when as any vessell of the lungs is broken, either with falling, or with loude crying, and that without griefe there gusheth out much bloud hot and fresh, by coughing, you may vnderstand that the wound is in the lungs, the cure must be taken in hande after the manner that we often haue done, and that many tymes with good successe. Therefore we must commaund the pacient that he vse not great respiration, and furthermore, that he alwayes vse silence.

Furthermore, the inwarde veine of the Cubite must be opened, from which twice or thrise afterwarde thou shalt take bloud, because we may diuert it, then rub and binde all the the ioyntes, as we are wont. These thinges being done, thou shalt first giue him to drink Oxicratum, delayed, and bloud warme, that if in the inward part, there be any congeled bloud being resolued, it may be spit out, and thus doe twice or thrice in thrée houres, then giue him some me­dicine which both hath an Emplastique vertue, and is also astringent, and that first with delayed Oxicratum, or with the decoction of Myrtiles, or such lyke astringent.

Againe, at night giue him this medicine in like sorte, suffering him not to eate any thing if the affect be vehe­ment, but else giue him of some supping, that shal be suf­ficient, and it shall chiefely profit, if the pacient be strong, if that the next day a little bloud be taken out of the deui­ded [Page 94] veine, and so to continue in diet and medicines, as is a­foresaid, vnto the fourth daie, the breast in the meane time, if it be in Summer, being moistned with oyle of Roses, in Winter, with Vnguento Nardino. And if thou wilt vse an Emplastique medicine, thou hast an excellent one of our making, which boldly thou maist also vse to other wounds, it is made of Aspaltum and Vineger, and other which are accustomablie mixed to those medicines, which Phisitions call Enaema Barbara. But if thou cure a woman with childe, or him that hath soft flesh, the medicine that is called Diachalciteos,, is verie conuenient, whose vertues I haue declared in the first booke of Composition of medicines. And by this waie we haue cured many, vnto whome wée came presentlie as they felte paine, for this is the greatest thing, vnto which it behooueth thée to be greatlie attendant, whether presentlie vpon the rupture of the vessell, thou be­ginnest the curation, that thou dost adglutinate the gréene wounde before there that bée inflamation, for if inflama­tion flowe, there is after small hope of adglutination, but yet you may prolong the time. And the cause that such vlcers can hardlie or not at all bée cured, is, that when the inflamation is cured, the mattier and Sanies of the vlcer are to be taken awaie, but in the matrix or bladder, they are voide of their owne accorde, when as the Patient lyeth groueling, and also we maye cleanse them. But in the lungs neither of these are to be done. Therefore in all vl­cers which are in it, all the purging that is made, is onelie by coughing.

But if we commaund all quietnesse and small respira­tion, and to speake little, that the wound maye adgluti­nate, what hope can there be of curation to thē that cough, but the cure is to be dispaired of, for that through respira­tion this member doeth continuallie moue, and those that haue bene before our time do iudge it so, by y^e vacuation of the mattier and Sanies. But if anie is presentlie cured by this waie, the wound wil close, and if inflamation do come, the cure is both hard and vncertaine, when as the mattier & Sanies, cannot be expelled out of the places of the lungs, [Page] and that the cough doe stretch the parts affected. But those that are brought out of the breast, haue a triple aduantage more than that which is euacuated out of the lungs. For the substance of Aspera Arteria, which is altogether drie, & voide of flesh, is not found in anie parte of a liuing crea­ture. These that falleth in the like, are wont to be broken, if anie other veine or arterie be ruptured, the Aspera Ar­teria remaining sound, the translation of the bloud is by opening of the mouths, called in Gréeke Sunanastomasis, so that in such, the bloud which commeth out, is neither hot, nor red, nor yet much, and these affectes at the first séeme small, not inducing feare through the great euacuation, but trulie they are héereby the more perilous, for the bloud con­iealed about the ruptured parts, which cannot easilie passe through Aspera Arteria, letteth adglutination.

The ninth Chapter.

IN like sorte the woundes of Diaphragma, which are not outwardlie, being in the fle­shie partes, are found to adglutinate, for all his motion, but those wounds that chaunce in the neruous partes are incurable, yea, trulie the curation also of those that are in the fleshie partes is difficill and hard, if that they bée once inflamed, and this is not onelie in Diaphragma, but also in all the partes contained within Peritoneum, because in it Sanies floweth, but we must giue diligence to drie them by all waies possible, both by those medicines which are out­wardlie put in, but also by those that are taken in at the mouth, small wine to be giuen with these medicines, which is called Diasparmaton, and that which we haue in price, which also we vse in the breast that is wounded through, named Diacassia, but both these and also most medicines, which are outwardlie applied to such wounds, are spoken of at large in the Treatise of medicines. Héere we onelie set out the methodes, which shew the waie of remedies. Wherefore if at anie time, we adde anie perticularlie, thou [Page 95] must suppose we doe adde it onely for perspicuitie sake.

The tenth Chapter.

THerefore let vs againe repeat the for­mer Methodes, & shew how much the generall curation of all vlcers, is par­ticulerly to be changed, according to the seuerall parts of man. And hereof we shall chiefly learne y^t which was purposed in the whole worke, that is, to erre so little as may be, in curati­ons, as an appendix of their audacity, which call themselues Methodicians, who if you will credit mée, I accustome not to speake of flatterie or hatred, they being of all other Phisitions most voyde of Methode doe condemne. In that at the least they write, not onely of all the auncient Phisitions, but also Hippocrates, him selfe, au­thor of all Methodes. But the Emperickes truely, say that all thinges which haue shewed to haue bene found out by indication, be knowen to them by experience.

Now séeing that there is not a third instrument of in­uention, besides indication, and experience, these vsing nei­ther of both, yet think themselues worthie to be called Me­thodicians: therefore let them follow vs, and now at the least, let them shew one way of curing all vlcers, in euery member. Let vs heare these good fellowes, by what way they will cure an vlcer, and what indications are taken of it, whether there is any other than y^e vlcer which is plaine, to be ciccatrized, that which is hollow, to be filled with flesh, the gréene wound, to be adglutinated. But how shal I finde that which will ciccatrize, and that which will incarnate, and that which will adglutinate, trauell not say they, they are alredie inuented, but I can not tell whether rightly, or whether all be found out, it may happen those y^t are found out, to be of the worst, but the better are not yet inuented, or else those which are inuented be nought.

And hereof it commeth that certaine vlcers cannot be cured, either in longer time with dolour & nedelesse fami­shing, [Page] neither dare any of them go to a new experience, be­fore he be persuaded that he hath rightly condemned the for­mer way of curing, as in these vlcers of the lungs, which can not be knowen at all without the knowledge of the a­nathomie, and of the actions also which they vtterly ab­horre. But for this present let vs graunt that these Thessa­lians know the vlcer that is in the lungs. But whether shall we in like case as we haue graunted this to them, al­so graunt that they know whether it is filthie, or pure, or equall, or hollow, or full of Sanies or mattier, or else that they doe know it by diuine inspiration, or that they haue séene these by dreames, or shall we graunt that, that with­out the knowledge of these, euery medicine is to be apply­ed, I verely iudge that the mattier in filthie vlcers is first to be purged, and those that be hollow and pure to be filled with flesh, and then againe the mattier and Sanies which is about the Vlcer, to be purged, and then ciccatrise to be made.

But truely I know now how these haue cured such vl­cers, for Thessalus hath nothing at all writtē of these, least he should bewray either his ignoraunce, or else inconstan­cie, for either they speake of these, that which is either not with reason, or that which is false, or if any will speake truth, it behoueth that he take indication of those vlcers, of the substance of the part, the situation and forme. For ad­mitte that they know to discerne the vlcer in the lungs, fil­thie or pure, with inflammacion or else without: graunt we also vnto thē, although of a lesse thing, yet of this they calling not the inuention to them selues, that such an vlcer is to be mundified with the gréene medicine of Macherion, or Isis, all is one. Let them aunswere mée, if the vlcer be in the lungs, what will they doe? will they giue any of this gréene medicine to be taken inwardly, it is altogether ri­diculous, but let them say which way they know that me­dicine to be carried into the lungs, but if they might know that, neuerthelesse the ignorant knoweth not whether it reserueth still that vertue which it had, being outwardly applyed to Vlcers, but admit that both they know this, [Page 96] and that it kéepeth his force still that it had, being out­wardly applyed to vlcers, and that it doth purge the filth, yet can they not vnderstande whether it prouoketh cough­ing when as notwithstanding, except the filth should be ex­pelled by coughing, there is no néede of a mundificatiue medicine. But we will also graunt them this thing, but yet they cannot deny, but that they vse a contrary cure, in the Vlcer of the thighes, and Vlcer of the lungs, for they cleanse the one with water, and mundifie the other by coughing.

Againe, imagine the vlcer of the lungs to be compassed with grosse mattier, will they also then giue the gréene me­dicine, or rather commaund the pacient to licke Honey, but let them tell whereby they sound this, truely I will not aunswere that because it hath a certaine facultie of extenu­ating or cutting, whē as they doe flye most willingly from searching out such faculties, but it is not méete that they should vse Honey, as the Empericks doe, who by many ob­seruations in the like case, haue founde Honey to profit, first because they despise experience, then for that the Em­perickes doe confesse that they know not what affect is in the lungs, in such like concourse, notwithstanding to haue by experience found out that which may profit, but it is not ynough for Thessalus to cure that which he doth not at all know, but he procedeth of the indication of affects. But if we truely shall graūt as before, that he knoweth all things as well as our selues, yet can he not escape that, but that the way of curation is changed in diuers partes of the bo­die, for it is not one way of curing to make iniection, with Mellicratum, into the matrice in a filthie vlcer, or to giue Honey to be eaten, or to washe the vlcer with a spounge, but these yet be but of small accompt, the other of great, let vs ymagine an olde Vlcer to be in many partes, with­out inflammacions, as in the eye, eare, nose, mouth, thigh, belly, matrice, fundament, and priuie members, let it bée also, that the same Vlcer is either playne or wanteth a little hereof.

Let these Thess. which haue neuer separated these, answere [Page] vs how they will ciccatrize it, forsooth with Diacadmia, for that can well ciccatrize an vlcer which is in the thigh, but can that also ciccatrise that which is in the eare? I wil de­clare to you a thing perchaunce incredible, but yet knowne to the Gods. I once found one of these most sapient Thes­salians curing an olde vlcer in this sort, when as the eare of the man dyd putrifie, & wormes grew in it, for that it was to soone ciccatrised with Diacadmia, notwithstanding suffe­ring him many dayes to vse the lyke medicine, was because the eare did dayly more grieuously stincke, and was filled with matter, we sée him presume a more incredible thing than before, for he supposing y^t in the depth of the eare, there was inflammation, he vsed Tetrapharmacon, which truely must more increase, the putrifaction of the part, because it cannot exicate the vlcer, but maturate the inflammation, & when as he had vsed this medicine one daye, to cure the af­fect, and thou maist know it to be most repugnant, by and by there was a great dele more matter, and an intollera­ble stench, wherefore the friends of the pacient would not suffer the Thessalian, to touch any more the eare, & he true­ly of impudencie and foolishnesse, would not onely put in some of the Tetrapharmacon, but outwardly also apply a relaxing emplaister, but when as the kinsfolke of the paci­ent drew him away, suspecting the pacient to be in great perill, I desired them that the Thessalian might haue the curation one day longer. For the next day after, the matter was more aboundant, and the stench most greuous, which day I dyd assay, whether I might change the minde of the Thessalian, least he should kill those that were sicke: ye for­saken sect, so far voide of all methode, might yet saue some hereafter, though they be few, then I began with the fellow in this sort, whether or no sayd I, séemeth it vnto thée, that there is an inflammation in the inward part of the eare, & therefore thou vsest relaxatiue medicines, and he did stout­ly vouch it so to be, and also that it could not be otherwise: whether or no sayd I, hast thou séene at any time an Vlcer ioyned with inflāmation to be cured, with most sharpe Vi­neger and Glauces? Neuer in my lyfe sayth hée, for if any [Page 97] do vse the Trochisce of Andro dissolued in vineger, he may peraduenture cause conuulsion: Ergo (sayd I) if one vseth another medicine more stronger than the Andronian Tro­chisce, in most sharpe vineger, and that to the care, which is a parte so néere the braine, and his coates, whether thou being iudge, shall he make conuulsion, and especiallie if there bée inflammation, these thinges séemed to bée true both to him and to the companie present, wherefore in the respect of the state of the partes, which require such as maye chiefelie exiccate, but nowe béeing made ten­der with the curation, I would vse such a medicine.

Now for that thou hast abused them manie daies, it is not méete at once, or at one brunt, to tourne them to the contrarie, for it is lawfull for thée and Thessalus to con­temne custome, as well as the nature of the partes, but thou maist not so doe, but the first daie I will vse Vine­ger with Glaucium, the second daie the Trochise of An­dron, and the third daie I will goe to a more vehement medicine than the Trochisce of Andro is, and vsing this thrée or foure dayes, if then I shall perceiue the Vlcer to require a more vehement medicine, I wil nothing doubt to vse it, & outwardlie I will applie it to the part of the head, where the eare is infected, now surelie as thou doest a re­laxing Cataplasme, but some one medicine that can vehe­mentlie exiccate, such a medicine as is made with Salicen, or else applie Andronean Trochisce with Vineger, or some other that doeth more drie, for seeing the parte which wée cure is most drie, it behooueth most stronglie to drie it, for that the affect it selfe may be cured, it sheweth that the contrarie must bée applied to the parte it selfe that it is most like vnto, and so as I haue sayde, I wrought and cured the man without anie more vehement medicine. But to certaine other which require more stronger medi­cines, whereas the Vlcer had infested the eare one or two yeares, wée applyed a medicine more vehement than these rehearsed, and that was Scorta Ferri, beaten and searced through a most fine Searce, and after brought as [Page] it were vnto fine flower, and ofter boiled in most strong Vineger vnto the thicknesse of Honie, it is certaine that there must bée a great deale of Vineger in the mixture, but as I haue often sayde, thou must séeke thée plentie of me­dicines in other of our Commentaries.

