I Can not forget, that at one of the many times, I had the happiness to be (Worthy Sir) in your company in London, some other of the Fa­culty being present, there occurred a Dis­course concerning Restringent Medicins: by which was meant, such as are the most cele­brated, approved, and practised, to restrain the Homorrhagies of Wounds; the Aqua Styp­tica, and Galen's famous Powder, together with proper Ligature, were preferred to all others. After some discourse on this occasi­on, I presumed to offer one, which (besides its other very many advantages for curing Wounds) I had found by many trials, the most happy and successful, I had ever read, heard off, or experimented, and that was common Oleum Terebinthinae: Mr. H— making some doubt concerning it, constrained me, [Page 2]though before such intuitive men, to attempt the reason thereof; it being indecent to im­pose on Company, things which publick ex­perience had not avowed, or my self could not as readily confirm by Sense, or Argu­ment, as affirm by Narrative; it being more mo­dest where things seem improbable (though true) and not readily verifiable by reason, or experience, to be silent.

Wherefore, because the circumstances al­lowed not of present proof, by the infallible test of the former, I offered by way of the latter, what my barren fancy could suggest to me under such discouraging circumstances, as were the sudainess of the occasion, my un­preparedness, and the sagacity of the Compa­ny, which could not but awe a more resolute undertaker than my self. What I offered, you seemed particularly pleased with, and advised me to make it known to the Publikk.

Nothing so much as your approbation, could have persuaded me to think so well of any thing I there suggested, nor ought be­sides your Commands, have induced me to commit to every man's knowledge, what hath hitherto lain private in the breasts of a very few; but Sir, your Judgment ought to be the touchstone of my Reason, no less than your Commands, the unlocker of my greatest and more secret Arcanum, whence the Patient, [Page 3]and Practitioner, if any advantage accrew to either by this publication, become obliged and redevable to you; the defects, and mis­carriages of what kind soever, ought only to rest on my account.

I know it's too common with many of the Fraternity, to slight and contemn all Novel discoveries, of this or the like nature, think­ing that nothing can more effectually secure the bleeding of wounds, than Cauteries, Deli­gation, or what other ways Education or Cu­stom hath made more familiar and practicable to them, but all those men do not consider the direful consequences of some; the unsuc­cessfulness of other such means, and methods. The intolerable pain of Cauteries, whether actual or potential, are sufficiently, and with good reason inveighed against, by Pareus, Wurts, &c. The After-fluxes, notwithstanding tying up the Vessels, the Crudity and indigesti­on occasioned by the common Stypticks, and Re­stringents, the Fevers, Mortifications, Convul­sions, loss of substance, ill-shaped Cicatrices, and stumps, the tedious continuation of Eschars, the the large, and enervating Synovia's; together with a number of other less accidents, that are the common and fatal consequences of the u­sual and most practised ways, cannot possibly occur by the use of this Balsam, if the Di­rections herewith given be observed.

Nor is the securing Hemorrhagies so very trite and easie, as some men make it. You, Sir, do well know the contrary; and that the death of many a stout Souldier and hardy Seaman, too sadly demonstrates, that an infal­lible remedy, to staunch the bleeding of Wounds is yet wanting, especially such an one, as with ease and benignity doth atchieve it; that this which I here recommend (though I affirm not its infallibility) merits the prece­dency of all yet known, and consequent­ly ought to have the esteem of every Ar­tist, will I hope appear from the following Reasons and Observations, the latter of which every ingenious Professor may confirm and improve, as he hath occasion and oppor­tunity.

Give me leave, Sir, (after I have begged pardon for the presumption of this Address, to which I became inclined and encouraged, by your favourable thoughts of the more imperfect account I gave thereof, and on consideration of the fitness such discoveries have for your approbation and notice, as be­ing deservedly the general superintendent of those for whom it's designed, and consequent­ly the most pertinent and proper hand, by which it could be conveyed to their know­ledge, or recommended to their practice and consideration) to manage my design, and dis­course [Page 5]in this order and method. First, To relate the several operations, methods, and medicaments, which are most usually practised to stop or restrain Hemorrhagies, and therein to take occasion to reflect on some, the most inartificial and successless, and to reject them. Secondly, To endeavour to demonstrate, how our Oil of Turpentine doth perform it. Third­ly, To give some directions to be observed in the use, choice, and application thereof. Fourthly, To demonstrate the other adventi­tious benefits, acquired to Wounds, (besides restraining the bleeding) by means of this Balsam. Fifthly, To illustrate, and confirm the truth of all de facto, by relating several observations, wherein it proved successful. And lastly, to relate the very many other me­dicinal Vertues of this Oil, both as internal­ly administred, or externally applied.

The ways in general, by which the Hemor­rhagies of Veins and Arteries are stopped, are reducible to these several right distinctions.

The first, is by stagnating the blood in the ex­tream parts, and allaying its briskness, and mo­tion in the larger Vessels: which is atchieved by immersing the body in cold water, or wrapping it in sheets moist with Posca, or administring Opiat medicines, or other such whose cold quality fixeth the bloud, or slac­kens its circulation. Such are Sal Prunella, aq. [Page 6]Sperm. Ranarum, &c. against all which I have this to Object.

First, That it's a great retarder of digesti­on; for whatever cooleth and allayeth fer­mentation, hinders maturation; this I speak of it, when used to that degree it ought, to effect the aforesaid design; not that I would wholly, even in the most sedate temper omit the use of moderate Julaps, or sometimes a slight Hypnotick, to asswage pain and procure rest; nor on the other hand would I use them too liberally, as they frequently are, and that because (as I have said) they are so great an Impediment, to the ground-work of healing large Wounds, nor do I only dislike their use where they pretend to stop Fluxes; but as commonly they are designed also, to pre­vent and cure the symptomatical Fevers, u­sually attending green Wounds; for that Fe­ver is not only necessary, but inevitable, and that because it's usually both the effect, and (pardon the Solecism) the cause also of di­gestion, as hath been long since intimated to us by Hipocrates, andLib. 47. cap. 2. in Hipp. prae­dict. l. 1. c. 13. Galen. Therefore, where vehement symptoms make such Medi­cines necessary, I would recommend the mix­ture of such ingredients as may also promote the Coction, by which the Fever shall be more allayed, than by the cold, anodyne things: This in Julaps, is easily done by cocting in [Page 7]them, saffron, figs, &c. or the good old Pri­san-drink, of Hordeum and Liquoris.

Secondly, This way is defective, imperfect, fallible, and of it self unable to answer the designed intention, or at best but a cojuvant Remedy, only quieting the motion of the bloud, while more secure ways of stopping the mouths of the Vessels, may be made use of, compleatly to effect it.

Thirdly, By the use of Medicines highly cold, (whether actually, or potentially so) without which this design pretends not to be effected; the nervous genus, may become in­sured, whereby the common attendants of large Wounds, Palsie, Convulsion, Spasms, Num­medness, and Insensation, may be occasioned.

Fourthly, The immersing the Body in cold water, or the inclosing it in Linnen wet with Water and Vinegar; whatever advantage they may procure pro tempore, their after­effects, are like to be very mischievous; and contrary to the design of their use; and that is, provoking an after-flux, either by begetting heats, or a feverish motion in the bloud, which it accendeth as other colds do; that is, (to say nothing of the doctrine of Antiperistasis) by shutting the pores of the skin, whereby the various recrements that used to transpire that way, being pent up, regurgitate, which Nature endeavouring [Page 8]to separate, and reject by a febrile fermen­tation; the bloud becomes inflamed; as is e­vident in Agues, the great heat in the hands, and feet, and toes, and fingers, and often Phlegmons (for such are Kibes and Chilblains,) on them both, after great cold, and handling Snow: or by separating the serous parts thereof; and so aD. Low­er de orig. Catarrh. Catarrh, Cough, &c. is occa­sioned, which begets such a saltation in the bloud, that except the wounded Vessels be well secured, it will very aptly break bounds: this is manifest in Phlebotomy, where it's fre­quent to put the Patient a Coughing, to make him bleed. I once had a near Relation, who to stop an Hemorrhage, lapped his naked body in moistned Sheets, but it begat a fatal Metap­tosis, or commutation, for such a Catarrh en­sued, as dwindled away his life by a five months Consumption: wherefore even in Hemoptysis, or spitting of bloud, from the A­nastomosis of a Vessel, either in the lungs, sto­mach, spleen, &c. It must be of hazardous use, in which cases, though perhaps Opiats, and other coolers and thickeners may have been successful; yet doth it not invalidate my objections against their use in bleeding of Wounds: because first, no digestion being required in internal bleedings, as there is in Wounds, one great Objection against it, is unconcerned. Secondly, Internal bleedings [Page 9]are incapable of local applications, so that of necessity those must be used, for being the less mischievous, become the most conveni­ent. Thirdly, Internal bleedings are not so apt to be accompanied with Convulsions, Pal­sies, &c. as are Wounds and lacerations of the nervous parts, whereby another great in­conveniency in their use is taken away. Fourthly, Internal bleedings frequently pro­ceed from redundancy, thinness, sharpness, heat, fermentation, or the like ill temper of the bloud, by which it breaks through some of the smaller Vessels (and that sometimes with innocence and great advantage, asActa med. & philos. Hafniensia num. 73. Bartholine instanceth, and Theod. Spicileg. Anatom. Kirkringius in a Pe­riodical Hemoptysis, as harmless, and healthy, as those lunary discharges from Women,) to secure which, there needs no more but to empty them by Phlebotomy, or cool, thicken, and sweeten the bloud, as the cause may re­quire. Lastly, It's very rare and unusual for internal bleedings, proceeding from, or caus­ed by the wounding, Rupture, Erosion, Diape­desis, &c. of a Vein or Artery, though but a small one, to be cured by any means whatso­ever, and that because they admit not of lo­cal application, the most certain, if not the only way by which they can be cured.