Now wée haue finished that belongeth to a methode, for séeing the place of hearing is most drie, it doth require me­dicines that may most vehementlie exiccate, which wée may not applie to anie other part, but to the vlcerate part, peraduenture the Collirium made of Dialibanoton, vnto the nose.

Also it behoueth to vse that which is more drying than in the eies, but yet not so much as to the eares. Wherefore all the Trochisce rehearsed be profitable, and also the me­dicine ascribed to Musa, and other of the like kinde. All Vlcers of the mouth if the be moist, requirey vehement ex­iccatiues, as Diaphrigis, both alone, and also mixed with Honie, or Wine, or Oximell, and further, that which is cal­led Iris Anthera, and these either drie, either mixed with Honie. Also Mulsa is a medicine for these profitable. Al­so the iuyce of Rhois and Omphacine, and other which doe stronglie drie. What doe I tarrie in rehearsing these mat­ters? But the simpler Vlcers of the mouth maye aptlie bée cured by medicines which do moderatly dry, as these, which for that they are in continuall vse, are called Stomatica, such medicines bée Diamoron, and of the fruite of Rubus, and of the iuyce of gréene huskes of Walnuttes, and yet more than these, that which is made of Must and Cipresse, and those Vlcers of the mouth that are verie moist, néere vnto the bones, so that the bones bée in daunger to be pu­trified, these béecause of the nature of the bones which is drie, requireth most vehement desiccatiues, therefore I doe alwayes make fine the Trochisce aforesayde, and put to these medicines drie.

The xi. Chapter.

FVrthermore, wée haue before set out the kind of medicines méete for the bladder, ma­trixe, and Intestines, and lungs, which you must vse in euerie of them, taking the kind of the medicine of the substance of the sicke parte, but first considering the affect, and ta­king the waie of vsing them, of the forme and scituation, and héereof sprang clisters, for the mouth in Gréeke called Otenchitas, and Clisters for the Matrixe, named Metrenchi­tas & Catheteras, and the Clisters for other partes. Vlcers in the stomacke, breast, and lungs, are cured by those medi­cines which are eaten and dronken: the Vlcers in the In­testines are two waies cured, for those that are next to the stomacke, are cured by those medicines which are eaten and dronken, and those which are lower in the in­testines, are cured by iniections made, when neither that which is ministred by low by Clisters, can come to those Vlcers that are néere vnto the stomacke, neither that which is receiued at the mouth, can in full strength come to the lower partes, and so the Vlcers in the breast and lunges, are more hardlie cured than those in the stomacke, for that they are further off, and there the strength of the medicine somewhat abated, and for this cause the medi­cines receiued at the mouth, ought to bée stronger than those which are presentlie applied to the Vlcer, and for that cause the Phisitions haue excogitated most strong and cut­ting medicines, whereas they will purge the mattier in the breast and lunges, yea verilie, such as would ciccatrize the Vlcer if it were in the stomacke.

Also that this is throwen out by coughing, that is taken of the forme of the partes, because these haue no such pas­sage, as the matrix, bladder, eare, nose, and mouth, and here­of commeth it, that the stomacke may be purged two waies, vpward by vomite, and downward by the stoole, for this kinde of Indication is taken of the Instrumentall [Page] partes, inasumuch as they be instrumentall, like as those that are to bée exiccated, are taken of the nature of the si­miler partes of the affectes themselues againe, such as in Vlcers, because our disputation was of them, but that they are to bée dried, as is before set out, and also if they will purge mattier in the stomacke, they cannot without daunger prouoke vomite, for if there bée fleame fixed in it, to cleanse it by Oximell and rootes, but they shall more safelie vse deiection when it is perlllous, least hée that vo­miteth shoulde teare that is vlcerate, and should attract some ill iuyce from the partes adiacent, and for this cause the Vlcers of the lungs are most harde to bée cured, because thou canst not purge them but by coughing, and if thou prouokest the cough, thou tearest the partes, so that the ill by mutuall successe, cōmeth to a circle, or as we may terme it, made worse, for those partes which are torne, doe a­gaine make inflammation, and secondlie the inflammati­on must bée maturated, and the mattier againe requireth to bée purged, so that of all these the cure is made difficill, both for that those medicines which are conuenient, can­not touch the Vlcers, as they may in the stomacke, and that in the midde waie, they loose well néere their vertue. And further, because by respiration they are mooued, and are rent by coughing, wherfore when as anie vessell in the lunges is ruptured, if it be not adglutinated before there commeth inflammation, knowe thou that afterward it is incurable.

The xij. Chapter.

BVt the vlcers which are in the inward cote of Aspera Arteria, & chieflie which are néere Larinx, or else in it these may bée cured, and we haue healed diuerse which were so af­fected, trulie we finde the curation of these vlcers, by this occasion, in the beginning of this great Pestilence (which I praie God may once cease) a young man who had béene sicke nowe nine dayes, [Page 99] all his bodie brake out full of vlcers, which happened well néere to all that escaped, & that daie he coughed somewhat, the daie following when he had bathed him, he forthwith coughed more vehementlie, and therewith voided a little crust named Ephelcis, and the man had manifest féeling of an vlcer in Aspera Arteria, that is in the necke néere vnto Iugulum, and he also opening his mouth, we looked in his throate, if that there were anie vlcer in it, but we could sée none, and truelie the patient should manifestlie haue felte it, by the going downe of the meate and drinke, if anie had béene there, and wee also to bée more certaine, made him take certaine things with Vineger and Mustard, but none of these did bite him, and yet hée felt dolour and paine in his necke, in which place hée was so vexed, that hée was constrained to coughe, wée perswaded him all that wée might, that hée should resist it, and not cough, which thing hée did, and that with the more ease. For that which dyd irritate was little, and wée by all possible meanes, gaue diligence to ciccatrize the Vlcer, applying outwardlie me­dicines exiccatiues, and hée lying vpright, wée gaue him moist of those medicines, which are good in such lyke vlcers, bidding him to holde it in his mouth, and by little and lit­tle to let it flowe into Aspera Arteria, he so dooing, saide he felt manifestlie the force of an astringent medicine aboue the Vlcer, whether that the force of it by transumption was sent thether, or whether the medicine it selfe in forme of a dew floweth through the Arterie, as it were strained to the Vlcer, the patient himself was voide of the knowledge in Phisicke, being of the number of those which cure by vse, and exercitation emperiklie.

Therefore hée sayd that hée felt both the medicine flow into the arterie, and that it also sometime prouoked cough­ing, but he did much striue and staied the cough, and hée of his owne accord, being taken with y^e sicknesse at Rome, remained thrée dayes after the nine daies were past, after taking shippe first hée sailed through a Riuer to the Sea, the fourth daie after hée came by shipping to Tabia, and vsed the milke, which hath a meruailous vertue, and not [Page] without cause commended. Of which somewhat to speak, the time it selfe giueth occasion, and not onelie of that milke we will speake which is at Tabia, but also of all other milke, neither must we onelie helpe those which are in I­talie, but all other Nations as much as we can. Wherefore touching the milke in Tabia, there doe come many things touching his praise, both the place it selfe béeing of suffici­ent light, and the aire compassing about béeing drie, and the healthfull fodder for the Cattell, and this also may a­nie doe by arte in other places, if anie shew the hearbes and shrubbes, in an hill somewhat high, which may make the milke both astringent and healthfull, of which we wil héereafter shew examples. But yet thou canst not also make the aire ambient, in like sort therfore thou maist choose the likest there as thou art.

The aire shall bée most like where there are such things like it, the height of the hil moderate, thirtie furlong from the Sea, or somewhat more, the place it selfe toward the Sea, for Tabia is in the lowest straight which is betwixte Surrentum and Naplis, but more one the side toward Sur­rentum.

Furthermore, all that side of the hill is of good big­nesse, stretching in length to the Sea Tirrhenum, this hill doeth a little bend towarde the West, neither goeth it wholie towarde the South, therefore this Hill doth kéepe the straight frée from the winde which bloweth from the East, Eurus subsolanus and Boreas, there is ioyned to this in the lowest of the straight, another bigge Hill, which the auncient Romanes in their Hystories, and those also that bée now diligent, call Vesuuium, now Vesuuium is a a famous and new name, and knowen to all men, for the fire sent out of the earth in it, which thing doth not as I thinke, helpe to the drynesse of the aire, and that beside the fire, there is not in all the straight either standing wa­ter, marrish, or floud of anie account, this Vesuuius Hill is toward all those windes, which blowe from the North toward the Eastuall setting of the Sunne, and much ashes commeth from it, euen to the Sea, béeing the ashes of that [Page 100] burnt in the hill, and of that which yet is burned, all these make the aire drie: surelie there may bée the like drie hill in other partes of the earth found, that is not farre from the Sea, neither yet so bigge, that it is subiect to the vio­lence of windes, nor yet so lowe, that it shall receiue easilie the vapours of the fieldes. Beware also that it bée not toward the North, so shoulde it bée auerted from the Sunne, and if it may bée in a temperate place of the world as that is which is at Tabias, it should so much profite, let the hearbes in the Hill be these, Agrostus, and Lotus, and Poligonon, and Melissofillon, the shrubbes, also Lentiscus, Arbutus, and Rubus, and Hedera, and Cetisis, and such lyke, and so hast thou the hill prepared. The Cattell that doe féede on the Hill at Tabias, are Kine, and the milke of these beastes is as thicke as the milke of Asses is thin, and I truelie least there shoulde bée anie kinde of milke that might profite, wanting of Kine thicke milke, of Asses thinne, and of Goates that which is a meane, I did put in to féede, both Kine, Asses, and Goates, the olde Phisitions would haue a woman giuing milke, to those that are con­sumed with Pthoe, to stande and giue them sucke, vnto whose minde I agrée, both for that it is naturall, and also for that they would haue it taken before it were refrige­rated of the ambient aire.

Furthermore, let this bée to thée a great precept, that those that shall haue néede to drinke milke, that the beast standing present, they drinke it presentlie as it is milked, putting Honie into it, whereas it curdeth in the stomacke, or if thou wilt haue it spéedelier to passe into the bellie, adde some salt. And the young man that had an vlcer through the Pestilence in Aspera Arteria, was cured of it, and manie other after him.

Another young man of xviij. yeares in age, when as he was vexed with Catarrhus many daies, first with the cough he voided bloud fresh, but not much, after that, a péece of the pannicle which outwardlie couereth all Aspera Arteria, ascending vnto Larinx, it séemed to me, coniecturing both by his thicknesse, and féeling of the patient to be the inward [Page] tunicle of Larinx, but this hurt not his voice, and this also though in longer time, it was perfectlie cured, but those which come to this affect through the Pestilence, séemed to bée verie easilie cured, for that his whole bodie was héere purged and dried, for that many of them did vomite, and all were made laxatiue, so that those which escaped wer pur­ged, they had blacke Pustules aboundantlie through the whole bodie. In many they were vlcerous, but in all they were drie, and it was manifest to many that beheld them, that they were the dregges of the bloud, which putrified in the Feauer, which as it were lyke certaine ashes, Na­ture did thrust out to the skinne, lyke as it thrust out ma­nie other superfluities, but there is no néede of Medicines for these Exanthemata, when they fall off by themselues in this sorte, those that had the vpper parte of the skinne vl­cerate, the crust of the vlcer fell off, and the parte vnder it was almost whole, and after a daie or two was ciccatrized, others whose skinne was not vlcerate, the Exanthemata it selfe was rough and scabbie, and fell awaie like a certaine scale, and after were cured, therefore it is no meruaile though those that haue Exanthemata in the lungs, be cured because of the drinesse of the Vlcers, the which before wée haue shewed, that the purposed scope of curation in all Vl­cers, that in these Vlcers springing through the pestilence, was héere present, for they were all drie and rough, and ma­ny of them like to a scab, and many like Lepria, therfore sée­ing that Experience testifieth with reason, and that the cu­ration of vlcers haue this one end, that is to saie, to be exic­cated, you may saue many of those that casteth forth bloud from the lungs, as we our selues haue done.

The thirteenth Chapter.

NOw we haue before declared how those shall be cured, that haue broken anie great vessell of the lungs, either through falling frō high, or y^t they immoderatly did strain them in crying, or did beare a burthen [Page 101] aboue their strength, or any hard or waightie thing out­wardly haue fallen on their brest, but how they may be cō ­ueniently cured, which putteth forth bloud, through Catar­rhus, we shall now declare, putting for more manifest doc­trine, a like example, of that the curation which was done to a noble woman at Rome, when as she heard such like talke, as we right now had of those, that reiecteth bloud out of the lungs, & that she had spit out in the night, some­what either through Catatrhus, or through coughing, pre­sently she sent for mée, promising her selfe to be obedient to all thinges, I would commaund her, for she had heard be­fore that time, some y^t if one applyed not presently strong medicines, and that before the Vlcer was inflamed, all was in vaine, and that this was the cause of their destruction, which reiected bloud, therefore we thought not good to let hir bloud, because through the drienesse of hir bodie, she had abstained foure dayes from meate. But commaunded that she should vse sharpe clisters, then with some hot medicine, to rubbe much the thighes and handes, and after to shaue the head, on which I layd the medicine y^t is made of Stock­doues dung, and after thrée houres, I bathed hir, not tou­ching the head with any fat things, thus I couered the head with a conuenient cap, and for that time I nourished hir with supping, after which, I gaue hir some of the Auster fruites of Autumne, and when she went to bed, I gaue hir of Triakle foure monthes olde, and being no elder, it hath yet the iuyce of Popy, somewhat strong, which is more dul in that which is olde, therefore it prouoketh sléepe, and dry­eth fluxes, & doth a little make thick, and the Catarrhe per­fectly gone, it did manifestly appeare both by the kinde of respiration and noyse, that once the lungs néeded purging, by prouoking the cough, but that pleased me not. At y^e least the second day, but keping hir in all silence, and rubbing also the ioyntes, and binding them, I commaunded all the other parts of the bodie to be rubbed, the head except, which yet was hot by [...]e medicine, againe at night, I gaue hir of Triakls as much as one of our country beanes in quantity, and this was not so much by a great deale, as that she had [Page] receiued the daye before, after that she had also slept well this night, the third day betimes I gaue hir largely of boy­led Honey, and kept hir in quiet, and the day increasing, I as before did rub all hir bodie, and gaue hir to eate a Ptisan with a little bread, y^e fourth day betimes, I gaue hir Tri­acle, that was olde, mixed with Honey largely, and putting on the womans head the same medicine, which did vehe­mently drye and heate, she being bathed & moderatly nou­rished, I began the first day to purge the lungs more vehe­mently, and after that againe and againe, I vsed the sur­rup called Diatapsias, and I set all the studie about the bo­die, ingestation, frixion, walking and abstaining from ba­thing and in dyet, that was both moderate and also of good iuyce to nourish. This woman was perfectly well, ha­uing no néede of milke.

An other young man, when as he had cast vp halfe a pinte of bloud, through coughing, which came through di­stillation, but to the refrigerating the instruments of bre­thing, presently I let him bloud. And the same day twise I tooke away bloud, and of that same veine, againe the day following, I tooke bloud twise, but vsing the day before: both rubbing of the ioynts and binding, at night we gaue him our medicine, called Diasparmaton. The second daye after the other taking away of bloud, I applyed to all his brest, a cerote called Diathapsia, taking it away againe at night, least that it should to much heate. The third day a­gaine I layd it to thrée houres, and after bathed him. I did nourish him in maner aforesaid the third day, the first two dayes with supping, the third daye first with the iuyce of Ptisana, after forthwith with some flesh which was of easie concoction, and simply prepared.

I gaue also at night, the second and the third daye, the medicine Diasparmaton, because it doth induce sléepe, and take away paine, and hath power to exiccate, and when the members of respiration were in their naturall tempera­ture, and all the bodie emptie, and that there was no sus­picion of inflammation about the mixtured place, I began to purge him, after that drinking Triacle of twenty yeres [Page 102] olde, I sent him to Tabias, and in this sort I cured all those which came to me the first daie.

The xiiij. Chapter.

THose that came after two or thrée daies, the vlcer was not cured in thē all, vut in certaine, as many as had inflamation so great, that they had a Feauer, of these there was none per­fectlie cured, but following orderlie, all the helpes, that the vlcer might be dried, they did so much that it increa­sed no more, but being dried, and in­durated with Callus, they liued longer. And those that haue an vlcer in the lungs, comming through erosion of ill iuyce, they séeme all to me to be vncurable, of whome some haue saide, that they féele their spittle as salt liquour, and that the mallice of ill iuyce, require a long time or it bée cor­rected, and in time one of these two must of force followe, either drying the vlcer to make Callus, and so the affect to remaine incurable, or else not drying, it doth putrifie, and also deuour the partes about it, and so in time the lungs to putrifie further, among those that had ill iuyce, & there­of did cough, yet not reiecting hetherto bloud, by these our prouidence were made perfect: at the first it doth behooue to bée most carefull, that neither the cough, neither that a­nie thing floweth out of the head into the lungs, hée shall flie that by a thrée folde remedie: first by purging, next by taking Diasparmaton, and last, by hauing regard to the head.

That which shall purge, must haue diuerse faculties, to purge diuerse kindes of excrements, of which sorte are our Pills, which are made of Aloes, Scammonie, Colocinthis, Agarice, Bdellium, and gum Arabice, they wil also suffice, which are made without gums, & after if néed require, vse to purge black choler. The head shal bée prouided for with y^e cerote called Diathapsia, & these are at the first to be done. [Page] After the Patient is to be nourished with meates of good iuyce, friction, walking, and bathing, we will shew the me­thod of these in a conuenient place of our worke, and sure­lie these are such as haue most néed of milke, and those that neglect it, of all other are incurable, but as concerning let­ting of them bloud, know that those which séeme to haue a little bloud, being brought, as is said, to some better iuyce, thou may let bloud, and againe restore in like sort. Also to purge, and againe restore, and then againe if néede bée, to let bloud, and especiallie whereas the masse of bloud, is as it were a vicious and grose skin, but those that are strong, and haue much bloud, must by and by at the beginning bée let bloud.

The xv. Chapter.

THere is none of all these, which I haue ei­ther now, or before declared, that I haue inuented or vsed, according to Hyppocra­tes waie, which is not examined and ap­proued by iudgement, but also tried by ex­perience, in which we suffered the perilles of the error. They shall haue profit by the vse of them that haue regard to the workes of the arte, for some of their talkes are true, and some sophisticall, but what speake I of Sophists? when as there are some Phisitions of estimati­on, which haue set out whole volumes of reiection of bloud, and haue written many small rules right well, making no mention of anie principall remedie, vnderstanding by lit­tle and little, those thinges which rightlie admoueth the sick to get his health againe, in those that are not altogether desperate, and are cured by letting bloud and purgation, and those things which strengthen the head, and wée shall héereafter speake more diligentlie of letting bloud, when as we shall shew the curation of ill iuyce. Therefore wée must not begin, as many Phisitions iudge, with small re­medies, neither must we thinke as they doe saie, that these small remedies are first to be proued, and then if they doe [Page 103] profit nothing we shall apply greater, this opinion is true in such diseases as are without daunger, but it is furthest from reason, to begin with small remedies, where the pati­ent must die, if he once haue Pthoe. For like as all other things are rightly set out of Hippocrates, so also is that A­phorisme rightly sayd, that vnto extreme diseases, princi­pally extreme remedies profit, by what opinion therefore was Erasistratus so madde, so slow & dull in the beginning of such affects, but after when occasion was past, to be so di­ligent, for being perswaded by a most fond reason, he neuer doth let bloud, when as bloud is required, nor purgeth any man, or yet doth exicate his head. Frō which things if the patient being in daunger of that Pthoe, kéepe and abstaine himselfe, although all other things be rightly done, I think he doth nothing more, for he refuseth to let bloud, and doth onely vse to diuert it with binding of the ioynts, whereby as he himselfe saith, there may remaine plentie of bloud against the time of inflammation, and that we be not for want of it, to nourish y^e patient, but peraduenture some wil say: sir how Erasistratus? If after the ruptured veine, the inflammation occupieth the lungs, there is no cause why thou shalt hope to cure the man, for considerations which I haue set out before. Wherefore he shall now no more néede this trauell, being betrayed, or deceiued, by thée at the be­ginning, for he doth like to a gouernour of a shippe, when through his negligence, the ship is cast away, he geueth to some one of the passengers a borde in his hande, and per­swadeth him so to saue his lyfe, but Erasistratus, perchaunce did suppose, that an inflammation was in the number of those, that necessarily follow a wound. Notwithstanding if he so thought, he was in great ignorance, when any man may behold great woūds without inflammation, to be glu­tinated, of sixe hundreth, such as dayly doe fight a combat, so that the second, or fourth daye, they be in safetie, and we haue cured many of those, who had some vessells of y^e lungs ruptured, by falling, crying, or stripe, before y^t any inflam­mation sprang in the ruptured vessel, and if he doe affirme any of these, to haue inflammation of the lungs, he doth [Page] repugne with his owne decrées, affirming both that, and the principall couering, which is next to the heart, to haue inflammation, and also to be frée from a feauer, also the in­flammation being broken the man to voyde out nothing. Therefore againe, let him heare of vs, that the Vlcer can not be adglutinated, if the lungs be inflamed, and that if inflammation commeth, of force he shall haue a Feuer, and that when the inflammation is broken, the patient shall with coughing voyde mattier.

Therefore if one hath neuer a Feuer, or cough, nor voi­ded no Sanies, from the vlcer, and inflammation, by what reason is ther in the lungs of this man any inflammation. Therefore both this principall remedie is vniustly of him condemned, & also he letteth slip purging, without making mention of it, it is no medicine of affect, set out of him a­gainst any of the forenamed kinde of griefes, but if y^e head send downe flux, it shall be kept in the same state, or if that cough followeth, through intemperatenesse of the members seruing respiration, that shall also so remaine, so that Era­sistratus, shall be like vnto the Image maker, who, when the partes were perfectly made and finished, he left the I­mage without eyes, for to what beautie I pray you are the other parts, when as thou wantest thine eies. After­ward a Gods name, séeing so excellent men haue erred, that famous man Thessalus, which doth not at all know the art, iudgeth himselfe worthie to be called a Methoditian, and we sée now almost all his disciples to let bloud, not onely to many vnto whome bloud letting is not profitable, but also to those kinde of remedies which ought to be iudged hurtfull, especially, if they should stand in their owne sup­positions, and also to those that are strong, which reiect and put foorth bloud, either by vomiting, or coughing, but how shall these hang together, that both they byd to let bloud, where there is reiecting of bloud, and that in their Com­mentaries they write the remedie, herein to agrée with ad­strict diseases.

Now therefore let them call them selues no more Me­thodicians, but Emperickes. If setting apart reason, which [Page 104] they thinck to be right, to vse onely experience, to the fin­ding out of remedies, are they not in these most clearely found neither by reason, neither by any Methode, to doe any thing. Much more when as they say the parts are vnprofi­table, to the finding out of the cure.

But if any doth call to minde those thinges which wée haue taught, of the Eares, Nose, Eyes, Mouth, Breast, and Lungs, also of that we haue said, of the matrix, bladder, and stomacke, he shall finde them to erre, all the way, such one was he, that to the inflammation in the secrete parts, he applyed the Macedonian medicine, and with this also a relaxing Cataplasme, euen that notable one, that is made of Bread, water, and Oyle, also a nother like to him who vsed the same medicines to the place exulcerate.

But we will speake of such, when we shall dispute of in­flammations, but those Vlcers, which are in the yarde, or fundament, without inflammation, require no relaxing Cataplasme, but a Ciccatrizing medicine, not onely of that nature, that may ciccatize the Vlcers in the flesh, but that they may so much the more exciccate, as these partes are dryer than the flesh, yea, and that which thou maist more maruell, the Vlcers which are in the ende of the yarde called Pene, are more to be dryed, and those which are in the necke of the Bladder, called Cole, and those which are without the ende of it, called the Acorne or Glans.

But the Vlcers in the fore-skinne are to be lesse dry­ed, and yet lesse than these, whatsoeuer are in the skinne which couereth. Therefore when as one of these Me­thodlesse Phisitions (I meane these Thessalians) could not cure a moyst Vlcer, in the Acorne, or Glance, with Epulotike medicines, that is with such as doe make a ciccatrize.

He chose mée of counsel, & when he heard of mée the part required a more drying medicin, because it was of drier na­ture, he did forth w^t beleue me, but being of force cōstrained to vse some of our medicines, y^e vlcer was cured in. 3. daies, [Page] and it did well appere that the Phisition reioyced, not so much in the health of the patient, as he was sorowfull he was trained vp in ill kinde of doctrine, for the medicines vsed of vs which is made of Paper combust, cureth these kinde of vlcers, like as Dill and Gourds, being combusted and strowed vpon the grieued part, and vsed as before, and other like which in like sort doe vehemently drye, & if there be any such vlcer, voyde of moysture, to such onely Aloes is a conuenient medicine, it must be sprinkled in, but dry­ed and made into most fine pouder, and it doth also cure well the vlcers of the fūdament, with dry Cadmia, washed in wine and dryed, hath the same vertue, and Litharge is of like facultie, next in vertue is Molibdena, and Pomphe­lix, doth lesse induce dolor than the rest, and is not to any of them inferior.

If the vlcers be moist, both the rinde of the Pine trée alone, and also Lapis Hematites, be very good, and if ther be any déepenesse, when as thou wilt rayse flesh, put to any of the foresaide medicines, so much Manna, as shall suffise to incarnate withall, neither doth this Methodlesse sect, know any of these, so much as by dreaming, séeing they suppose that euery wound, in what part of the bodie so euer it be, require one curation, neither how it behoueth to cure certaine wounds, as those which doe happen to Abdomen, of which in the booke follow­ing we shall intreat, with all those which yet doe remaine.

The first Chapter.