The second general way of stopping fluxes of bloud, is by inducing an Eschar, or Crust, by [Page 10]which the bleeding mouth of the Vessel is choked; these are procured either by actual or poten­tial Cauteries: the manner of performing the former, is too trite and vulgar to describe, the latter is the effect of Escarotical applicati­ons: such are Vitriolum ustum, Mercurius sublimatus corrosivus, Arsenicum, Oleum Vitrio­li, Calcanthum, Calx Viva, Aq. fortis, Aq. Re­gis, &c.

Before I remark on them, in their general qualifications as Corrosives, I shall make some reflections on those that are Mercurially and Arsenically such: I find divers Authors re­commend them,Pet. Fo­rest. ob. chyr. lib. 6. I. Vigo. lib. 3. tr. 1. c. 3. Clow's. page 135. A. Pareus. lib. 9. c. 7. M. Wise­man. lib. 5. c. 2. and have heard of some Pra­ctitioners that continue their use in this case, but with mortal Effects, as most notoriously appeared, Anno 1666. at which time, nine­teen amputated men were sent to Harwich, out of one of the Capital Ships, and at the same time and place the like number from another; of the one died all, except one, and of the other all were cured, save that small number; this account I had from a very credible Artist, then in the Fleet: where it was generally understood, that the Mercu­rial applications had made the one so unhap­py, and the contrary the other so fortunate; without doubt, that great disparity in their fates was occasioned by the venomous par­ticles of the Mercury insinuated to the Ves­sels, [Page 11]or from its constant and vehement corro­sion of the Nerves: to which Mercury as such, and more so, as acid, is a known E­nemy.

Its true, that precipitated Mercury and some mercurial waters, prepared with Sublimate, are of singular good use in Ulcers: the former being of ancient practice, and at this day used as an excellent digestive and mundifier of sor­did Ulcers: but the preparations of them both, doth either so explode their mortal and venenose Particles, as in the former, or dilute them as in the latter, that they cannot have those poisonous effects.

It is evident also to the reason of every man, that when Mercurial preparations are applied to the newly divided ends of those sensible parts, they more aptly insinuate their malignity, invenome their Liquors, and pro­duce those other fatal effects mentioned, by the intolerable pain they beget, being applied to parts of such exquisite sense, even when that faculty is irritated and become exaspe­rate by their contusion, laceration, divi­sion, &c.

The poisonous quality in Sublimate, (which was the Medicine of the above intimated Gentleman, applied to his stumps to stay the Hemorrhage) may be inconsiderable, if rightly prepared, but its corrosive salts are unmo­vable, [Page 12]a sort of it usually brought from a­broad, and what is sometimes made in Eng­land, being done with Arsenick is very mor­tal, as Mons. P. 2. l. 2. c. 10. sect. 4. & Barth. in Beguin. Le Febure complains; though there areF. Wurtts p. 4. c. 6. preparations of Arsenick it self, which are safe enough and with ease ap­plied, even to so tender a part as the Ʋ ­rethra, asDe uti­lit. Philos. Nat. part 2. Ess. 5. cap. 8. Mr. Boyle tells us, in a notable instance. Now because a great deal of mis­chief hath been often done by ill-prepared Sublimate, not only in the present cases we are discoursing of, but when internally given, as in Mercurius dulcis which is prepared of it, and crude Mercury [the fatal effects of which are now cruciating an unhappy The on­ly Son of Sir H. P. Gentle­man I am attending on, who receiving but six­teen grains thereof in a purgative Bolus, hath for many days, endured severe tor­tures, and is now languishing beyond hope of recovery.] I will communicate to my Bro­ther the young Chirurgion a few directions, by which he shall discover whether it be pre­pared with Arsenick, or not.

℞ Mercury sublimated ℈j. powder it, and throw thereon a little oleum Tartari per de­liquium; If it give the Oil a blue tincture, it's prepared with Arsenick, and is dangerous; but if it give the Oil a purple tincture, it is good and safe.

℞ Sublimated Mercury Mairss. powder it, and [Page 13]lay it in a Silver spoon, hold it over a fire till it evaporate; if it leave a Purple spot, it's good: if any other colour, its dangerous.

It discovers it self also by the strong Ar­senical smell, and by cleaving to your fingers: saith M. Le Febure ubi supra.

To proceed, Cauteries and Causticks, con­sidered only as they corrode, have too fre­quently the ill effects, hereafter to be mentio­ned, which though evident to every mans sense, and complained by goodA. Pa­rey. l. 9. c. 7. & in lib. 20. F. Wurts p. 1. c. 4. part 4. c. 56. Authors, have notwithstanding been continued with strange fondness by many, who think they can never secure an Hemorrhage without them.

As to actual Cauteries used in the case be­fore us, besides the mischiefs they occasion, and that are common to them as Escharoticks, they have their special ones, of begetting great dread and horrour in the Patient, and no less scandal to the Art and Artists, as is evident in the common upbraidings on that occasion, to be found in such as Quevedo, and the more solemnly cruel resentments of mankind against them, in the fate of Archa­gathos. Were there not milder ways of at­taining the same ends, or were this infal­lible, it were some justification and excuse; but the contrary to both being evident, our cruelty is beyond all Apology: when a member after it hath been lacerated, and [Page 14]torn asunder by a Canon shot, and under­gone a new extirpation by the Chyrurgeons Knife and Saw, must be cruciated by the dreadful, often needless, frequently mischie­vous application of his hot Irons also, ar­gueth us to have Lions paws as well as hearts: as if because an old saying had given us the one, we would of our selves assume the other.

It's moreover an operation of great nicity and difficult performance, especially in the hurry of Sea-fight; for if the Iron be too hot, it either brings off the Eschar with it, or leaves it loose; if not hot enough, it begets nothing but pain and anguish; these impeachments are so plain, that every one will excuse my Censure. I leave it to the consideration of any ingenious Men, to i­magine how difficult it is to heat those dread­ful Instruments to that exact degree they ought: and how dangerous when it's time to use them, to delay till they are reduced to it.

The Summary is this; That considering this operation to be always terrible and painful; sometimes needless, frequently mis­chievous, ever difficult to be done Artifici­ally and exactly, oftenS. For­mius, Ob. 1. successless, besides the other Objections to which its liable, in common with Corrosives; and that means [Page 15]more successful, more facilly performed, ob­noxious to none of the ill consequences hereby, are to be had; (all which are evi­dent,) it ought to be exploded by every one that valueth either his own reputation, that of his Art, or the good of his Patient.

I detract not hereby from the due worth of such Operations when used to their proper ends and occasions. I design only to ma­nifest the impertinence thereof in the parti­cular case before us, and to dehort my Bro­ther the young Practitioner from being for­ward with them, in recent Wounds, Ampu­tations, &c. the incomparable good effects of their application in other cases, where their dissuading circumstances do not exist, is known to your self, Sir, and all good Ar­tists; and is well recounted by Johannes de Vigo, Lib. 8. cap. 15. more principally after the extirpation of a Cancer, or a mortified part, where there is reason to doubt that some remains are behind, of either the malignant matter, or cadaverous flesh, as also in all venomous Wounds; but in all these, their use is not to restrain the bleeding, but to extinguish the poison and quicken the sense and life of the part, which it incomparably doth.

Having in this Classis considered, and re­jected all actual Cauteries, and those potenti­al ones that are so, by any Mercurial or Arse­nical [Page 16]mixture: I come to examine those which in a general sense are so denomina­ted, not having any venom in them, against the application of which to green Wounds, for stopping fluxes of bloud, by inducing an an Eschar, I have these following Obje­ctions.

First, It's a received truth, and of gene­ral belief in Physick, that all Acids are in­jurious to the Nerves. It's spoken of them as received internally. If so, after they are diluted by the vehicle wherein they are ad­ministred, and the Juices they circulate in, how much more so shall such potent ones be, when solely applied to them, when their tenderness and sense is irritated by wound­ing, &c. Now all Corrosives being so from their acid Salts: they when applied to a Wound, (suppose it the stump of a mem­ber) although with the utmost care, dili­gence and skill of the applier, confined to the mouths of the bleeding Vessels, shall in despight of all his endeavours to prevent it, diffuse so, that the ends of the Nerves, the Periosteum, and all the sensible parts shall suffer by their teeth, the effects of which will be Pain, Convulsion, Watching, Fever, Sy­novia, &c.

Secondly, It often happeneth, that when the Eschar they beget falleth away, the He­morrhage [Page 17]reneweth, and is then with much more difficulty restrained. Proofs hereof were endless and needless.

Thirdly, Though a Cautery or Caustick may happily stop bleeding, it occasions a flux not much less mischievous than that of the Veins and Arteries, to wit a largeThe meaning of the word, and the con­troverfie of the thing, is at large in D. Sennert. de chymic. cum Arist. & Gal. consensu ac dissensu. c. 15. Synovia, or weeping of the other Vessels, which ne­ver occurreth near the degree where those sharp applications are not made. Sometimes I have seen it flow at that extravagant rate, as in a very few hours to wet the whole bandage: the menstruous expence of which Serum (whether it be that of the bloud, Lymphaducts, or Nerves, or all) must consi­derably dry, enervate and dispirit. If their uses in the body, (according to Severinus, Paracelsus, Glisson, and Scheunemannus) are to humect, strengthen, convey the animal Spi­rits, and (as Dr. Glisson particularly of the Succus Nervosum) to nourish.