I Nothing doubt but that there be manie, vnto whome I doe séeme prolix, in that I haue hetherto set out, how by a methode one kinde of disease may be cured. It is tru­lie méete, that they do not so much impute the length of them vnto me, as vnto these, who litle vnder­standing such thinges, as Hyppo­crates most trulie hath written, do vniustlie goe about to reprehend them, who as I haue shewed, doe not know how to cure rightlie an vlcer, much lesse then, that which is greater, and that one kinde of dis­ease, in which an vlcer is numbred. It skilleth not whe­ther you cal it solution of continuitie, or vnitie, which now is shewed, and the method of curing it, in what member of the bodie so euer it bée, kéepeth the common Indications, which are taken of the affect, but those that be taken of the partes will haue other affectes. When this happeneth in the fleshie partes, it is called an vlcer, and hath indication of curing, which is common to all affects against nature, y^t is, the affect it selfe, which as it is an affect, is to be taken awaie by his contrarie, as diuision by vnition, for the gene­ration of this affect consisteth in diuision of vnitie, and ther­fore in the bone it is called a fracture, in Gréeke Catagma, in the neruous pannicles Spasma, in the muscles, a rup­tion, whose differences are before set out, yet to this dis­ease when as it hapneth in a vein or arterie, it hath no pro­per name, but borroweth sometime the name of an vlcer, sometime of a wound, and sometime of a ruption, but wée haue often saide, that he ought not to be so carefull for the names, whose scope is, to finde out the knowledge of things. Therefore neglecting names, let vs rather hast hither, sée­ing that health to the patient commeth not of exquisite im­position of names, but through conuenient remedies: again, [Page 106] let vs call to minde this most impudent Thessalus, which setting out no method of curing an vlcer, supposeth that he hath shewed them all, for verie idiots do know, that an hol­low vlcer must be filled, & a simple wound adglutinated, yet doth not the vulgar people know by what method he may finde medicines, wherewith that which is hollow may bée filled, or that which is simple may be adglutinated, & that is put out to be considered of the Phisition, in which one excelleth another, for as we haue heeretofore said, who that is excercised in the curatiue method, shall both finde out re­medies, and also vse rightlie such as are alreadie inuented.

The second Chapter.

ANd that we may now set out anie thing y^t may hence forth agrée with that is before set out, let vs faine one to come vnto vs, who hath only his skin pricked with a néedle, if this man be such a one, in whom vlcers will easilie be healed, if thou let him go to his accustomed labours without medicine, yea, y^e mē ­ber being also bare, he shall tast of no ill, but if he be such a one in whom vlcers will hardlie be cured, then the mēber will first ake, then haue a pulse, & also inflamation, but the Emperike shal learne the nature of the patient, by exami­ning & questioning, we truly by such examination, vsing al these things which are found out by experience, & nothing the lesse by those signs, which we take of the natures of good & ill iuyce. And furthermore, of those which be of quicke or dull feeling. Moreouer, of those which are burthened with fulnesse, or haue but little iuyce, being not ignorant that he shalbe oppressed with inflamation, which is either Plethori­que, or haue euil iuyce, the Gréekes call them Cacochymci, or is of quicke féeling, or vexed with some of these, or else with all, & that he that is contrarie shall féele no hurt, & we beholding these things, wil not put to adglutinatiue. Such are many of their medicines which are called Enema, & bée presentlie applied to gréene woundes, but a soft medicine and gentle, & that shall asswage dolour, but when as there is a great diuision, there we must bend our studie y^t the lips [Page] of the wound, may be vnited and closed with desiccatiues, and where the diuision is made with a néedle or steele, there regard must chieflie be had, that the part be not vexed with inflamation, and héereof it is manifest, that the indication of a gréene wound set out of Thessalus, doth hetherto teach vs no more than euerie priuate person knoweth, for it is no great matter to knowe what behooueth to bée done, béeing a thing naturallie grafted in all men, but to know how thou shalt performe it, that onelie doth belong to Ar­tists, for if anie should build a ship, we all know (yea, being no Shipwrights) in what place the things which gouerne the ship are to be placed, in what place the starne must bée, and where the beke shoulde stand, and all the rest, yet all these profit vs nothing, being ignorant how the ship is to be builed. In like sorte, he that goeth about to build an house, is not ignoraunt, that the foundations of the walles are first to be layde, neither that the walles set on these, or that are to bée erected, ought to bée directlie right, neither that the roofe must be set on these walles, neither that the win­dowes, doores, and other partes of the house must bée accor­dinglie placed, but what doeth these thinges helpe to the building of a House, insomuch as hée béeing igno­rant in the arte of building, knoweth not how to builde it. Therefore it séemeth sufficient vnto Thessalus, of all other men most sapient, touching an artificious know­ledge, to vnderstand what ought to be done, but wée haue shewed in these Bookes before written, that this is but a certaine beginning of those workes which are looked for of the Artists, being no proper part of the arte, but such as is common to all men, for the first indications in euerie arte, are naturallie grafted in all men.

Wherefore if this bée sufficient to make Artists, what letteth but we may build ships, and make matter, and all men maye readilie make shooes, and garments, and hou­ses, and also to be Architectistes, Musitions, and Retho­ritions, but it is not so, neyther is hée a Physition, that knoweth howe that there must bée made natu­rall vnion in the wounded parte, but hée whiche [Page 107] vnderstandeth with what thinges that maye be done, al­though that this is not inough, if he knew not how to vse them, but he onlie is a Phisition, who knoweth all the way so farre, vntill he may attaine his desired scope. Therefore it happeneth to these methodlesse Disciples of Thessalus, that presuming great thinges aboue their might, they at­taine not vnto those, which otherwise they might. For when one latelie was wounded with a Stile in the hand, in such sorte, that all the skinne béeing diuided, some of the nerues vnder was pricked, a sapient Thessalian in the be­ginning applyed an emplaister, which hée often vsed with good successe in great wounds, he thought (I suppose) that euerie wound had one curation, but an inflammation fol­lowing, hée applied a Cataplasme, which is made of wheat floure, and so rotting the member, killed him within sea­uen daies. Neither can it bée numbred how manie haue perished by conuulsion, happening into their Peoman handes. Whereby if God will, this Thessalians decrée may bée kept, and euerie gréene Vlcer is like to bée healed, and that the partes affected giuing no indication. But the true methode is not as this methodlesse methode of Thes­salus, but euen now, and that after so great Phisitions, there may bée found, not onelie better medicines than haue bene, but also a vniuersall waie of curing, for no man vsing presentlie at the beginning those medicines which we haue inuented, sell into conuulsion, for I truelie noted where­of a nerue was, and how there followe of necessitie greater dolour than in other partes, because it hath sharpnesse of féeling, and that also of force there followeth inflammation, except one did asswage the dolour, and let the generation of inflammation.

Therefore it séemeth reasonable to mée, that the wound of the skin bée kept open, and without glutination, where­by the mattier may flowe out of the wound, and then to vnburthen the bodie of all superfluities, and chiefelie to be carefull that the wounded parte bée frée from dolour, so I haue excogitated not a fewe medicines, which béeing ap­plyed to the wound, doeth meruailouslie serue both vses, [Page] both to mittigate dolour, and to make way to the comming out of the mattier, and it shal bée more sure if the skinne be wider cut, and that the bodie bée emptied by bloud letting, if the Patient bée strong. And if the bodie bée full of ill hu­mours, presentlie purge him, and warme water, (although it doth much mittigate other inflammations,) it is most hurtfull to wounded nerues, séeing their substance is made of a moister mattier refrigerated and coniealed, and all such constitution is resolued, and doeth putrifie by those thinges which doe both make hot and moist, therefore I kept those which were thus wounded from warme wa­ter, iudging it méeter to foment the place with warme oyle, because that I haue also shewed, that oyle béeing applyed colde, doth stoppe the small pores, but if it be hot, it dooth digest.

Furthermore, I fled also crude oyle, called in Gréeke Omotriues, and that which had an astringent faculty, & those which was most thinne, as Sabinum, which if it be two or thrée yéeres olde, is the more profitable, for because that which is olde, doth more digest by euaporation than that which is new, and how much elder it is, so much it is able to digest, but yet it doth lesse cease dolour in medicines. All my whole scope was to haue their facultie attenuated, and moderatlie heating, and which might exiccate without in­ducing of dolour, séeing that this onelie could drawe the mattier from the bottome, the part being thereby neyther contracted nor yet bitten. Trulie I first vsed Turpentine and Rosen both alone, and mixing with it also a little Euphorbium, I vsed it alone in Children and Women, and generallie in softe bodies, but with Euphorbium in hard bodies: in like sorte also Propolis, both alone, and softning it also with Euphorbium, and if it were more hard with some thin oyle. I vse also in hard bodies Sagapenum, mixing it with oyle and Turpentine, and after the like sort also I vse Apoponax, euen as I doe Sagapenum. Also La­chrima, Epreniaca, is not vnprofitable, if one make an em­plaister of it, in such sorte as wée haue made with Euphor­bium, but wée haue not approued this by experience, as we [Page 108] haue done all the other, for it behooueth that the inuention of remedies which commeth from a true methode, doth goe before, and then experience for the more certaintie to follow this, and we hope that by the same Method. Also Sulphure which hath not touched fire, nor is stonie, but of thin parts, shall profite him that is wounded in the neruie partes, mixing so much of it with thinne oyle, as that it come to the thicknesse of Sordium, or as you would saie, rotten mat­tier which commeth out of a sore, and in strong and harde bodies thou shalt profit if it bée as thicke as Honie, for that is also allowed by Experience, we haue also excogitated, to applie to this wound washed Lime mixed with thicke Oyle, which if it were washed with the Sea water, it wold more profite, it is best to wash it in the dogge daies, and if thou doest wash it thrée or foure times, the medicine is the better, but in what manner such medicines are to bée pre­pared, thou shalt vnderstand in our Commentaries which we haue set out of the composition of Medicines. And it is héere sufficient for mée to shewe that I haue inuented both these, and many other medicines against the woundes of Nerues, séeing that I neuer sawe them vsed vnder anie Maister, neither yet sée them sette out in anie of the olde Bookes of curing, or in the Bookes of the faculties of the auncient Phisitions, but I tooke indication of the nature of thinges, which I thinke to be the office of the Phisitions which vseth a Method.

But this wonderfull Thessalus, when he neuer yet in­uented one medicine, doeth affirme, that euen nowe the matter of them to be knowen, but the matter of many me­dicines, which wée haue excogitated, is not onelie vnknow­en to Thessalus, and the Phisitions before his time, but vn­to those which hath béene since, vntill this daie. For I in times past béeing called vnto one, which was made rot­ten of these methodelsse Thessalian Phisitions, and be­held that hée woulde applie that Cataplasme which is made of Wheate meale, hauing no other medicine pre­sent, I asked of a certaine Potter, neighbour to the patient [Page] some lée, and by boiling it in Barlie meale, and not in oyle and water, as he did the Wheate meale, I applyed it. After which, in like sorte, the meale of Eruum boiled, I ap­plied it to the nerue, the inflammation béeing inflamed and rotten, by the good cure of these Thessalians, I deliuered the Patient from the same putrefaction. But of these woundes which putrifie with inflamation, wee will large­lie dispute in a conuenient place of this worke, and that is now sayde is sufficient for wounded nerues. And true­lie among those medicines which wée haue found out, ma­nie do vse that emplaister which is made of Euphorbium, Waxe, and molten Rosen, and so to make a composition thereof, and some suppose it to be my inuention, but I made it so at the first, and peraduenture some mixed with it Flos Salis, or such like thinges, which might alter the choler, and not diminish the vertue of the medicine, but through ignorance one may adde such lyke things, that shall change the vertue of it. But wée made it of Waxe, Rosen, Tur­pentine, Pitch, and Euphorbium, putting in one parte of Waxe, of Turpentine, and Pitch, of each, halfe a parte, so that the quantitie of these two, maye bée more than the Waxe, or you may mixe the one of these with the Waxe, and also in the scarcenesse of Turpentine, you may aptlie vse Humidum pineam, that is to saie, moist Perrosen, and also to put into these Abietenam, but Scrobilina, is onelie méete for harde bodies, wherefore it is not to bée mixt for softe bodies, therefore if thou doest mixe Humidam resi­nam, then put that in thy Euphorbion beaten and searced, to the other béeing molten, let the waight of it be the twelfth part of the waxe, or a little more, when as thou de­terminest to make the medicine stronger, but if it be drie as Fucta is, then the Euphorbion desireth a little oyle, where­fore I beating it with oile, and making it to thicknesse of Honie or Sordium (which is thicke mattier) the other af­ter the melting béeing colde, I doe mixe them, stirring them together.

Also I often mixe in making the medicine so much water as maye quite euapour awaie and bée consumed, [Page 109] in melting the mixed simples. But all this kinde doe most appertaine to the treatise of compounding medicines. Now it suffiseth as before we haue done, to put for exāples sake, a fewe particularly, shewing what the kinde of medicine ought to be, for thou shalt finde in our woorke, De simplici­bus medicamentis, a copious matter of medicines, and you must prepare them, as I shewed in the work of their com­positions. Wherefore it is sufficient to haue declared thus much, and to passe forth to other things.

The curation of the wounded Nerue, doth require me­dicines which may prouoke a moist heate, and doe strongly drye, and that also by the substance of their making, hath power to attract, and is of thinne partes: truely the cura­tiue methode, doth not onely profit to the inuention of me­dicines and diet, but also to the vse of these which are in­uented, for like as before we haue declared, so now also we doe affirme, that he which goeth about to finde apt medici­nes for an Vlcer, without a methode, cannot vse the least of them rightly. For he is able to cure by a certaine Me­thod, who vnderstandeth how much the application of the medicine, hath either dryed the affect, or made hot, or mitti­gated, or increased, for he onely doth know how to adde vn­to those which he vsed at the first, or to take away from them. For when one had applyed at the first to a woun­ded Nerue Dia Euphorbion, or that he had luckely before made profe of it, he shewed mée how the third daye that the wounded part had dolour and inflammation, maruailing that the medicine did nothing profit, I then asked the pa­tient, whether the first day when the medicine was apply­ed, he felt not a soft heate, as it were of the Sunne, and he denyed to haue felt any such thing. Then againe, I asked the Phisition, how long he had that medicine by him pre­pared, and when he had cured with it, he aunswered, that he had it a yere, and had cured with it two children, and a young man, & when I demaunded of the body of the yoūg man: he affirmed that it was white, and soft, whē I heard these things, perceiuing that there lacked Euphorbium, for this young mans temperature.