Fourthly, It often happeneth, where strong Escaroticks have been applied, that when the Crust hath been removed, so much of the flesh is found eroded and come away there­by, the remaining sound part also shrunk so far back, (as they most evidently do after Cauteries) that the bone is left bare, and stands out beyond the Level: so that the Chirurgeon must either take it off anew, (a [Page 18]thing not easie to be done well) or by te­dious incarnation, raise the flesh to it, the consequences of which will be an incura­ble dysepulotick Ulcer, which also depri­veth the Patient of benefit by that part of our Art, which teacheth us to supply the defects of Nature, it being difficult, if not impossible for him, to use an artificial stump or supplemental Leg, till the Ulcer be ci­catrized.

Fifthly, The difficulty and danger of re­moving Escars, the tediousness thereof, the filthy stench and putrefaction thereby occa­sioned, are ills that are particular to this way of stopping the hemorrhage of a Wound.

The third way of restraining fluxes of blood from wounded Veins or Arteries, is by coagu­lating it in or about the mouths of the Ves­sels bleeding, whereby they are choaked; this is acquired either by local Medicines, or ma­nual Operation: the former is done by all sweet vitriolate Medicines,G. Hor­stins. ob. 12. l. 9. telleth us, of the He­morrhage of an Ar­tery stay'd by laying a bit of O­pium in the place bleeding. such as the Aq. styptica R. &c. as also by Narcoticks and o­ther Specificks: such are Pulv. Bufonum, Bufo Siccata, Lapis haematitis, Bole, &c. and the common applications of that nature, but they are not seldom ineffectual, ei­ther because the Vessels are large, and con­sequently the torrent of the blood also, which admits not of the designed effect on [Page 19]them, either by diluting the application, or washing it off, and the small coagulations it may induce before they become large, or firm enough to answer the intention; or else from the crasis of the blood it self, which in many habits is so serous, hot and thin as renders it incapable of coagulation by such weak causes: neither of these are possible when our Medicine is applyed. For first its being unctuous, will not admit its mix­ture with bloud, wherefore it cannot be di­luted thereby. Secondly, It's evident by experiment the fourth following, that it thickens even the serum of the bloud, and therefore cannot fail of coagulating it, though the temperament thereof be very serous.

Every Artist using this Method, is so ap­prehensive of the uncertainty of it's effects,S. Formi­us, contin­ued such a dressing 7 days with­out mov­ing them. Observ. 1. to stay the hemorrhage of a bleed­ing Axil­lary, after Cautery, &c. had been in vain used. (especially when large Vessels are wound­ed) that they fear to loose or remove ei­ther Ligature, or dress, until the second or third, (sometimes not until the fourth) day, although it be lacerated Wound, whereby great putrefaction is ingendred, causing faint­ness, mortification of the part, or at best crudity and indigestion by extinguishing the natural heat, and destroying the Crasis there­of; not to mention the stench and scanda­lous noisom smell it usually yieldeth by rea­son [Page 20]of the putrilage, nor the pain of the Li­gature so long continued to retain the dres­sings; nor its contributing to a Gangrene or the like ills by its continual pressure, whereby the influx of the Spirits are im­peded.

The great noise and fame of the Royal Styptick figure invented by Monsieur Denys, communicated to his Majesty, approved andPhilo­soph. Trans. n. 94, 95, 96. tryed by Mr. Serjeant Wiseman and others: of which Mr. Oldenburgh gives us a large Narrative, hath been frequently found ve­ry fallible; a considerable instance where­of is, that after the extracting a Tooth from — it could not restrain the slight flux following it; I say, the first and infant reputation of this Gallique tincture, and ac­count given the Publique of its monstrous effects and success, doth for the most part oppugn what I have here alledged to disparage that way of Restriction, and would unanswerably confute it, if it were able to support its own reputation. The Medicine is rationally composed, and de­serves well, but not so much applause as its Author assumed.—

The latter way of inducing this choaking Coagulation, is by manual operation; that is by the use of Buttons, Dossils, Ligature and Compress, or holding the Thumb or Finger on [Page 21]the Orifice so long, till the bloud for want of motion coagulate, all which are not with­out their great inconveniencies and disap­pointments, as to Ligature and Compress thereby. I have just now sufficiently anti­cipated any Objections here: you may please to remember, that Mr. Hobbs furnished me with an instance to the discredit of But­tons, &c. for that they sometimes bury them­selves amongst the Muscles and Eschars, as he found once at St. Bartholomews Hospi­tal, in a stump sent from Mr. — where those Engines which had been applyed to choak the Vessels had slipt up the intersti­ces of the Muscles, and seemed to him (when he first felt them) to be small shot; so that to a plain stump, they had the kind­ly accession of a sinuous Ulcer or two, con­tracted by their having laid there some con­siderable time, the member being taken off at Sea. I find complaints of this nature, and cautions thereupon given us,page 304. by Mr. Woodal.

The latter way of the Finger or Thumb: is famous for the effect it had on one of the former Princes of Orange, of which my Lord Bacon gives an account.Sylv. Sylv. cent. 1. experim. 66. It being al­so used at this day to small and despicable Hemorrhagies: to which sort only it proveth effectual; it being difficult to imagine how [Page 22]it should have such prosperous success on such large Vessels as are divided in the am­putation of a member. It being very tedi­ous, and while performing, the Wound must lie without dressing, open and expo­sed to the air; nor can it be supposed ef­fectual in the slightest aperture; if it be but either a little deep from the skin, or of any other form except what it hath, by being divided transversly, that so the com­pression may be made fully and immediate­ly upon it.

The fourth general way of stopping the He­morrhagies of Wounds, is by the application of such things as having a clammy, glutinous, gummy, glewy or the like nature; hardneth upon, and so choaketh the Orifice of the divi­ded Vein or Artery. Such are Rosin pow­dered, whites of Eggs, the hair of an Hare, Clay, all Earths, &c. I would not, if I could, detract from the worth of that famous Powder of Galens, to which so many thou­sands have owed their preservations. I will only say that none of those Medicines, or any other operating the same way, can en­dure competition with ours upon these se­veral accounts.

They answer not the intention so sudden­ly; Nor so surely,

Thirdly, Nor so generally; for in small [Page 23]deep Wounds, they do nothing to it as our Balsam doth; for if a Syringe-pipe can but enter into them to inject it, the flux is secured, as shall be anon confirmed.

Fourthly, None of them produce any o­ther benefit to Wounds, not curable by consolidation but restraining the flux, (of which they often fail); whereas this of ours incomparably digests, &c. while it's al­so stopping the fluxes, as shall be more at large evinced in due place.

Fifthly, All those things, (especially the whites of Eggs and Hares hair) when ap­plied to green Wounds and stumps: where no digestion being, no matter floweth to humect them; adhere sometimes to the very wounded flesh, always to the skin on the edges, whence they become difficult to remove without pain, and hazard of a new flux.

Sixthly, All those Dressings must be kept on long; those immediately on the Ori­fices of the bleeding Vessels, much longer, whereby those pernicious effects are occa­sioned, already said to follow the like pro­lix continuance of dressing to cure the bleeding of Wounds the third foregoing way.

The fifth manner of curing Hemorrhagies, is that of Ambrosius Pareus,Lib. 10. cap. 3. by deligation of [Page 24]the Vessel: a way always tedious, often suc­cessless; and whatever vaunts the Author makes of it, it cannot be so secure as he pretends; it being liable, (sometimes from the slackness, otherwise from the too great straightness of the thred: sometimes from its smalness, cutting through, or from its weakness, giving way) to a new flux when not so tolerable to the Patient, or so easily cured by the Artist as at first; Moreover, where two Vessels or more bleed in one Wound, (which is very frequent) the one must be neglected, while the Liga­is making on the other, it being no less impossible that two Operators should be tying together at one Wound, than that one alone should do it: nor is it easie to come at the ends of the Vessels, because they forthwith retire when divided. I for­bear to insist on many of those things, they being evident to every man's appre­hension; nor on the tediousness of finding them, nor the difficulty in separating them from a concomitant Nerve, (where such is.) The ligation of an Artery on other accounts, as in the Toothach, Epiphoras, Aneurisma, &c. is not hereby impugned.

A Sixth general Method for the stopping of the Hemorrhagies of Wounds, is by Sarco­ticks, or Incarnatives: such are Aloes, Thus, [Page 25]Pulv. Astringens Galeni, &c. by which it's supposed, the mouths of the bleeding Ves­sels become covered and choaked with new begotten flesh; but while this new flesh is generating, they are in such daily hazard of a new flux, that they dare not meddle with their Ligature, nor dressing in a te­dious while, nor much longer with that ly­ing immediately on the mouth of the Ves­sel; whence it's easie to guess what incarn­ing there is like to be, perhaps such putre­faction is contracted by the detestable con­tinuance of one dressing, as shall constrain the Artist to pervert the course and inten­tion of Art, by using Mundificatives after Incarners, and Digestives after both. I pre­sume to tell you Sir, that I am not with­out reason if I affirm it a mistake in those, who suppose Galen's Powder doth by this way restrain a Flux; those very few things things in it that are Sarcotick, are so satu­rated by the whites of Eggs, and Hares hair, that they cannot influence their Vir­tues, whereas they two alone without the commixture of those Powders, shall do it; where then is the Incarnation? Neither is it sense to suppose, that a dossil dipt in an Incarnative Medicine, (suppose this to be such) can beget flesh, when it's not only diluted with bloud, but to operate on a [Page 26]part unprepared for it by digestion, &c. (which ought to precede) and when per­haps, to abide on the place six times lon­ger, than any incarnate force remaineth in it.

I do not deny, that the protrusion of the circumjacent flesh, and the retiring of the divided Vessels, and perhaps sometimes a little Incarnation may choak and cover the ends of them which way soever the flux be restrained; but that being a Post­fact, cannot properly be called a stopper of bloud, but a securer of bloud stopt; for were it not atchieved before by the closing of the ends of the Vessels, an extravasation or new flux would follow; a memorable instance of which I shall relate in the thir­teenth Observation, where after the bleed­ing had been stop'd ten days, and Incarna­native Medicines to fill up the Wound had been used three; yet a strong flux broke out, without any manifest cause.