I demaund the Emplaister, and also Euphorbium, and ta­king of both, so much as I thought sufficient to mixe them together, I bad him soften the medicine with his handes, & so beat the Euphorbium diligently, and these being done, I bad him mixe them together, and I making somewhat hot, Oyle of Sauine, which was olde, and foment there­with the wounded part. And opening lightly the puncture which was close, I did put the medicine into the hole, and willed him to abstain from meate. I bad also the Phisition, that when he did take it away at night, that he should vse the oyle in like sort as he had séene mée. And these being ob­serued, the day following the affected part, was found void of dolour and inflammation. And all they that were pre­sent, vnderstoode that to be most true, (that we often saye) the medicine can doe no great thing, except there be one, that can rightly vse it. For the right vse is that, which pro­céedeth by the same Methode, which we haue often set out in the bookes going before.

All the vse of medicines being referred vnto it, colde, moyst, & drye, as vnto certaine rules, which Methode these Methodlesse followers of Thessalus, are not able rightly to follow, neither yet Erasistratus, or any other Phisitiō, which hath not sought out the Elementes of bodies, or hath put out other thinges than those which wée haue here compre­hended.

The third Chapter.

BVut if the Nerue be not pricked but cut, you must consider in what sort it is woū ­ded. Whether it be cut ouerthwart, or in length: and also how much of it is deui­ded.

Lette vs first put for an example that there is so great diuision of the skinne, that the bare Nerue doth appeare, and that this Nerue is cut in length, and not ouerthwart, thou shalt not apply to this Nerue any of the rehearsed medicines, which are made of Euphorbium, or sharpe medicines of like kinde.

For the bare nerue cannot now abide their force, as when the skinne was betwixt it and the medicine. Therfore vse thou in this case washed Lime dissolued in much oyle, and also Diapompholix is verie profitable dissolued in a great quantitie of oyle of Roses, and it shall be the better, if both the Oyle of Roses, and also the oyle to be without Salt, for all the scope of curing the Nerue béeing bare, is to exiccate without biting, and truelie there be few medi­cines which can so work. Therfore in this case in the Sum­mer let him be washed in healthfull fresh water, let also the Pompholix bée, (as is afore sayde) washed, because it hath many other simples, which are not washed. For all medicies which consist of mettalles, ought to haue all these washed, if they shall exiccate without mordica­tion.

That is also an healthfull medicine, which is made of Honie Plaister wise, béeing made of the best Honie, and this be resolued in oyle of Roses, which in all respectes is the best, and voide of Salt, yea, and the Waxe also which is put into such medicines must be washed in like sort. If thou puttest in anie Turpentine, it behooueth that thou wash it, and so much the sooner if thou put anie other Tur­pentine in, for the sharpe and biting Sanies is washed and purged awaie by all medicines which thou doest wash. But if hée that is wounded bée strong in bodie, and voide of superfluous excrements, in him it is requisite to vse more strong medicines. As I once did, whē as a young man stu­dious in Philosophie was wounded in the breast, hauing a good strong bodie, and burnt with the Sun in the Sum­mer season. The Trochifce of Polida dissolued in Sope, and afterward made warme, beeing put ouer hot water, I applyed it as a Liniment. For that first of all we must haue regarde that nothing bée colde which toucheth the wound. For because the affected part is most sensible, and also the chiefe of the principall partes are continuall, and of temperament cold: by which all occasions that is grieued is with cold, & sendeth also his greiefe to the braine. But if it be of these y^t come into the muscles, it causeth also conuulsiō. [Page] For we haue shewed in our Anathomie, that the muscles are the instruments of voluntarie motion, and the like con­uulsion shall be looked for in the tendons, by the same cau­ses, but when as I had applied the foresaid medicine to the wound of this young man, and had couered much of the partes aboue the wound, with the same I did continuallie foment with hot oyle the partes about the arme pits, neck, and head, and opening a veine, the first daie I tooke some bloud from him, and the fourth daie this young man also was well, insomuch as the vlcer looked wrinkled, small, and shrunke together, notwithstanding I thought good to con­tinue with the same medicines vntill the seauenth daie, af­ter which daie he was perfectlie well. Trulie you may fo­ment this wound with oyle, and chieflie as we haue saide, when it is cured, for oyle is of contrarie nature to the Tro­chisce, and maketh the Vlcer filthie, neither is there small difference to applie oyle to a bare nerue, & where the skin couereth it.

Therefore the mattier is to be wiped awaie from the wound with a probe, hauing soft lint rolled about it. You may if you will, wet your Lint in Sapa, least that thou touch the Vlcer with drith: with Sapa, that is, Sirium, cal­led also with vs and in Asia, Hepsama, therefore dipping thy lint in this, and after pressing it out, thou shalt mun­difie the Vlcer, and let this Sapa bée warme the first daies chiefly, but if all things doe prosperously succéed, thou maist wet it also without daunger with swéete Wine, for all swéete wine is void of all biting qualitie, such is the wine called Thereum and Scybelites. And next these is, Cargi­num, what Wines so euer are swéete and yeolowish, such is Falcrun being vnprofitable, for all these are sharpe and vnmeasurable hot. And the vlcer comming now to cicca­trize, white and thin Wine, and that which will not abide the mixture with water, neither swéete smelling, is better than swéete wine, and thou shalt eschue the vse of water to a wounded nerue, and also a relaxing Cataplasme: next vnto the vse of these Trochisces, is the vse of Diachalciteos, which we openlie vse, this must be molten in Sūmer with [Page 111] oyle of Roses, but in winter with the Oyle of Sauine, we haue described this medicine in the first booke of compoun­ding medicines, the Pastilles, or Trochisces, or call them how you lyst of Polyda, are knowne to all men, which if you haue not, you may take the Trochisce of Andro, or Pasio, or else our owne, which is stronger than the rest.

And we haue declared that to strong bodies, strong me­dicines are conuenient, as to tender bodies, gentle medici­nes: this right Methode haue I inuented, and experience doth confirme it, but Thessalaus with his Sophistes, sitting in his high throne, shall be had in reputation among brute people, as Cercidas saith. While he confirmeth by his rea­sons, that there is one curation of gréene wounds, neither this to require any Indication to the nature of the parts, yet one of so great same in his learning hath excogitated, a marueilous cure of wounded Nerues, for presently he cut­teth them a sunder, geuing the wounded man no warning thereof, although in this he goeth from his secte, for it had bene better to cut a sunder the wounded muscles and arte­ries, & veines, or any other thing, but not the Nerue, other­wise that thing which they flie, they are found to doe, that they may take a contrary indication, for the difference of the parts: but let vs leaue them, and intreate of a Nerue wounded ouerthwart, in which there is greater feare of conuulsion, inflammation comming of Feuers, which are not cut, but those which pertaine to the cure of the Vlcer, are like also to these. Yet it behoueth more largely to take away bloud, and vse more thinne diet, and to kéepe him al­together quiet in a soft bed, and to foment largely with hot Oyle, the arme pits, necke, tendons, ligaments and head, & if the wounded Nerue be in these, that are in the legges, like as we vsed Oyle to the arme pittes, when the wound was in the hand, so in these the flankes are largely to be fomented with Oyle, and so to ascend, by the whole spine, to the necke, and head. And the contused Nerues, whereas the skinne also is contused and wounded, require the same me­dicines which is vsed in drying the wounds of the Nerues. But yet such medicines as may further draw & constringe [Page] or binde the parts diuided by contusion: but those which are contused without the like affect of the skinne, ought to be fomented often with hot Oyle, which haue power to euaporate, and to haue like regard to the whole bodie, as I saw this to happen, and dyd spedely cure it, fomenting it with oyle, but haue often séene the Nerues, to be contused with the skinne, and the wrestlers for the custome of the accident, being taught by vse, haue a Cataplasme made of Oximell and Beane floure, which truely is an healthfull medicine, but if dolour also commeth with contusion, it doth behoue to put in molten pytch, and boyle them well together, and so to apply the medicine hot, and if thou wilt make it more drying, put in the floure of Eruum, and if thou wilt haue it yet more drying, put in Iris ilirica, the re­gard to be had to the whole bodie, it is common to these, as if the Nerue be all cut, there resteth after no perill of con­uulsion, but yet y^e part shalbe weake, it hath the same cure, that the other Vlcers haue, although the Thessalians know but one: therefore we haue aboūdantly intreated of Ner­ues, but how we shall cure the inflammation that com­meth to them, we shall set out when as we shall intreate of Phlegmone.

The fourth Chapter.

SEing that the ligaments (called in Greke Syndesmous) be of like kinde to the ten­dones, they can suffer the force of most ve­hemēt medicines, because they do not come to the braine, and be voide also of feeling, for all the Nerues come either from the braine, or else from the marow in the spine of the backe, the tendones also as we haue shewed their substaunce, is compounded of the Nerue, & Ligament, they so farre forth spring from the braine, as they participate of the substance of the Nerue. But yet are lesse vexed with cōuulsion than the Nerues.

But the ligaments forsooth, séeing they spring of the bone, those that are round, are like vnto Nerues, but differ from them much in hardnesse, yet in that they are white without bloud, and not hollow, and deuided into Fibers, they are like the Nerues and tendones, so that they which are ignorant in the Anatomie, when as they sée the round ligaments and tendones, they take them for Nerues, and chiefely they which vnderstande not that they are harder than y^e Nerues, but where they are brode, there they know them to differ from Nerues: But they cannot discerne thē among them selues, but thou which knowest the natures of all their parts, and also their forme, and in what place they are, in the whole bodie, and in what part of the bodie it happeneth a wound to be made, thou doest presently vn­derstand whether it be a Nerue that is wounded, or a liga­ment or tendon.

If the ligament woūded be such one, as goeth from bone to bone, it is chiefely without daunger, and that thou dry­ing it with all kinde of desiccatiues, shal not any thing hurt the patient, but if it goeth into the muscle, how much it is lesse dangerous than in the Nerue and Tendon, so much the more it ought to be feared, if it be not rightly cured, and none of these can be brought to passe, by a methode of these Phisitions, which deny the indication that is taken of the part, to be profitable to the curation of Vlcers, ney­ther yet of such as doe confesse this, if they be ignoraunt in the nature of euery parte, which as we haue shewed, con­sisteth of the temperament of Elements. But although these know no other thing: yet at the least they vnderstād that they are shewed of the constitution of the instrumen­tall parts.

Thessalus, truely and his Disciples, are also very igno­rant herein, as if Abdomen were now presently wounded, so déepe, that some intestine came forth, they know nothing at all how it ought to be put in, and if Omentum fall out, whether it is to be cut away or not, or whether it is to be trussed vp or no, or whether the wounde must be stitched or not, or if it be stitched, in what wise it ought to be done, [Page] neither should we haue vnderstanded these things, if wée had not learned by reason of the Anatomie, the nature of all the parts therein conteined, which truely to declare, is a thing necessary, not onely for the better vnderstanding that shall follow: but also for probation, the skin is most out­ward, of all this, and is ended in a thinne pannicle called Membrana, within the skinne, as it was in the mid place there is a double neruous thinnesse of the Muscles, which the Grecians call Aponeurosin, stretched out in manner of coates or membranes, many Anatomistes are ignorant, that they be two, when as they so cleaue and ioyne together in such wise, as it requireth labor to separate them, and al­so for that they are most thinne: nexte these immediately followeth two right and fleshie muscles, which stretch from the breast to Ossa pubis, and all these rehearsed, cleane and grow together, and that which is made of these, the Greci­cians which haue set out the way, when y^e stitching of Ab­domen, ought to be made, called Gastroraphias, named Epi­gastrion, that is to say Abdomen, that which is next these, is called Peritoneon, and they thought it to be one simple bodie, but falsely, séeing that it is made of two bodies, both which are without bloud and Neruous, but one of these Neruous thinne pānicles belōgeth to those muscles, which goe ouerthwart: the other being very thin lyke a cobweb, is the true Perotineum, and Abdomen, is such a like thing in the middest of it selfe, the parts of it which are distant, and on both sides, as it were foure fingers bredth, at the side euen from the skinne haue the oblike muscles, the former which came from the brest, the next which ascend from the intestines, & after these muscles, that which is ouerthwart. Vnder which is Peritoneum, therefore there is lesse daun­ger in this place, than in the middest, séeing it hath no such thinne coate or pannicle, and that they cal Aponeurosis, and that stitching may hardly be made in the middest, because that chiefely in this part, the intestines goeth out, and may hardly be put in, and the muscles that dyd constraine and draw them, be the right and fleshie muscles, which I sayde came from the brest to Os pubis, therefore of force the inte­stine [Page 113] commeth out through two causes, as oft as anie of these bée wounded from the partes which are on the side, be­cause that is gathered together by the muscles, which are there from the middle partes, because the muscle which should containe them is not strong inough, & that the place is verie apt for comming forth, & if the wound be greater, then of force more Intestines must fall out, and are more hardlie put in againe.

Furthermore, for another cause, small woundes are harde to bée handled, for except that which commeth out bée presentlie put in his place againe, it is inflamed, and riseth in tumor, so that it cannot be put in by so straight an hole, therefore in such woundes, the meane hole is lesse daungerous, and it is truelie necessarie to knowe these thinges: then it followeth next, that wée consider how one shall most conuenientlie handle these kinde of woundes, for Thessalus precept, which thinketh these woundes to bée glutinated with medicines called Enema, doeth serue so little to the purpose, that I thinke it more manifest that it shoulde bee vnknowen to anie, hauing his wit, there­fore first of all, séeing wée must doe that that the Inte­testines which are falne out, bée put in againe into theyr place: secondlie, that the wound bée stitched: thirdlie, that thou applie a conuenient medicine, and last to regard that most worthie to be affected.

Goe to now, let vs speake of the first, séeing therefore there is as is sayde, a thrée folde difference of these wounds in bignesse, let vs attempt to take of euerie of them a pro­per Indication: admit that in the beginning the wound be so small, that the Intestine which fell out béeing inflated, cannot againe bée put in, whether or no in this, is one of the two necessarie, either to get out the inflation, or to in­large the wound, the first is better, I suppose, if it may bée done, & thou shalt doe this no other waie than by remouing the cause which brought the inflatiō, but what cause is that? trulie the refrigeration of the aire ambient. Wherefore the cure must procéede of heating thinges, therefore it shall bée conuenient to heate the Intestine with a hotte Spunge [Page] put in hot water, and afterward expresseed out, and in the meane time to prepare auster Wine, made hotte, for that doeth more heate than water, and strengtheneth the In­testine, but if the inflation of the Intestine ceaseth not by this meanes, thou must cut so much of Peritoneum, as is inough to put in the Intestine conuenient Instru­mentes, for this Incision, are Springotoma, (that is to say, such as serue the Incision of Fistulas. Kniues which are double edged, or haue sharpe pointes, are to be refused: the conuenient placing of the Patient is, when the wound is made in the lower parte, if hée lie vpwarde, and when it is in the vpper partes, if hée lie backwarde, in both these one thing is to bée regarded, that the Intestine which is out, bée not pressed of those that are within, and that shall this waie bée done, as if the wounde bee in the right side, to bende the bodie to the contrarie parte, if in the lefte, then to the right side, in such sorte, that the wounded parte alwaie bée higher than the rest, and this is profitable also both in great and meane wounds, for that is a common aduice in all.

But the reposition of the Intestines into their place, when as they are fallen out in a great wound, doeth ve­rilie require a perfect minister, for he ought to compasse outwardlie all the whole wounde with his handes, and to presse inwardlie, and to gather together, and to leaue the place bare, to him that stitcheth it, and also to compasse moderatlie that which is stitched, vntill all the wound bée stiched.

Now wée will next teach the aptest waie of stitching such woundes in Abdomen, because it behooueth that Ab­domen doe close and ioyne with Pentoneum: you must be­ginne from the skinne, and thrust the néedle from without inward, and when as it hath gone through both the skinne, and the muscle called Rectum, leauing that Peritoneum which is vnder it, thou shalt from within thrust thy néedle outward by the rest of Peritoneum, and so by the rest of Ab­domen, putting the néedle from within outwardlie, and when it hath gone all through this againe, this Abdomen [Page 114] is to be thrust through from without inwardlie, and when thou hast left that Peritoneum which is vnder, and come to the contrarie parte, thou shalt also thrust this through from within outwardlie, and with all the Abdomen, that is, next after this beginne heere againe, and stitching it with the Peritoneum of the contrarie side, and againe putting it through the skinne, next the néedle is to be put in that part inwardlie, and stitching that Abdomen, with the contrarie Peritoneum, and againe going through the skin, and thus againe and againe till it be done, and vntill the whole wound be stitched, the space betwixt the stitches ought to be most smal which pertaine to the kéeping fast of those parts, which be vnder, but this smalnesse is not sure inoughe to the strength of the skinne, and kéepe it from breaking, which is the spaces betwixt the stitches, wherefore eschu­ing the excesse of both, let vs choose a meane betwixt both, and this also is, as it were a common thing in all wounds, that is, the substance of the thréed it selfe, wherewith wée stitch, for that which is too harde, must of force teare the skinne, that which is to softe is presentlie broken, in lyke sort if thou doest thrust thy néedle through the edges of the wound, the rest of the skinne béeing most little, is constrai­ned to teare, when it is violentlie brought together, but if thou goest farre from these, thou leauest much of the skin vnglutinated, and although these things be common to all woundes, yet they are especiallie to bée eschued in the stit­ing of Abdomen, and the stitching of Abdomen ought to bée done this waie rehearsed, for if anie doe suppose that he may make Peritoneum to close with Abdomen, but it will scarcelie growe with him, because it is neruous, or else as manie vse, which ioyne them together that be natural­lie of affinitie, as Peritoneum to Peritoneum, and Abdo­men to Abdomen, and that shal be in this sort, it behoueth to begin of the Abdomen next vs, & from without inward­lie, to thrust a néedle through it onelie, & letting passe both sides of Peritoneum, of the contrarie part, from without in­wardlie drawe the néedle through both lips, after put that [Page] backe again, and thrust it from within outwardlie, through the contrarie Abdomen, this waie differeth from the com­mon and vsuall stitching, which at once thrust the néedle through foure sides, because it altogether hideth Peritone­um vnder Abdomen.

Now let vs speake of medicines, truelie those ought to bée of the same mattier that they are, which are named E­nema, which we haue in the bookes going before shewed, to vnite the wound of other partes: ligature outwardlie, is chiefelie héere necessarie: the last parte of the curation in these, differeth much from the other, for the space betwixt the flankes and arme pittes, ought to bée wholie couered with softe Wooll dipt in Oyle moderatlie hotte, and yet more sure, if thou put in by a Clister into the Intestines some such like thing, and if anie of the Intestines be woun­ded, that which is outwardlie to bée done, must bée per­formed in manner aforesayde, but that which is iniected must bée auster, and red Wine bloud warme, and so much the rather, if it bée pearced through to the inward partes. And the thicke Intestines are easilie to bée cured, as on the contrariwise those that bee thinne, bée harde to be healed, yet Ieiunium is altogether incurable, both for the bignesse & multitude of the vessells, and also for that his coate is verie thin and neruous.

Further, because this Intestine receiueth all the pure coulour, and is next the liuer of all the rest. And thou mayst boldlie cure the woundes of the stomacke, which are in the lower fleshie partes, for it may happen to take good successe, not onelie for that these partes are thicke, but also for that the medicines which doe cure, doe easilie rest in this place.

But the woundes which are in the mouth of it and in Gula, inioye but onelie the medicines which touch them in the going downe, & the sensiblenesse hindereth also the cure of those which are in the mouth of the stomack. But it is ea­sier to learne the way which he vsed in curing of the woūds in y^e stomacke, than other deadly wounds, for I toke not in [Page 115] hand to write these workes, for that intent I woulde not anie man should not reade Hyppocrates bookes, but for that he séemeth to mée first to vse a conuenient waie, and yet not wholie to haue finished it, when as certaine things are not yet limited, and wée maye finde other which are setre forth of him obscurelie and vnperfect, therefore I haue stu­died to open all those things cléerelie, and to make distinc­tion where they were smallie diuided, & to supplie where as wanted. Therefore whereas anie hath first of all exer­cised himselfe in these our Commentaries, let him applie himselfe to the reading of Hyppocrates Bookes, and let him both reade his booke of Vlcers, and also that which he wrote of mortall Woundes, then truelie hée shall receiue great helpe of these our Bookes, and also shall vnderstand that none of the Mothoditian sect, which challengeth to himselfe this glorious Title, but in verie déede bée furthest from a methode, can rightlie cure an vlcer or wound, and also that none of the Emperikes, which thinke to exercise the arte, little knowing the Elements or temperamentes of the similer partes of man, for these knowe not the rati­onall cure of the similer partes of man, because they one­lie take their Indications of the organike members, wher­fore a few wordes hetherto vttered, against these Metho­ditians, of those woundes which happen in the Stomacke, we will conuert our stile to other thinges. Peritoneum béeing wounded, Omentum doeth presentlie fall out, which whether it bée similer or no, or of which it is made, or what action or vse it hath, they doe not vnderstande: therefore it is woorth the trauaile, to heare what they will doe, whereas that parte which is fallen out of his place be­ing swart and blacke, whether will they cut it off, or put it againe within Peritoneum? Surelie either they shall vnderstand all together by Experience what is to be done, or else take Indication of the nature of the parte, but both these flyeth from them, both that knowledge which is ministred by Experience while they extoll a methode, bée­ing the reuerend name of their sect, and that which is ta­ken [Page] of the nature of the part, for that they knowe not his substaunce, nor action, nor vse of it, while they abhorre the Anatomie, as a thing vnprofitable, therefore they know not whether it bée anie of the partes necessarie to lyfe, or else not necessarie, although these are not the least to bée knowen, neither whether through the affect of it, anie of the principle members shall be molested: or otherwise al­so, whether anie of the vessells or partes within it contay­ned, maye kill the man by fluxe of bloud, neyther whether that which is blacke béeing cut awaie, that which is sound may bée tied, whereby the fluxe of bloud maye bée eschued, or whether that may bée to anie, daungerous, for that O­mentum, euen at the first sight, séemeth neruous, so that one knowe the nature of it perfectlie, hée durst not for feare of conuulsion binde it, but since these wonderfull Metho­ditians knowe not of these thinges, they cannot tell what is to be done when as Omentum is waxed blacke, but I thinke wée knowe, which vnderstand that the vse of it is not so great for man, and that his substance is composed of the thin pannicles, arteries, and veines, we will eschue the fluxe of bloud, and will not feare by consent, that the nerues shall bée affected, wherefore we will binde the parte that is aboue the blacke, and cut that awaie that is vnder the band, and will foresee that the endes of the band hang in the lower end of the stitching of Abdomen, whereby wée may easilie take them forth when as they are throwen from the wound comming to suppuration.

The fift Chapter.

AND hetherto it is abundauntlie spoken of the other partes of the bodie, nowe therefore there remaineth to speake of the bones, when as to these also, that disease of which wée intreate, doth happen, which wée call soluti­on of vnitie or continuitie, & when as this disease falleth to this part, it hath a proper name giuen to [Page 116] it, in Gréeke Catagma, verie vsuall to them that can speake Gréeke, for Apagma is the proper name vsed of Phisitions, béeing out of vse to the common people, they vse thus to name it, when as the end of the bone in the part, where it is to be ioyned with another that is broken, but of the frac­tures themselues, what part so euer of the broken bene, are vtterlie separated, they saie in Gréeke that they are named Caulethon, & it is euident that such diuision is ouerthwart, and another diuision made more by the length, in which the partes of the affected bone bée not altogether separated asunder, but are clouen right forth, which kinde they accu­stomablie do cal Schiducedon. There want not some of the later phisitions, which so ambitiouslie interprete by proper names all the differences of fractures, that they call some Raphanidon, that is made to the figure of a Raddish, not béeing satisfied with this talke, to saie that the bone is di­uerslie fractured, but Hyppocrates was not of this minde, but as néere as hée coulde, vsing the most accustomed names, refusing not to interpreate by Oration, not one­lie these differences of Fractures, but also those which happen in the bones of the head, which if I hadde done also in euerie affect, I shoulde haue made this Treatise short.

Now for that hée hath shewed the waie of manie, which must bée considered, but haue not begunne or defined, what is perticularlie to be done, it is necessarie that we tarrie in thē no longer than is méete, but repeate brieflie those which he hath set forth perfectlie. And we will also adde demon­stration to those, which he hath smallie defended by reason, and wée will define certaine things which are left vndefi­ned, and place them in order which want order, & last of all, we wil giue light to these things which are obscure. But if I shall in euerie one adde his wordes, our booke shall be as long as a large Commentarie.

And peraduenture some héere will condempne our Prolixitie, when as they shall complayne thereof without cause: In the thirde and seauenth Booke, in these it was necessarie to adde manye places out [Page] of Hyppocrates booke De vulneribus, wherby I might shew other Phisitions what it is to write by a certaine me­thode, the curation of vlcers and woundes: but his doctrine set out in his booke of Fractures, who is so dull that will not receiue it all as cleere & most profitable, but if anie man doth saie that he doth a little meruaile thereat. To this manner of saying may most aptlie be repeated, Hos vnum at (que) alterum, permit to be sure.

Therefore it séemeth good time now, to shew the true method of curing a Fracture, with the nature of the things prescribed, taking our beginning from hence, because there is solution of Continuitie of the partes of the bro­ken bone, their vnition is at the fore first scope, whereto hée must bend him that will cure them: but if this séeme impossible to bée done, because of the drynesse of the affected partes, there remayneth another scope: that is, that they may bée adglutinated by the helpe of another thing, which thing is a certaine humour, comming be­twixt the endes of the broken bones, as it were a Glewe, and to ioyneth them fast together, which if that be found not to bée done, thou maist call the affect vncurable: and that such an harde bone as is in young men, striplings, and men, and much more in olde persons, cannot growe toge­ther, I thinke it euident to all men, for truelie that bone onelie will be vnited, which is verie soft, such are the bones in Infants, but some doeth greatlie hope, that the partes of a broken bone separated, may againe bée adglutinated and knit by some other substaunce or glew comming be­twixt.