The Seventh general way of staying He­morrhagies is by revulsion and derivation: I put them together, because their difference is very inconsiderable; and in this case are performed by one method, scil. Cups, Frictions, Ligature, and Phlebotomy.

The First, by being applyed to parts re­mote from the place bleeding, is supposed [Page 27]to give the bloud a motion (by drawing it) that way; this I confess in small and internal Hemorrhagies, where applications are impossible to be made locally, may con­tribute much; but in the Hemorrhages which attend Wounds, being usually large, they signifie very little being such weak assisters as are seldom used, never relied on.

The second being made on the extreme parts remotest from the Hemorrhage, are sup­posed not only to attract the course of the bloud that way, but so to inlarge and di­stend the Vessels, as to give them more ca­pacity to contain a quantity, exceeding their proportion, by which the tendency of the bloud towards the part wounded is not only diverted, but a great and redun­dant portion thereof, kept circulating in the part chaffed, (especially if assisted by Ligature) while the mouth of the bleed­ing Vessel is securely occluded; Frictions being supposed to keep at least the due proportion of bloud, to the part where it's used, (wherefore it's so much used in Syncopes and regurgitations thereof on the heart); which being effected, it's easie to imagine, that the flux wheresoever it be, cannot much exceed the particular stock of the part where it is, which may be tole­rable enough; because after the Hemorrhage [Page 28]is secured; it may be supplyed by Detach­ments from the rest.

The same answer given the former, is not impertinent to this: adding withal, that Fri­ctions, by rarifying and heating the bloud, though but in one part, will yet have influ­ence in the rest: for in despight of this sup­position, it will when so heated and attenu­ated, mix with the Mass, and not a little ad­minister that quality thereunto; whereby instead of impeding, it will considerably in­haunce the Hemorrhage.

The third, being made in the extreme and remote parts also; retains the bloud there, and compressing the Veins more than the Ar­teries wholly impedes the return thereof: and yet admits (as far as the spring of the bloud is able to propel, and the capacity of the Vessels to contain) a greater quantity than is proportioned; this is evident, on Li­gature made for Phlebotomy, and the repleti­on of the Vessels upon it, whence the bloud is at once derived, revelled and fixed, and indeed a flux many times, if not wholly stayed, yet considerably rebated thereby, whence it becomes easie to stop by local applications; somewhat also is attributed to the pain caused by Ligature, which is sup­posed to attract (as they all do) to the place where they are made, and so derive [Page 29]the bloud from the part bleeding, as hath been often tryed, by painful tying the little Finger only, in an Hemorrhage of the Nose; an other besides this sort of Ligature, is made also in Amputations to stay the flux, which may not be improper here to take notice of; for although (besides some other uses not pertinent to our present en­quiry,) they seem to design only, to hin­der the deflux of the bloud to the part; yet they thereby also revel, by so turning its course another way, and thus all those made immediately above the place of Ex­cision; and those made remotely above that are advantagious, some men (and not a­miss) using always three Ligatures in Am­putation, one on each side the division, the other as far above it as the place will admit.

I allow the Reason and use of all these Ligatures, and except against nothing they design; but that they are but partial ways, being unable alone, and of themselves to cure, (though they for the present stop) an Hemorrhage, not being to continue with­out great hazard. (I once saw in an hasty Amputation the Ligature left on, which be­gat such horrible symptomes, as cost the Patients life) there being also necessity to slacken them when your dress is in hand, [Page 30]that you may by the flux see where the ends of the bleeding Vessels are, and dispose of your applications accordingly.

Sir, I hope it will not be altogether im­pertinent, if I here take occasion to recom­mend to the young Practitioner, one way of Ligature very useful in Amputations, espe­cially above the Knee; that is to say, a wadd of hard linnen cloth, or the like, in­side the Thigh a little below the Inguen, then passing a Towel round the member; knit the ends of it together, and with a Battoon, a Bedstaff, or the like; twist it, till it compress the Wadd or Boulster so very strait on the crural Vessel, that (the circu­lation being stopped in them,) their bleed­ing when divided by the Excision, shall be scarce large enough to let him see where to apply his Restrictives, nor shall the pain of that Operation be comparable to what it would be, were not the member nummed by the Compress. Yet I would direct him in all Constrictions, whether by gripe, nar­row Ligature, or this we recommend, to slacken it a little before the application of his Dress, the better to find by their bleed­ing where his care and applications are most needful; for want of this necessary Cau­tion, poor Patients do often lose much bloud unknown to the Chirurgeon, it ha­ving [Page 31]lain conceal'd withing the encompassing bladder: nor is inartificial Ligature, and many thick pledgets and boulsters of less in­conveniency and mischief; for that they often imbibe the extravasate bloud, con­cealing many large expences thereof.

As to Phlebotomy, the last mentioned way of Revulsion and Derivation; it's also to be made on the remotest part from that bleed­ing, by which it's supposed to give the bloud a motion that way, and so derives its course from the part wounded, and by emptying the Vessels, slackens and rebates its efflux, from those that are hurt. This doth eminently contribute even in fluxes from Wounds, where there is a Plethora ad vasa, a repletion of the Vessels, and is in­comparably useful in Hemorrhagies from in­ternal Ruptures, penetrating Wounds, Hae­moptysis, Hemorrhagies from the Nose, hemor­rhoidal Veins or Womb, &c. but in any other circumstances it's so far from being service­able, that it begets mischief, and answers not the chief end and design of its use, no re­vulsion how plenary soever, being of its self (without local application) able to stop a flux from a wounded Vessel.

So that briefly, it's always but a partial, sometimes a needless, often a mischevous way; the first, because it only assists; the [Page 32] second, when need to temperate Constituti­ons; the third, because it hinders digestion, I mean in great Wounds, and moderate ha­bits; but in bodies very plethorick, that have not bled sufficiently at the Wound, whence the symptomatical Fever may be­come so high, as to beget a Phrensy, Deliri­um, Hemorrhage, &c. or that from some manner or circumstance of the Wound (as large Con­tusion, Laceration, Fracture, Puncture, &c.) there be hazard of a Gangrene. It's very ad­vantagious, excepting to such as are caused by a poisonous Weapon or venomous bite, in which Phlebotomy is pernicious; for though it be for the most part an enemy to matu­ration, by rebating that heat which should concoct the matter: yet in such extraordi­nary cases, where there is more matter than nature can overcome and digest, or that be­cause of the plenitude of bloud, and vigo­rous spirits (which when agitated in this work, would kindle and combust.) there would be danger of a too violent Fever, and other ill effects of the perturbation; It hath been found,River. lib. 17. sect. 3. c. 1. that the drawing off some thereby hath facilitated the work; but other ways, and most commonly bleeding retards it, as is evident from the design thereof, when used after Contusions, in Ecchymosis, incipient Phlegmons, &c. viz. to prevent their Apostu­mation.

Of this, amongst the forein Chirurge­ons which in my Travels I have conversed with, viz. French, Hollanders, Portuguez, Spaniard, Italian, and Germans: the latter only have had the discretion to be sensible, and so highly are they so, that they will scarcely allow of venae section, though very urgent symptomes that might be remedied thereby, have called for it.

It will be no impertinent digression, if I inlarge this part of my Discourse, by taking notice of, and reproving another design hereof in Wounds, and that is the curing or preventing the symptomatical Fevers at­tending them, against which practice I ob­ject this Dilemma, That it either faileth of performing that intention, or by doing it, quite hinders and destroys Digestion, which being ever procured with a Fever, (as I have already suggested and proved) he that bleeds till that be taken away, must do it till all the bloud be extracted; this is manifest to any Artist, that hath observed how those wounds from which so incredible a quantity of bloud hath been shed, as would tempt a man to believe it impossible for the flame of a Fever to find any fewel, have yet had that inevitable accident whilest di­gestion hath been performing; this hath been often evident to me, particularly in [Page 34]the cases to be mentioned in the Seventh and Ninth Observation, concluding this Dis­course: in both which, though the expence of bloud was monstrously great, yet a ve­ry brisk Fever accompanied them, though the former by reason of his internal Wounds had been phlebotomized, and received se­veral of the following draughts: ℞ Crystal. minerale ʒ j. Syr. Symphyt. ℥iss. A (que) Sperm. R. Plant. Scabiosae. Papav. Rh. ana ℥j. misce. Hence it's evident Phlebotomy cannot hinder the Fever;Those are Aven­zoar, Fra­castorius, Helmont, Angelus, Sala, Mich. Fehr. Lan­gius, Deu­singius, Rolfinkius, and of our own Countrey­men. Dr. T. Sy­denham, Dr. Tob. Whitaker, p. 27, &c. M. N. Me­del. Med. p. 408. G. Tomson, cap. 7. Nor is D. Willis so fond of it, if his Discourse be considered, c. 15. de Feb. Sanguinis missio, si plethora adfit, — circa missionem sanguinis instante variolarum eruptione, valde ambigitur. Of the same cautelous opinion is Dr. Sennertus de feb. l. 4. c. 12. and Riverius, lib. 17. sect. 3. c. 2. that it impedes Digestion, hath been already made good from the use and end of it, in Phlegmons, in fieri, &c.

Let me further illustrate all this, by com­parison with the Small Pox, meerly putrid; in which Phlebotomy is so much decried, not only by the vulgar and illiterate, but by the men of Degree and Books: the one from fact and the frequent unsuccessfulness there­of, the other from reasons in Physick, a­mong which what I have here alledged a­gainst it's use in Wound-Fevers, is not the least.