It is shewed that euerie part of the bodie doeth attract to himselfe his owne and lyke nourishment, which if it bee true, then surelie the conuenient nourishment of the bones is groser and more earthlie than anie other nou­rishment in the whole creature: so that it is not repugnant to reason, neyther a thing impossible, that of this same proper Element, which aboundeth and groweth in the edges of the Fracture, maye by his comming betwixt the bones close them together, for to Vse sheweth, and [Page 117] Experience consenteth to that hope which reason doeth geue: therefore it is hence foorth to be considered by what meanes this thing that groweth in y^e fractures, how much, and what maner a one, may comfort. For it is euidēt that we require not what maner a one, but such one as obser­ueth in both, a mediocritie: wherefore, this simentrie, both in qualitie and quantitie, being found out. Furthermore it is requisite to séeke out by reason, whether we may attaine to them both or not: but the time when this shalbe done, is no lesse necessarie to be sought out, whether presently as the fracture is made, shall wée make vnition, as in woūds, or that this be not a time cōuenient, but a more apter must be found, suerely, thou being instructed, by the nature of the thing, maist find out this as wel as all other. Therfore what is the nature of the thing? Forsoth the broken bone comprehended vnder some of the rehearsed differences of fractures: goe to now, let vs sée whether any thing may be taken of euery difference which serueth to the curation, beginning with that fracture which is made ouerthwart, named Cauledon, the parts of the broken bone, doe here so lie, one besides another, that they lay not directly euen, wherefore it is manifest, that first they be brought directly euen, to that ende they may the better grow together, then to doe some of the things that follow: truely that shall fol­low if one vsing the example of the whole part, doth draw the bones that are a sunder, to the contrary part, of which is taken most sure indication, of the transposition of them. For truely, it may happen that the trāsposition of y^e mem­ber shall be made forward, backward into this and y^e part. For it is méete, that whatsoeuer are backward, be brought forward, and yet neuerthelesse, the other part of the broken bone, is to be moderately thrust to the contrary: Contra­riwise, that which is forward, is to be deduced backward, & the other part by little and little, to be brought forward.

In like sort the consideration of those which are wressed to the right side, is if they be brought to the left side, and againe those which are in the left side, if they be changed to y^e right side, alwayes drawing the other part, moderatly [Page] to the contrary: but there is no smal daūger, least in bring­ing the partes, by contrary motion, same of the shiuers, which sticke out, be broken, neither are both the endes euen as those which are sawed asunder, and if they be broken, the endes of the broken bone, cannot exactly be ioyned, and that for two causes, for if the péeces fall betwixt the two parts, they let the parts to touch, which are formed right, or if any fragment falleth outwardly, neither so shal there be perfect coniunction of the bones, which thou hast framed in such wyse, as they shalbe like their first vnion, for that onely happeneth when the shiuers of the bones, be put a­gaine in their owne places. And if they being broken doe perish, there must of force be a voide space, betwixt y^e bones vnited together, in which Sanies being collected, and in space putrifying, doth corrupt also the whole member. And for these causes, the bones which are a sunder, ought to be drawen right out, and this cannot well be done, except first they be stretched backward, the Gréekes call it Antithasis, therefore it behoueth to make this Antithasis, of bones, ei­ther with thy hands, if the member be little, or with bands put about the member, or else with such instruments, as Hippocrates, hath taught, and when as they haue enough drawen back, and that they be out of doubt, least they in bringing together should touch them selues, then put them right and losen the bandes, and let the muscles of the parts to be in one, and in the meane while helpe thou with thy hands, and if any thing doth leape vp, amend and forme it, and next this, whereto thou must bend, is that the member doth remaine vnmoued, least any of the parts which thou hast placed, be moued, for so of force they must againe se­parate.

And if thou commit it to the patient, that he looke to the quiet rest of the member, peraduenture waking, he wil regard it. But sléeping truely he wil moue it, but that the bones formed may kéepe their situation, not onely the man sleping, but sitting and rising: when the bed is made, it behoueth to binde the fracture, with a safe Ligature, which may exactly kéepe the parts of the broken bone together.

But for that loose ligature suffereth the bones to mooue, that which is too straight by compressing, doth bring do­lour, let vs giue diligent héede, that eschuing both discom­modities, we maye inioye both commodities, which wée shall doe, if wée eschue extremitie, so that we shall not make the ligature so straight that it compresseth, neyther yet so easie that it bée loose, and if euerie member were of equall thicknesse, then the broadest roller were most com­modious, because it shoulde embrace all the broken bone of euerie parte equallie and continentlie. But seeing it is not so, although to the breast thou vsest a most broade rol­ler, thou canst not so doe in the ioyntes and necke, but in such, a narrowe roller is better, for that it will not wrin­kle, and that it toucheth the skinne of the whole mem­ber, about which it is put, but if it holdeth the Frac­ture with a fewe fouldes, it is not without daun­ger.

Therefore how much surenesse wanteth through the narrownesse, so much must bée added by often rolling a­bout, and by deducing it towarde the sounde partes, but séeing all rollings which doe constipate and coarct the flesh without dolour, hath that propertie to presse the humours out of the partes where they are first put on, and doth put and fixe them in those in which they end, I thinke it rea­sonable to beginne the ligature vpon the fracture it selfe, and so to proceede vnto the rest of the member, for hée that doeth otherwise, putteth the bloud to the affected parte, but if he beginne vppon the hurt parte, and endeth in that which is whole, such ligature shall not onelie be voide of hurt in these, which we haue saide, but be also profitable, for that it suffereth no inflammation to arise about the Frac­ture, of which principallie regard must be had, and it is to be feared least great inflamations folow, both of the stretch­ing into the contrarie part, which we vse in forming right­lie the member, and also that the causes which make the Fracture, do first hurt the flesh, inuesting the bones by con­stipation and contusion, neither meruaile I if some such [Page] thing, like an inflamation happeneth to the portion of the bones, when as such as are not rightly cured, are manifest­lie séene to be more moist than nature requireth, where wée sée a wound with a broken bone, neither commeth Caries of the bone, in Gréeke named Sphacelus, anie other waie, which is corruption of the whole substaunce of the bone. Therefore thou shalt not bée negligent, but expell thou all the superfluous moisture from the partes which are about the fracture. Therefore thou maist begin vpon the affected part, and bring the roller about twice or thrice, and procéed then toward that which is sound, for verilie he that thus doth roll, shall defend the fluxe of bloud to come from the whole partes, to those which are affected, and doeth also put out from hence that which is héere alreadie collected. Sée­in then that there are two partes, which maye both receiue anie thing of the affected part, and also send vnto it. For­sooth they which lie vppon it are most readie vnto both, as well for the multitude, as also greatnesse. But the extreme parts for the contrarie cause, can receiue or send but little, neither can minister much, either to the affected partes, ei­ther receiue of them againe.

Wherefore when as Hyppocrates made the first two ligatures, with the first he did not expell that was in the affected part, to those that are aboue, and also doth expell that which floweth from them with the roller. For with the first rollings about, which he doth make vpon the frac­ture, and by deducing it to the lower parte, he thrust some mattier thether, and letteth that none shall flowe from thence.

The rest of all the inuoluings, with which he will haue the roller to goe from the lower partes vpward, that they may in the same place with the first, both repell to the high­er partes, and also preserue fluxe from these, wherefore the two first rollers doe defend and strengthen the Fracture, neither suffer they inflamation to arise. Notwithstanding these alone are not sufficient to both these vses, so that Hip­pocrates did deuise for their defence a remedie, that splents bée applied with the last rollers, which might also streng­then [Page 119] these: and he commaūdeth to vse some one medicine, which is against inflammation, least there should follow inflammation, such a medicine is Ceratune humidum.

Therefore all these are inuented (as we haue sayd) by rea­son, and also the figure of reposition, & this also hath a two fold indication, the first dependeth of the common know­ledge onely, the other which is taken of the naturall con­stitution of y^e members to be cured: the first indicatiō shew­eth that such figure is to be chiefely chosen, which is most frée from dolor and griefe, so that there follow no inflam­mation to the part, and that the patient be best able to re­maine longest in this without mouing. The second indi­cation which is taken of nature, willeth that the arteries, veines, nerues and muscles, be most rightly placed. And these indications doe agrée. For the rightest figure of euery part, is frée from dolor, and that which of the rest is most frée from dolor, is most natural to the part, for to the arme, the figure which is cornerwise in Gréeke Eggonios, for the leg that which is somewhat lesse stretched out. Further­more, not onely the naturall habit is profitable to euery member, not onely in auoyding of dolor, but also the cu­stome séemeth much to profit: and this is the waye of fin­ding out the figure, in which the member is to be kept, which also differeth not in séeking out the figure, vsed in extending the parts a sunder, called in Gréeke Diatasis, and also when the partes of the broken bone, are brought into their naturall place: for it is cōuenient that both thou dost extend the member in the most right forme, and that which is furdest from dolor, and also that thou formest it into his naturall habit, and much more that thou roll it in the same figure, and also placing it to rest: for the mouing thereof doth not onely prouoke dolor, but also doth wrest the bones by mouing the member being in one figure, and to change it to another, for except I haue forgottē those precepts which we haue written in our bookes Da musculorum motibus, it is necessarie, that whereas the figure is altered, there some of the muscles to be strained, and to be made round as they were contracted, and other to be lose and relaxed.

Therefore of force where they are extended, there they are compressed of the roller, and by the compression, doe suffer paine and dolor. And where there is no extenti­on, there the ligature is lose and slacke, and so the fracture wanteth his staye: and for because of all these, we must studie that we doe both extend, and forme the member, and also roll and repose the member to rest vnder one, and the self same figure, and ther is no precept left vnset out, which belongeth to the first worke in Fractures.

Thou shalt (as Hippocrates commaundeth) lose the roller the third daye, least there should arise dolor and itching in the member, vnaccustomed to be so couered, and also that the perspiration of that which is now fixed in the member be not letted, by whose occasion there doth not onely fall thereto, an vnhappy itch, but also the skinne to be vlcerate and coroded, with the sharpnesse of Sanies: wherefore we must poure in so much of temperate water, as shalbe suf­ficient to take away this Sanies. And if thou wilt againe doe as it is aforesaid, thou oughtest to doe it the vii. daye.

All things now are apparent, so that nothing hindreth, be­ing frée from inflammation, and somwhat gentler, than for naturall constitution. Then it shalbe lawfull to apply splents, and roll it more wider asūder, for it was not with­out danger, to vse splents before the inflamation was past.

But now when as it is ceased, & that néede is to streng­then the fracture, surely you shall vse thē with much com­moditie. And you may also let the rollers remaine longer time, the partes hauing no néede to expell Sanies: Fur­thermore Callus in Gréeke or Poron, shal so luckely follow when it behoueth to the generation of it, (as it is afore de­clared) some of the proper norishment of the bone to be ga­thered together and grow. Therefore this is now to be cō ­sumed away from the lips of the fracture, or else to be eua­pored, for else truely it shall make solution of continuitie, neither shalt thou let it slip, so long time, that thou know­est not how the fracture goeth forward: for we haue often séene, that when the bones were vehemently dryed, Callus hardly dyd grow.

Wherefore it is méete to poure vpon these a little warme water, the third or fourth daye, leauing when as the flesh riseth in a red tumor, and wée must leaue herein, before it beginneth to asswage. Contrarywise, when as we will digest any thing, we shall not leaue of, before all the tumor be vanished which sprong of the perfusion: and whereas the aboundant moisture is, and let that Callus doth not bet­ter grow, there we shall go about with cōuenient ligature to exicate, as is before saide, and with perfusion of water, which must be altogether little, or much: for it shalbe but little, when it ceaseth, and before any thing floweth to it: & the humors which be about, be digested, and doth dissolue those which are déepe fixed. For it is expedient so to lose & dissolue these, which are to be expelled by rolling: for a great deale of water doth more digest than attract.

Surely it is euident, that in that ligature which doth ex­pell, the endes of y^e rolles are lesse to be coarcted, but wher­as we must nourish, there the endes must be straiter, and the other inuoluings more lose.

Now séeing we haue founde out not onely what time we must helpe the generation of Callus, but also by what maner, now there resteth, to set out the vniuersall order of diet. For in the beginning, they ought to vse most thinne dyet, as we will proue when we take in hand the proper curation of inflammations. Furthermore, we will declare that sometime it shalbe expedient to let bloud, and also to purge, but what time Callus is ingendred, the bodie is to be nourished with good iuyse, which may much nourish, of which there accustometh to follow, not onely good iuise, but that which is also tough, of which principally Callus is made: for séeing that it cannot grow of a serous and thin moisture, & that it can spedely grow, of that which is grose and brickle, and voide of fatnesse, but yet in time waxeth drye, it is made friable, and apt to breake.

The bignesse of Callus, shalbe such, as it were a safe band to the bones, & yet not compresse the muscles, for that Callus which is to little, is not sufficiēt for the bones, & that which is to great, bringeth dolor to the muscles: so that diligent [Page] hede must be had to encrease it, if it groweth to little, and to let it if that it doth increse to much. And thou shalt doe these both by the quantitie of the perfusion, and also quali­tie and quantitie of meates, and also the faculties of medi­cines, which are to it outwardly applyed, but we haue be­fore spoken of perfusion and order of dyet of medicines, and such as haue an emplastike substāce, & do moderately heat, they doe both bring forth Callus, and also increaseth them. But such medicines as haue a digestiue facultie, doe demi­nish those Callus which are now great, but if thou studiest that neither Callus shalbe encreased, or deminished, but art content to let it grow further, vse thou some of those medi­cines, which are applyed to gréene wounds, which because they doe moderately drye, they cause Callus moderately to coagulate and grow: and this is sufficient touching ouer­thwart fractures.