I am not insensible of the many Authors,See Mr. Stubbs a­against Tomson, where you have them quo­ted and urged at large from page 172, to page 258. Vide Dr. Willis, loc. cit. & ubi dicit—interim cautio sit, ne fermen­tationis seu effervescen­tiae opus ullatenus cohibea­tur, — & River. Ubi Supra. that by Advice direct, and by Observation confirm the benefit or harmlesness thereof. But it's rarely found so saving in hot Coun­treys, Flagrant Constitutions, Plethorick Bo­dies, (in all which the coctive heat is not weakned thereby, and yet the extrava­gance of the matters quantity rebated, by which it is sooner, and with more ease digested) and in all these e're coction be­gan, it being equally hazardous, and unsafe to bleed in a digesting Wound, in a sup­purating Plegmon, (that is large,) and in the Variolae that are cocting, and disposed to extrusion, except in the unusual, and extra­ordinary circumstances above-mentioned.

The Fever accompanying the incipient Variolae, or Small Pox beginning, is symp­tomatical and necessary, and the Delirium that is sometimes thereby occasioned, very harmless, and what they soon recover when the matter is ripened and thrust out; wherefore the most prudent and successful Method I ever found, (having been concerned in ma­ny of that Disease) and that is practised by prosperous Women, are considerably hot: such are Sack, and Saffron, Treacle-wa­ter, Mithridate, Venice Treacle, Aqua Epide­mica, decoctions of Rue, Figs and Cochianel, Bezoar, &c. whereby the Fever is inhaun­sed; [Page 36]but the Coction quickned and dis­patch'd: which when they find, and that the Pox appear well out, and the Fever decline, they abandon hot things, and use such as are altogether temperate, having thereby framed and setled to themselves this Rule, till the Pox are well out, you can­not use any thing too hot, nor afterwards things tooThis, cum grano Salis. cold. This is evident, that very few die of the Initial Fever, or any symptome concomitant with the Coction, except Phlebotomy have perverted the in­tention and design of Nature, by checking the Coction, or disturbing the course they were in for expulsion.

This I speak, allowing still the reason for bleeding in the former respects and con­siderations, and do apply the whole to Practice, in the case before us, viz. the di­gestion, i. e. the maturation of Wounds: there being an identity in the Reasons and Circumstances. Therefore in temperate Con­stitutions, a due quantity and quality of blood, I am so far from bleeding, or gi­ving cool things, though symptoms have been brisk, and seemed to call for it, that I have administred, as well as applied Di­gestions, (all which are hot) whereby as­sisting Nature to overcome and coct the matter, I have sooner than usual took off [Page 37]the Fever, dispatched the Digestion, and prevented the expence of much of my Pa­tients bloud, spirits and strength.

The eighth and last general way of stopping the Hemorrhagies of Wounds, is by closing the Orifices of the Vessels and uniting them. This is supposed to be done by all mild Vitrio­lates aluminous, and some Styptick, conglu­tinating Applications, who from their aspe­rity, driness and moderate sharpness, shrink up the coats, and by that means consti­pate the bleeding Vessel; D. W. Needham, and M. Serjeant Wiseman, seem to affirm this done by the A (que) Styptica R.Num. 95. as appears in their Narratives, published in Mr. Olden­burgh's Philosophical Transactions: but whe­ther they supposed it only, (their enquiry being whether, not how it stop'd the bleed­ing) or delivered it on certain knowledge, is what I cannot determine from the ex­pressions made use of: nor whether any such effect have been produced by any o­ther Medicine save my own, which will be my next work to discover.

Thus, Sir, I have finished, and examined all the common ways of stopping bleeding: pardon my vanity, if I think I have shew­ed manifestly, that in many respects, they are most of them precarious and uncertain. whatever credit, long continuance, &c. [Page 38]may have purchased for them. This I have attempted, not out of design the better to establish my own, (a practice common with Innovators,) but on the sincere sug­gestions of Reason, Experience and Autho­rity, by all which every of my criminations are supported.

There is another way very improperly computed by A. Pareus, and Dr. Read, amongst those of stopping the Hemorrhagies of Wounds, which is by dividing the bleed­ing Vessel, that its ends shrinking up be­tween the muscles, &c. may become choak­ed: but were this true, we should behold its effects in Amputations, and have no flux in those Wounds that divide the Arteries or Veins; but the contrary being evident, I have reason to slight it, as being also im­practicable, and of no general application, or use.

And now methinks I find my self accosted by the Critick, with this question; If these are all the ways of stopping Hemor­rhagies, and that all of them are thus de­fective, and liable to so many ill conse­quences: how comes it that so many large Fluxes are frequently restrained without the assistance of any other Method, or Me­dicament?

My Answer is contained in the following [Page 39]considerations: That those ways here ob­jected against, though they have stop'd He­morrhagies, have not done it with that be­nignity and certainty as ours doth; for that great expences of bloud have been made, e're it hath been perfected.

Many men have died of the symptomes and effects, not only of the loss of the bloud, but those ill applications, though they have not been noted, or observed as the cau­ses.

I have no where affirmed them to be generally and in all respects fallible, that most of them have failed in large fluxes, is a known truth; that I never found mine so uncertain, but that I might rely thereon, (which can never be said of the rest,) is not a little sure to me. Now on these re­spects, though I have preferred my own, I have not so far disparaged theirs, as to de­ny them wholly destitute of power to stay many Hemorrhagies: nor should I my self decline them, where I were denied my own; that man were certainly mad, that would rather be naked, than put on cloths much worn, or old fashioned; things are every day improved, and more accommo­dated to our conveniency; the advantage of the latter, though it exceed and depre­ciate, doth not altogether invalidate and [Page 40]make impracticable the former. The old way of Navigation, was to coast on the shoar, whereby a Voiage to Morlaix from hence, became at least an hundred and fifty Leagues; but the Modern and improved way, by the advantage of the Compass, shortens it by at least six score: he were certainly a ridiculous Mariner that would slight that advantage, and he no less that being ignorant of its use, or in impossibility of having the benefit thereof, would de­cline his Voyage, rather than pursue it the old way.

My Second general Ʋndertaking, was to shew the way how I conceive, our Balsam so suddenly, and sometimes without Ligature, se­cureth Hemorrhagies. In order to which I shall first relate divers Observations and Ex­periments made of Oleum Terebinthinae, and humane bloud, and the various Phaenomena thereof, and then from thence deduce proofs for which I shall presume in this Par­ticular.

Experiment I Take Oil of Turpentine; heat it, and spread it on a planed board, or other Tim­ber; the subtil volatile parts thereof: some exhale, others insinuate thereinto, leaving the gummy resinous fixed part behind, which becomes a very firm, tough and adhering inte­gument, and is commonly called Varnish, be­ing [Page 41]so used, to keep the wood from cor­rupting by the Air, or from Worms: Pain­ters for that reason also tempering their Colours therewith, especially the brigh­ter ones; for then though not heated, it soon hardeneth, as doth Lin-seed Oil, and without becoming yellowish, as that doth.

Experiment II Dip your little Finger (first washed clean, and dryed) in reeking bloud of an Artery; and then in hot Oil of Terebinth. and they shall soon become like a tough skin, or covering thereunto: so contracting or shrinking, as to beget a sensible griping or straitness thereon, and will not easily re­move without Oil, or some unctuous body.

Experiment III Lay a drop, two, or three of hot Oil of Turpentine on a polished Marble, or piece of clean smooth glass, and the spirituous volatile parts (of which it mostly consists) evaporating away, the remainder having at first expanded it self, doth now manifestly shrink up: and (having at first application, by insinuating to the little insensible Cavities thereof, a firm hold) endeavours as it were to contract it self, and the substance to which adhereth; but its stubbornness will not yield to so weak a spring, but in fine cloth and such pliable matter, it evidently ef­fects it; the reason hereof is very plain, its heat makes it more subtil and penetra­ting, [Page 42]by which its rarified parts get in and fasten themselves to the matter on which it lieth, and by that heat gently exhaling its volatile parts, which being the most of its quantity, the more tough and gummy re­mains, endeavour to contract, to supply the evaporations of their finer particles: in which attempt, being in their circumfer­ence fastned firmly (as all resinous bodies aptly are) to the matter on which they lodg, they contract that also, if it be soft and flexible enough to yield to that action.

Experiment IV Heat an ounce of Oleum Terebinthinae, in a bloud-porringer that would hold three ounces: let a Vein, or an Artery bleed it full, and you shall find the bloud instantly to coagulate, not a loose frangible crud­ling as Acids produce therein; but a more tough, fast, and as it were gummy conden­sation; let it stand a while, and the Oil shall all of it separate and superside: the longer it stands, the harder the bloud grows, especially the Surface, which will become very tough. This Experiment I made many times: and (which is very remark­able) always found it without any Serum, though the rest of the bloud drawn simply, and set to cool in other Porringers, did a­bound therewith: now view this conden­sed blood by a Microscope, and it appears [Page 43]very firm, compact, close and opake; but the other, though severed from it's Serum, shews thin, and almost translucid; that crud­led by a solution of Vitriol, looks like a heap of loose black dirt, or gravel: the former only resembling black Pitch, by which that it's fittest for the performance, we shall by and by discover.

Experiment V After the bloud so condensed hath stood two hours or thereabouts with the Oil upon it; the surface of the bloud be­comes whitish, view this also through the Glasses, and you will find there to be a num­ber of light spots, on the rim thereof, having various shapes and figures, neither round, square, nor regular. I endeavoured to move it with a Needle, whilst mine eye was on it through the Tube, by which I discovered it to be a colour of the superfi­cial bloud, not any milky separate matter, as I apprehended.

Experiment VI At the same time, thrusting the point of the Needle through the Surface, and lift­ing it up, to see how far that whitishness continued, beyond the rim of the bloud; I found it no deeper than the upper skin: but what was very observable, the Needle though fine pointed: when I lifted up the Surface therewith, came not through it by one division thereof, as it did in other [Page 44]coagulations; but forcing up the hardned superficies, it broke at some distance round about it, so that a flap was thereby made like a Trap-door, or a Valve: which upon withdrawing my Needle, fell into its place again: A clear proof of its being very firm and tough.

Experiment VII This coagulated bloud, made so by Oil of Turpentine, is a most incomparable Bal­sam, to heal Wounds by Consolidation, or to digest and incarn those that require it. It's known that internal Wounds and Ulcers, be­ing incapable of local application, are cured by vulnerary Dyets; which, say the Learned, is by hightning and improving the Balsam of the bloud. Now to make it a good Topical Balsam, I think nothing exceeds the celebrated Oil of ours: as any one that will experiment it, may easily assure himself: for though there be no sensible commixture; yet after the subsiding bloud is freed from the Oil swimming a top of it: yet by the smell it appears considerably impregnated therewith.

Sir, I want leisure to make other trials, necessary to a full discovery, and solution the Question, how this Medicine stops He­morrhagies of Wounds. Those here given you, are all I have been able to make, since your Commands have been upon me: [Page 45]there are a few more, which I would re­commend to the examination of the Curi­ous; and which I shall attempt, as I have opportunity, and give you account of the success.

First, I would try whether hot Oleum Terebinthinae doth not sensibly occlude the aperture of an Artery, or Vein, by taking the Crural, or Carotid ones of a Dog, and making Ligature on the further part, would there divide it, and draw out the untied end as far as it would come, stopping its bleeding, by a compress of my Thumb and Finger: and so dip it in the hot Oil, slackning my compressure to let some of the bloud flow: after which totally stopping it for a time would then repeat the tryal, till I found how long after its immersion therein, it would be, before it so firmly closeth, as of it self to retain the bloud. I would then also examine, whether any U­nition were confirmed; how long it's a do­ing; whether the bloud coagulate within the Orifice; and by so oppilating it, contri­bute to the stay of the Hemorrhage. I would also in one day amputate the Thighs of ma­ny Animals of one species, and bind them up with dressing of Oleum Terebinthinae: every day afterwards, I would examine (even so exactly as with a Microscope) how [Page 46]Nature works, what she is doing, and hath done, in the several parts of that time to the divided Vessels, to secure their flow­ing.

I would also by Punctures, oblique, and transverse incisions of the Arteries; and which is worst, by tonging them as boys do Reeds, to make musick with: try if if they would not be closed by this Oil; how it's effected with the different ways and steps Nature takes to atchieve it; these I would recommend to the men of leisure and Curiosity; as also the re-examination of those tryals I have made, desiring them, if in one or more, they find not all things to agree with my account, they would re­peat them, considering they may sometimes fail, by reason of a different crasis in the bloud, from some fault in the Oil, or some other unknown occasion, (perhaps his own perfunctory attempts) with this patience and Ingenuity,Essay the second, of unsucces­ful Expe­riments, page 107. Edit. 2. Mr. Boyle tried some such related Experiments of the Lord Bacon, and Sir Thomas Brown; and though after divers repetitions he found they did not succeed, yet at last had his expectations gratified.

From all the aforesaid appearances, it seems probable to me, that our Balsam doth thus restrain Hemorrhagie; first on its appli­cation, it contracts the bleeding Orifices: [Page 47] Exper. second and third, begetting also that firm Coagulation of the bloud, Exper. first and fourth, and that not externally only, but internally also; by the former it constipates, by the latter it chokes and oppilates them: that externally assisting also to the griping the end, or aperture of the bleeding Vessel, and thereby strengthens the occlusion, the bloud being unable to penetrate it, by Exp. the seventh; it's probable the Coagulum heal­eth up the Orifice of the bleeding Vein or Artery, either by uniting the Coat, or by Concarnation, i. e. begetting some interme­diate substance, which it will nimbly do, being internally and externally lodged up­on it.

This, Sir, is the best Mechanical account I can give, or apprehend of the matter. I hope by future tryals of my own, or some more intuitive Experimentators, I may be confirmed in this opinion concerning it; or that a truer solution thereof (if such can be) will be dilucidated.

Whether the actual heat of the Medicine, may not contribute especially to the shrivel­ing the wounded Vessel, is to me no doubt­ful question; having found on the cold ap­plication thereof, those effects were not produced: from whence I would also in­fer, that the first mentioned Experiments [Page 48]operated on the bleeding Vessel, accord­ing to my Explication of them, since with­out the actual heat necessary to cause those Phaenomena, the bloud is not stayed; Ergo, it must be stopped either by the immediate effect of its actual heat, or those mediate ones, related in the first Experiments: or (as I am inclined to believe) by a con­currence of both.

Whether the adstringing quality, ascribed to the Turpentine tree, byLib. 8. de Simp. med. fa­cult. Galen, Lib. 1. cap. 72. Dio­scorides, Laguna, Gerard, &c. Cortex, folia, & fructus ejus, adstringunt, have here any juvancy, I know not. There seems to be a stypticity in the Oil it self, when rubbed between the Fingers: of what use here I leave to other Judgments.

If the whiteness appearing, Experiment 5. be a tendency of the bloud to matura­tion, it's a strong evidence of the dige­stive faculty of our Balsam.

My third general design, is to give some directions to be observed in the choice and use of this Medicine. As to the former, I am to acquaint my Brother Chirurgeon, that there is no essential, though there be a reputed difference, between what is cal­led by some the Spirit, and by others, the Oil of Terebinth; they being names promis­cuously given to one and the same kinds [Page 49]of thing, when in reality they areSee Mr. Febure, part. 2. lib. 2. sect. 10. cap. 19. all Oils, as is evident by their swimming on water, wherewith they will also commix upon shaking together in a Phial, and se­ver again upon standing a while, as in the Aq. Gonorrhea Quercetani; the first running in the distilling Turpentine being a thin limpid spi­rit, inducedTyroc. chym. lib. 2. c. 4. Beguinus andInstit. Med. lib. 5. part. 3. sect. 3. c. 5. Sennertus, so to denominate it; but our Colledge more truly, Oleum tenue & album, instar aquae; the Augustans andDe oleis chym. di­stil. Ernestus, the white Oil andComp. Chym. s. 2. c. 7. Mons. Glassier, the Aethereal Oil of Terebinth.

But though they are all Oils, they are not all alike so: for when distilled accor­ding to the way of the Augustan Dispen­satory, and that directed by Glassier ubi su­pra, Tyroc. Chym. l. 2. c. 6. Beguinus, Euonymus, Thesau­rus, page 314. Philiatrus, Er­nestus, (which is R. Terebinthinae pellucidae quantum volueris, distilletur lento igne per re­tortam s. a.) there comes first Oleum Album, ad quod sequitur flavum, & ultimo rubrum— but when done according to our Phar­macopoea, Sennertus Ubi Su­pra. institut. And one way of Ernestus, by putting four times its quan­tity of water into the Alembick there­with; there cometh little other than this white Oil; the former is questionless the best way, (only incident to Empyreumat.) and the last red Oil coming thereby, the [Page 50]chiefest for our purpose; next to it is the yellow, and where neither is to be had, the oldest white Oil is to be preferred, because its fiery particles are spent, and e­vaporate in age, especially if not close stopped, or have been often opened; the Empyreuma, if any be in either of them, is no impediment to, but promotes its con­stringency, though perhaps it may hinder its digestive influences.

Yet in aged cold phlegmatick bodies, and parts mortified by the expence, or defect of vital heat, I should prefer the first and most spirituous white Oil, which is that most commonly sold by the Druggist, though in hot flagrant Constitutions abounding with Choler, heat, and sharpness of the bloud, I should chuse the other, as being more balsamous, and less biting, and hot.

I have some reason to doubt, that the Chymists do often abuse us, in the Oil commonly sold us for a lesser price by far than the Terebinth, from which it ought to be drawn: there is a base Turpentine-like sub­stance called commonly Terebinth, brought from France, drawn from the Fir and other Trees, much used to this purpose, which is no more the gum of the Turpentine tree, than Tar is. It were to be wished, care were used to prevent those great abuses in [Page 51]Chymical preparations, the publick Elabo­ratory, new set up by the Apothecaries Company in London, is a design of great utility and publick advantage, which may in time secure us such Medicines as may be relied on.

The Directions necessary to be regarded, and followed in the use of this Medicine, to Wounds, please to receive thus promis­cuously, as they occur to my memory.

And first, I must not forget to tell you, that it ought to be very hot, and more, or less so, according to the urgency of the flux, the temper of the Patient, the quick­ness or flatness of the Spirits, and native heat of the part; and because in heating it, it is very apt to flame, and when so, is difficultly extinguished. I always in Ampu­tations or large Wounds, have two Vessels with the Oil in them, ready heated; that if one kindle, the other may serve. I do also heat it on glowing, coals, that have no flame, and in a broad deep Vessel, that may sufficiently intercept the force of the fire, from kindling the exhaling spirits.

This circumstance, Sir, seems to render it difficult, if not impossible to be used in the great fights at Sea; partly from the hazard and inconvenience of fire; partly from the tediousness of heating it, and the aptness [Page 52]to flame, while so heating, which would be very perilous; to remedy, and prevent all which, I have considered of a very effectu­al way: which is to have a Copper Vessel, with a long neck, flat bottom, and a nar­row mouth, like a chymical Matrass, or Bolts-head, to which I would have, either a close stopper, or a Cover, so exactly fit­ted, that the spirituous parts of the Oil should not by continual heat evaporate a­way; this would be kept in due heat by a very little fire, not more than is necessa­ry to heat Cauterizers, and without any danger of flaming; nor would its continu­ance on the fire, rebate its vertue; for by the Vessels being closed, as I have said, the Spirits and evaporative parts, would only circulate therein. Some few of the more vo­latile would be spent upon every opening it, which however might not be inconvenient, since by discharge, the Medicine is not so potentially hot, and thereby fitter for re­cent simple Wounds: by this means having it always ready, it's but to pour a necessary quantity into a Porringer or other conve­nient Vessel, at the time you are ready to use it: the different particular ways of which I forbear here to recite, because in the Hi­stories or Observations, they will be suffici­ently related.