Now of those that are in length, the cure is in all points as the other, but yet the ligature must be straiter made in the fractured place, and that which is a sunder, must be in­wardly thrust to those which are diuersely fractured, and chiefely with a wound, as it doth cōmonly happen to these. Hippocrates, willeth that splents bowed like a sawe, and dipped in redde and auster wine, chiefely in sommer be put about it. For if any doth vse either Oyle, or Serot, they doe putrifie, because the affect being goeater than the rest, doe more drye than they require to be dryed. And let all the medicines as he commaundeth be drying, but yet con­sidering the meane of excication, he willeth such medicines to be of the kinde of Enema. But if any shall at the begin­ning vse an Enemon medicine, let it be such a one as is apt to be poured in, and all other thinges are to be done after his precepte, not onely in these rehearsed, but also if the bare bone requireth to be cut with a saw, or that thou shalt take away some fragment, or that it behoueth to minister to nature expelling it, what so euer Hippocrates, doubted of those instruments which the legges are to be layde in, cal­led Solenas, whether they are to be vsed or not, all men doe know that I iudge the reasons laudable, and Glosconum, [Page 121] which is inuented of the later Phisitions, we doe account it as worthie of praise as anie other, & doe vse it, when, in the time of engendering flesh. Yet it séemeth y^t Hyppocra­tes knew not that, although otherwise he was not negligēt in excogitating instruments which should be profitable, but the instruments in which the legs are placed, was rightly deuised of them, that by one axiltrée which was placed in the end of the instrument at the lower parte, caused by a double extension, a contrarie indeauour to the whole mem­ber, & the one of thē which extendeth the member right out, is called in Gréeke Eutigporos, the other which extendeth it first vpward & afterward backward, is called Translatiue, in Greeke Metaleptice, both are done by bands or cordes, & that band is most aptest to this vse that hath two ends, for this being put about the member, the armes being put a­bout the axiltrée of it, maketh the first extension, called Eu­tigporos, and when as the band is put about the parts of y^e broken member, it maketh the translatiue extension, called Metaleptice, the armes of him being moued first vpward, & after backward, for these are also to be put about the ax­iltrée. Furthermore the armes with the bands being put about, & as it were bowed, the extention which is made frō the higher parts to the lower, ought to be done by the pulley or vice, which are placed in the sides of Glottocomon, thou maist call this instrument Solena, with his adiection, Sole­na Machanicum, or Glottocomon Mechanicum, but we shal more largelie speake of instruments, whē we set out y^e cure of luxations, where also we will no lesse speake of y^e varie­tie of ligatures which are to be put about. Now séeing I haue made mention of Solena Mechanicū, which doth much profit the leg, but when it is reposed & otherwise put, or whē as the patient changeth his bed or goeth to the stoole, it shal be good, because nothing shal want to y^e Treatise héereof, to cōmend much Glottocomon, of which they make y^e one side, & also the table in which they place the foote, to be mouea­ble, for that it may serue to the bignesse of euerie member. And this shall be sufficient to vnderstand of the other frac­tures, with these which Hyppocrates hath commanded.

The sixt Chapter.

HIppocrates trulie hath writtē a whole booke of those wounds which happen in the head, in which he hath set out all thinges which héerein are to be done, & we hauing finished this worke, will goe about to explicate his workes at this present. Trulie for that in these Commentaries we haue added more than y^e he hath spoken, and defined that he left vndefined. It behoueth that we speake first of the hollow cutting instruments, called Gneliscus, next of Phacotus, after of y^e narow cutting kniues, and last that we intreate of the vse of medicines, therefore there are some fractures of Cranium, which commeth to the second table called Diploen, some to the inward part of the bones, some are simple fractures, some are contusions, and some the marks of those wherwith the stripe was made, re­maine the simple fractures, which come to the second table, those néede the narow kniues before spoken of. It is requi­site both to haue many of them, & also differing in bignesse, least y^e should want which is most apt for the purpose, and the bone affected being made bare, as the manner is, you shall first vse the broadest knife, next another which is na­rower, & so the rest orderlie, vntill you come to the narow­est, and this is to be vsed in the second tables. Afterward both these, & so to the end it must be cured with drying me­dicines, which for that cause are called Cephalica, & those are made of Iris illiriaca, and meale of Eruum, and Manna, & Aristolochia, and the rinde of the roote of Panax, and to con­clude, all such medicines as mundifie without corrosion, for the generation of flesh is y^e worke of nature it selfe, & there the patient in that behalfe hath no néed of the art of medi­cine, & that the flesh which doth engender may close, & cleue about to euerie part of the bone, y^e shall chieflie followe, if there be no filthinesse vpon it, neither yet anie oyle or fat­nesse, therefore this one thing which the Phisitions helpe to the production of flesh in the hurt patients, y^e all the place [Page 122] be drie, & euerie part of the affected bone pure, & all these are cōmon of all fractures, when as the flesh beginneth to grow of the fractures which come to the coates of the braine, if it be onlie a simple fracture, the narow kniues before remem­bred must be vsed, but if the fracture be with contusion, y^e which is contused must be cut out, first pearcing it through with Teribles or Trappons, and after with kniues, or at the beginning with Cylciscos, as néede doth require. But y^e which is done with Teribles, is dangerous, because while they more boldlie vse it, they doe often hurt Dura mater, which is the next bone. Also that which is done by Ciclis­cos is not without fault, when that it doth immoderatlie shake that which requireth rest. Therfore it liketh me best, if the fractures be great, & the bones fractured vehemently, to vse Cicliscos, for with small incision thou maiest make space with lenticuler Exciscories, & if the bones be sure and firme, they must be pearced through with a Terible. And certaine because they should not erre, haue deuised such Te­ribles as cannot sinke downe, and for that cause are named Abaptista, there goeth round about a circle, a little standing out somewhat aboue the sharp end of the Terible. Trulie it is conuenient to haue many such Teribles seruing to the thicknesse of euerie Cranium, for to a thicker Cranium a longer Terible is conuenient, I do cal it so, whose space frō the point of the Terible, & the circle extant compassing it, is longer, & to a thinner Cranium, a shorter Terible: & this also is that which hath a lesse space betwixt the point & the ring y^e goeth out. And trulie whether I shal call these more dangerous or surer than the other, but they vse those that are called Choenicidas, but vse thou with good successe Ci­cliscos, if thou bée not skilfull of those things which maye deceiue thée, neither yet more fearefull than needeth, first those that are broader, then those which are narrower, vntill thou come to Dura mater. But that bone which must bée cut out, is not to bée made bare round about with the Ciclisce, but on that part chieflie where the frac­ture is most grieuous, for besides other, the pannicle it selfe doeth most spéedelie separate from the bones that are [Page] vehementlie affected, so that there is no feare of touching y^t which is alreadie separated, for if thou hast once made one part bare, & settest thy knife, which hath in the end a blunt and light forme of a lentle, which is like a pease, and the edge erected in length, when as you haue set the broade part of the lentle vpon the pannicle, strike it with a mallet, & so then thou shalt diuide Cranium, for doing thus, all things come to passe as we would haue thē, for one cannot wound the pannicle, yea, though he did it slipping, touching it one­lie with the broade part of the lentle, which if it doth anie where cleaue to Cranium, the roundnesse of the lentle doth without daunger take that awaie, for the instrument it selfe called Lentle, cutting Cranium followeth at his back, it going before, so that thou shalt not finde out another waie of pearcing, which shall bee lesse daunger, or yet more spéedie. For thou wilt chieflie praise this in most vehement Fractures, which manie of the later Phisitions doe call Eupei somata, and Camaroseis Eupei somata are, when in the middest they indeauour, or to take a péece of the bone forth, the coate or Membrana remaining bare, Camaromata which haue the same part exalted, wherewith he did take awaie the fractured bones from the part affected, are such as most spéedelie cut an hole out, when as the ende of the Instrument called Lentle doeth easilie enter in, and those which are farre gone from the naturall habite, we shall prepare with an Instrument called Ostagran. Some of the bones which are vehementlie crushed, béeing lifted vp and turned to that parte chiefelie, that we maye put in the instrument called lentle, which done, all things after that néedeth, followe with securitie and spéedinesse, that thou mayest almost rehearse that famous saying, in which all things are well, Dimidium facti, qui bene caepit habet: that is, he which hath begun a thing wel, hath halfe brought it to passe, for héere thou hast not the halfe of the whole, but rather the whole, or else but little lesse, when as thou hast put in the Instrument called a Lentle. And this is the best manual tractation of fractures in Cranio, called Chirurgia.

Now I will héereafter shew how much of that is to bée cut awaie that is affected, that which is vehementlie frac­tured, is to be all taken awaie, and if certaine fragments come out further from it, as sometime it is séene to happen, it is not expedient to follow these to the end, being assured that hurt or damage shall follow to them that haue it, if all other thinges be rightlie done, wée doing so not once or twice, but often haue had our desire. And the Indication of doing things, is héere also taken of the nature of the affec­ted partes, for the ligature which in other fractures reason hath found out, to kéepe backe inflammations, thou canst not vse to the head. Therfore thou canst not staie that which floweth, neither expulse out of the affected partes that is in them contained, without which remedies, none of the other bones can bée conserued sound. For imagine that in the arme, the bone is broken vnto the marowe, and that none afterward doe vind it as it becommeth a Fracture, it must follow necessarilie, that not onelie the matter which is ga­thered outwardlie vnder the skinne and muscles, but also which is in the marow, doth both first and principallie cor­rupt the marrowes it selfe, & also with it the whole bone. Séeing y^t when all things are rightlie done, this doth some­time chance. How then may not such things happen to the head, séeing that it cannot haue the ligature which is due to Fractures, and also the matter sinketh downe in such sort, as all lieth vpon the coate or pannicle in other Fractures, when it is well rolled, it is so farre, that it suffereth no su­perfluous moisture to be gathered in the affected bone, that it maketh the member leaner than for his naturall consti­tution. The waie that is excogitated by ligature, cannot both so exact the fractured bone & the parts about it, y^t they shall neither be inflamed, or yéeld anie mattier, neither is there anie medicine, which in other partes can without li­gature, as we haue said, kéepe the fractured bone drie, & frée from superfluities. Wherefore we had néede first to make bare some part of the Fracture, wherby we may mundifie & wipe awaie the Sanies from the coate, and when the time of inflammation is past, and all is exactlie drie, then to [Page] incarnate and ciccatrize the place. Our talke is not héere naked & voide of matter, as the Sophists which knoweth not the workes of the art, do demand why the fractures of the head hath no Callus, they haue (O good sirs) a Callus, and you be so mad that you do assigne causes of that, which are not as though they were: we in times past did sée the bone of the fore part of the head broken, which next followeth, this is called Os temporis, in which it happeneth that the commissares are ioyned as it were like scales, in it there was most long and manifest Fractures, which I nothing touching, but cutting out the bone of the fore parte of the head did cure the man, that he now hath liued many yéeres, but if I had in like sort let alone the bone of the fore part of the head, the coate vnder it would sure haue putrified, then the fracture to haue engendered Callus, for if no Sa­nies should flow inwardlie from the affected parts, it shuld haue bene néedlesse to haue cut out the bone, therefore they (as their manner is) doe trifle, for I truelie in another ha­uing the like fracture, did thinke to let the higher bone a­lone, and to take out that which was in the sides, whereby the Sanies might flow out. But when I did marke both the thicknesse and the hardnesse of the bone, I did iudge it better to take out the bone, than for regard of the fluxe to finite vehemently the braine, and I also thought y^t it might happen, that if there were a great hole in the side, that the braine might perchance come to this part. Further, there, & that not in one place is in the sides a springing of nerues, and that of no small quantitie, when as in the high bones of the head there neuer springeth the least nerue of all, and I being by these things warned, did abstaine frō taking out the bone that was in the side of the head, and it euer had Callus, and if it were rightlie cured, and now trulie there resteth, that wée séeke out what is our principall scope of all, both medicines, and eke of all our diligence, when as the bone is perforated, whether that which is most delicate, and answerable to the pleasure of the Patient, which now the most part vse, or else that which is héereto repugnant, that is, that which is done by most vehement exiccatiue medi­cines, [Page 124] which Meges Sidonius doth praise, and a certaine Ci­tizen of ours doth alwaies vse, insomuch that he forthwith applied to the bare coate or pannicle an emplaister called I­sen, and vpon this outwardlie Oximell, trulie this old man was sufficientlie exercised in this part of the art, but I did neuer sée anie other vse them, neither yet durst I doe so. Notwithstanding I can thus much witnes with Eudemus, for that was the olde mans name, they rather escaped which were of him cured, than of those who vsed delicate medi­cines, and I had also gone about to trie the like waie of cu­ring, if I had continuallie remained in Asia, but séeing I haue bidde at Rome, I doe followe the manner of the Citie, committing the greatest part of such workes to those whom they call Chirurgions. But iudging the nature of the things it selfe, I conceiue that such certaine determina­tion to be confirmed by our experience. The auditorie cun­duit which stretcheth not onelie vnto Dura mater, but also toucheth the nerue which goeth from it to the braine, this although it be so néere, doth abide, as it is said, most vehe­ment medicines. Therefore it is no meruaile, if after the perforation of Cranium, Dura mater, before it is much molested with inflammation, doth desire most strong medicines, hauing naturallie as it were a drie substance.