There are two necessary Concomitants, when our Medicine is used, to restrain a flux: they are Ligature, and an encompassing Defensative, ex bolo, &c. and moistning the bandage in Posca. This I speak with re­spect to Amputations, or great Wounds: in which it cannot be imagined, that without the former to compress, retain and conti­nue the Applications, a due and necessary time, the work can be effected, or the wound preserved from accidents without the latter: more especially, I would direct to deliga­tion of the member, to be amputated ac­cording as I have already said; that the greatness of the flux being impeded there­by, might not dilute the Medicine before it can perform its intention, or come intirely on the part bleeding, to restrain it: for which end, there rarely appears any occa­sion to use it more than once: for any o­ther design, as the quickning the sense of a part, reviving benummed Paralytick Nerves: it may be used oftner, as also to quicken dull digestion; but then I suppose it best, to mix it with other temperate things of the like quality; as Linimentum Arcei, Ʋn­guent. Basilicon, Ol. Hypericonis, Lumbrico­rum, Catulor. &c. except a flux of bloud, or Synovia, require its intire application.

Which may be indifferently made to all [Page 54]parts: those near, the Eyes only excepted; for it's of so diffufive and insinmuating a qua­lity, that if applied near them, it will work in and occasion much pain and inflamation, wherefore in Wounds about the forehead, great care ought to be to prevent its de­scent thither. I once saw much pain and trouble thereby unluckily alighting upon a cholerick person, to whom these, as all other hot applications, are very uneasie.

Though I never had occasion but once, to employ it by way of dressing to the breast; yet cannot find any reason in my own judgment, or that observation to dis­suade me therefrom, if the aforesaid occa­sions needed it. What seems to render it unsafe to that part (I speak of penetra­ting Wounds thereof) is its heat or bit­terness; on account of the former, where a Pleurizy, Peripneumonia, or the like is con­comitant, it ought to be forborn; but this is so rare a Congress, that I think scarce in a man's time, shall it occur to him in pra­ctice; its bitterness is so very inconsider­able, that from thence cannot any Argu­ment be drawn to deter from its applica­tion, where need requires such a Medicine; and not a better grounded Objection ap­pears to oppose it. I am sure it's a very con­siderableCharas. Pharm. R. part 3. sect. 1. c. 42. Pulmonick, commended by [Page 55] Pharm. Rationalis. part. 2. sect. 1. cap. 6. c Tyroc. Chym. l. 2. c. 4. Dr. Willis, in Phthisis, and by c Begui­nus, in Coughs, Orthopnoea, &c. Curing also Ulcers in the Lungs: on all which accounts it's made the Menstruum of the common Balsamum Sulphuris, and the Balsamum Anti­hectica of Paracelsus. I have also in pene­trating wounds of the Breast, given divers times, some drops thereof in a proper Ve­hicle, by which I have evacuated much matter by Urine, bettered the digestion of my Wound, and rebated the conflux of humors, by deriving them diuretically. Dilatat pectus, & abstergit, In concil. wittichii cons. 30. & per urinam (quod maximè in hoc casu competit) promovet, —saith Schroderus of a preparation of Turpentine.

If the Vessel bleeding be large, and the flux impetuous, as the Crurals when Ampu­tation is made above the knee: then I lay large buttons of Tow dip'd therein on the ends of them. In most other Stumps, I leave all to a large Pledget or two, of a reasonable thickness, which being immersed in the same, and applied over all, I lay one or more of the like Pledgets, armed with the common restrictive of Bole, &c. together with bladder and bandages, moist with wa­ter and Vinegar.

In Stabs and narrow Wounds, penetrating the fleshy parts of the Thigh, Leg, Arms, &c. [Page 56]where by reason of a Vein or Artery hurt, a great Hemorrhage ensueth. I would in­ject my Oleum Terebinthinae made duly hot, till the whole Cavity were replete there­with, and there retain it, by stopping the Orifice or Orifices with my hands a few hours, by which it would become undoubt­edly secured.

I have sometimes the next day after this Medicine of ours hath been applied, found the edges of the Wounds and Stumps bli­stered as far as the Pledgets have extended, the bladders of which have been filled with a milky matter; the cause thereof I always found to be, the too hot application of the Medicine, when haste hath prevented con­sideration, and occasioned its being so ap­plied; and to a person of a very hot con­stitution, the white matter filling those little vesications, though thin, is the strong digestive effect of its cause. I never much regarded them, other than to snip them with my Scissors, and lay on it a little Ʋn­guent. Album Camphoratum, which drieth them by the next day; wherefore those to whom the appearance may be strange and surprizing, have no reason to be discouraged thereat, or afraid to use the Medicine after this intimation; nor to apprehend it gan­grenous, as one lately did, and used a Li­xivium [Page 57]to cure it, though he were no stran­ger to the use of the Oil, to this end. Other ill effects I have scarce found, (except the symptoms in the last observation were such;) but that those Wounds to which I have applied it, have been as easie as my others, to which I had not used it.

Lastly, To amplifie and perfect one Pe­riod, which upon a review I find defective, I must inculcate my direction, that where digestion, more than constriction is design­ed, and in all young hot cholerick Consti­tutions, I prefer the oldest thickest Oil, and which smells least; but where a strong coagulation is necessary, because a large Ves­sel is hurt, or where a venene gangrenous Sanies is to be corrected, and absumed, where the part is afflicted with a cold distempe­rature, Convulsion, Palsey, Insensibility, and of debilitated heat, then the thinnest and most spirituous.

The strong smelling Oil is the most per­tinent. These warm productions of this Balsam, seem liable to an Objection, which you shall find made, and answered in the con­clusion of the last Observation.

The restraining hemorrhagies of Wounds, was what principally occasioned this re­commendation of Oleum Terebinthinae: I will now, Sir, endeavour to illustrate its [Page 58]Vertues for Wounds, in a more generous sense, by enquiring into the many other benefits acquired by it, without respect to their bleeding, and this was the fourth task I laid upon my self.

The first of which, is the stopping of the Synovia, or weeping of the divided Nerves and Lympheducts, which it doth by consti­pating their little apertures. I believe no man that hath conversed with Wounds, and cor­roding applications to them, but hath found a large gleet to flow from Wounds of magnitude and amputated Stumps; and the more the nearer to the Joint, the former being the lacrymation of the lymphatick Vessels and Nerves, the latter, the efflux of the Joint Serum: and both of them some­times to that degree as to wet the bandage, though large, and the pillow on which the member may rest, as much as if a quart of water or more had been thrown thereon. It were too large and beyond the bounds, both of my brains and Letter, to discourse either of the Controversies,Against which Is­brandus, Demerbro­cus, Ana­tom. oorp. human. l. 10. dis­puteth at large. whether there be a Liquor, and of what use both it, and the Lympha is; let it suffice to suggest, that a great and famous Physician of our own, namely, the ever memorable Dr. Glisson, af­firms the former to nourish; and all agree, that it's the Vehicle, in which the sensitive [Page 59]spirits are conveyed, to furnish the parts with motion and sense, (or as one ingeniously calleth it, The Chariot of the sensitive Soul;) and that the LymphatickIdem in lib. 1. Juice, humects, contemperates, &c. Now being of uses so essential to the subsistence of life, these consequences do naturally flow; that the expence thereof, doth privatively dis­spirit, consume, debilitate, dry, inflame, &c. and therefore that the securing it from so exorbitant a profluence, is as necessary and beneficial, as the restraining the Hemorrha­gies of the Veins and Arteries; and this I will presume to aver, is a faculty in Oil of Turpentine, transcendently above any other known Medicine, as is more especially evi­dent, in punctures of the Nerves, (where the weeping of that Juice, as that of a Vine when wounded, or Trees when tapped in the Spring, is very obvious and plain.) For the cure of which, it is become the infal­lible Arcanum; A. Pareus, l. 10. c. 38. Fr. Sylvi­us de le Boe, nova Idea. part 1. cap. 42. parag. 38. when as before the discove­ry of that Vertue, the remedy of Punctures, was no better than either dividing the Nerve or tendon, or severing the member from the body, both which were not sel­dom prevented by Death.

Secondly, It most excellently digests: a fa­culty to which no other restrainer of bleed­ing can pretend; and if both those inten­tions [Page 60]can be performed at once by one single Medicine, (as they are evidently by this) how much time, pains, &c. is saved to the Practitioner and Patient, and conse­quently what value it is of, there needs no Argument to confirm this Position, it's so easie an Experiment, that every one may confirm it to his own sense; nor doth it digest Wounds at the ill rate, most other Digestives do, which besides that faculty, do also powerfully attract; such are Crocus Terebinth. Vitel. ovor. Liniment. Arcei, Basili­con, &c. whereby great expence of bloud and radical moisture is occasioned to the wasting the body, impairing the strength, hindring the healing influences of the Me­dicine, macerating the wounded flesh, be­getting Fungus's, &c. whereas this excellent Oil hinders the deflux of humors, digesting the contused or extravasate bloud, without drawing, or permitting the efflux of much more.

Here, Sir, I must take notice of two Ob­jections to which this seems liable: That if Oleum Terebinthinae close the mouths of the Vessels, how can it digest, it being a Fa­culty inconsistent with that of Constrin­gents? or what should it digest, since by its application, little or no matter extra­vasates for that faculty to work on? To [Page 61]this I reply, That though there be not such large digestion, as is usually produced by the aforesaid applications, yet it doth maturate in a lesser degree, what part of the bloud, Lym­pha, &c. may be shed before application can be made; it being impossible to imagine, that the most quick and diligent applica­tion thereof, can so prevent the efflux, but that some will get between the Dressings and the Wound, which coagulating about the mouths of the Vessels, by capping, se­cures them; or it may be supplied with matter for the digestive faculty to work on, from the lacerated and frequently mor­tified Fibres, or from what even in sound members, and a healthful body, is by trans­colation extravasate, and always lodging in the interstices of the Muscles, and their Fibres, and also of those in the other Car­neous parts.

Moreover, It cannot be imagined, nor is it by me asserted, that the Vessels are all of them, even the minutest, so wholly occluded, as that thin matter cannot extravasate; but so sufficiently done, and to that degree, as to secure a too liberal and extravagant effusion of their several Liquors, and ferous Juices; to which may be added, that its restrin­gency is not by any manifest, or strong Stypticity, but by the way and accidents, [Page 62]already explicated by the foregoing Expe­riments.

But to proceed: Thirdly, It is incompara­bly the best Balsam to heal Wounds of the Nerves, to which it seemeth so particularly adapted; that as it seldom faileth of doing it, so nothing else hath been hitherto found to come near it in that quality, saving as they have more or less thereof commixed: Every one is so much an Anatomist, as to know that it's difficult, if not impossible to make a Wound (great enough to deserve the name) without hurting some branches of the Nerves, they being so thickly diva­ricated into all the parts of the body (the Lungs excepted) some being of a belief, that the skin is a fine woof of Capillary Nerves, I.B. Ha­melus de corpore animato, lib. 4. Veins, and Arteries, receiving into it the ends of the excretory Vessels, arising from an infinite number of little Glandules. Now the whole Genus Nervosum being the con­veyers of sense and motion, are vehemently aggrieved, when wounded, distorted, contu­sed, &c. the former of which especially, this Balsam pacifieth, and healeth no less won­derfully, than evidently; by which Con­vulsions, Palseys, and other effects thereof are prevented and remedied; especially those direful ones, which follow their being pun­ctured, as I have already intimated.

Fourthly, After Amputations, it hath one singular good effect above most other Ap­plications; that is the contraction of the Stump, keeping also the lips of large wounds from expanding to that degree, which more lax and soft applications admit, whereby the intention of cross stitches is in part pre­vented; this is done partly by hardening the lips of the Wound, (at which I would advise him that finds it, after the applicati­on of this Medicine, not to be concerned) but partly by the edges of the Pledgets, adhering to the lips of the Wound, when the spirits expiring contract them, accord­ing to the Second and Third Experiments. Hereby is prevented those ghastly and un­seemly swellings of Wounds, and spreading of Stumps: not that they stick so firmly, as to be obnoxious to the objections made against the like accident of glutinous Ap­plications, Page 14.

Fifthly, It solely and perfectly healeth Pun­ctures, and incised Wounds by Symphysis; (where neither of them are very large), and that maugre its digestive Faculty. I know the same is performed by the appli­cation of moderate Astringents that have no Acids in them; but as such cannot secure the Hemorrhagies that are large and deep, neither can they reach effectually to the bot­tom [Page 64]of deep Punctures. Now that it may not seem strange, I shall attribute a Power Consolidative, to a digestive Medicine. I suggest, first, That Consolidation is natu­rally performed; I mean, that Medicines do not actually unite Wounds: but by acci­dent, viz. by one way or other, preventing or stopping extravasation of the bloud, and Lympha, and resisting the influences of the survening Air, both which would hinder unition: the one by humecting, the other by corrupting the divided Fibres, &c. There being those that spare not to affirm publick­ly, confidently,G. Hie­ron. Vels­chus. Cent. 11th ob. Phys. Me­dicarum. Paracelsus Vuln. trad. 1. c. 14. Mr. Wise­man, page 346. and perhaps very rationally, That the great and celebrated Cures, said to be performed by the Sympathetick Pow­der, and the Magnetical Ʋnguent, are not beholden to them, but to the less regarded means, of keeping the Wounds clean and close: so that our Medicine, though it do digest, yet by occluding the Vessels, (as hath been shewn) it hinders extravasation, and being gummous, defends from the Air, whereby it may be thought, as well to con­solidate, as any other, since it doth as much as they, in preventing and defending from what would hinder it.

Secondly, No Consolidation was ever made altogether without Digestion; for it being impossible to restrain totally the ex­travasation [Page 65]of the bloud, &c. It's sensless to imagine but that if the solution of Unity can be re-united, that matter must be di­gested, as is evident from what cometh off, though perhaps it be but little and not well cocted; and this usually occurreth in despight of Applications, drying, and bind­ing, this though it may be not always dis­charge it self at the Wound, is yet to be supposed, for that Nature either recovers it by assimilation; or as it is, introvasates it, and so circulating with the bloud, &c. is thrown out qua data via.

The sixth and last advantage of its ap­plication to Wounds, is, that it performeth all those things, especially restraining the fluxes of bloud, without the pain, burning, Synovia, prolixity, flux of matter, and all or most the other ill accidents attending, and already discovered in the other means and applications: I hope it's not improper­ly called a Benefit, though it be but priva­tively so.

And now, Sir, I am come to give you some particular and remarkable instances of the successful effects, attending the appli­cation of this Medicine; which confirming de facto, all I have said concerning it, I think is not Illogically placed here, it be­ing according to the method of late practi­cal [Page 66]Writers, Willis, Wiseman, Stubendorfi­us, &c. which last named, in the conclusion of his Theory on the Scorbute, justifieth the pertinency of annexing Observations to such Discourses,Sect. 49. in these words: Nam si Galeno gravissimo medicinae testi credimus, non sufficiunt ad exactam cognitionem univer­salia, Lib. 9. Method. cap. 6. nisi in exemplis & particularibus una exercitemur, quod in iis, ut Galeni verbis u­tar, methodus, in his exercitatio consistit.— Those which I present you, shall be few and concise, though I have often used it in divers Hemorrhagies not here mentioned, and with the same prosperous success, and that by Experiments on Dogs, &c. Also by communicated observations, and by my own in divers Wounds and Amputations, made in this Hospital, I still found it most happy and successful, yet think it needless and too tedious here to recount them all: those following being of different circum­stances, I have collected from the rest.

IFind by yours, that you are sur­prized with the intimation I gave you, of a way of amputating large Members, so as to be able to cure them per Symphysin, in three weeks, and without fouling, or scaling the bone. It is a Paradox that I will now evince to you to be a truth, after I have first taken notice of what you affirm, that there is a necessity of scaling the ends of those bones, left bare after the usual way of dismembring, before the Stump can be soundly cured; that you never yet found it otherwise but that where [Page 109]it hath been attempted, the Stumps have apostumated, and the Caries come off thereby.

Sir, I do assure you, I have been so happy to have seen the contrary, in an Amputation made between the Cubitus and the Carpus; where, though the Wound was almost nine weeks in curing, and at Sea too, yet the bones never scaled, and the stump remained (to my knowledg many months) without the least tendency to eruption; the person then principally concerned was an old Pra­ctitioner, and one that had long served in the Northern Wars: he did assure me, he frequently neglected the scaling of the bone, and healed most of the Amputations he made in the Army, and in Scotland without it. I acquaint you of this for its rarity, not that I ever but once practised it, when I made Amputations the usual way, and I think it not prudent, because there is no ne­cessity to imitate it in such stumps: for that in curing them, we have time enough for the disquamation, which is also atchieved with­out any great trouble; whereas should we neglect it, and sind when the stumps come to be almost cicatrized (as once I did in designing to imitate the said Artist, and which made me resolve for ever to decline it) that there were necessity of doing it, by reason of a Caries then contracted, or but then dis­covering [Page 110]it self; it's manifest what trouble it would beget, and how greatly impede the desiccation; there are those that think they ought to scale all bones, that have though but by a recent Wound been bare: and o­thers I have met with who on the other hand too much slight the Caries of bones, pretend­ing they moulder off with the matter; how equally unreasonable and vain both are, I need not discourse to so competent a Judg as your self. Wherefore passing these mat­ters, I shall now entertain you with an ac­count of the manner of this Operation, I would recommend to you, after I have told you, that it was from a very ingenious Bro­ther of ours, Mr. C. Lowdham of Exceter, that I had the first hints thereof.

The Ligatures and Gripe, being made af­ter the common manner you are with your Catling, or some long incision-Knife, to rase (suppose it the Leg) a flap of the membrane­ous flesh, covering the muscles of the Calf, beginning below the place where you intend to make excision, and rasing it thitherward, of length enough to cover the stump; ha­ving so done, turn it back under the hand of him that gripes: and as soon as you have se­vered the member, bring this slap of Cutane­ous flesh over the stump, and fasten it to the edges thereof, by four of five strong stitches: [Page 111]having so done, clap a Dossil into the inferi­our part, that one passage may be open, for any bloud, or matter may lodg between, but of that there seldom occurreth any: then lay on a common Defensative, Ex Bole. Sang. Dracon. Mastich, Terrae-sigil. &c. cum alb. ovor. & Aceto, and thereto girt it close with your cross bandage, and other Compresses after their usual manner: the former, viz. the De­fensative, not only defends from accidents: as heat, pain, fluxion, &c. but gently constipateth the Vessels, thereby contributing to the secu­ring the Hemorrhage, and very considerably as­sists to the agglutination: the latter, scil. the Compress Ligature, keeps the flesh snug and close to the ends of the divided Vessels: con­firms the Consolidation, keeps the parts from Cavity, & the bloud from Extravasation, and hinders that deflux of humours, which would otherwise destroy the intention of Cure.

In this sort of Amputation, that manner of compressing the Thigh by Ligature, or the arm near the shoulder, which I have recom­mended in the foregoing Discourse, is of ex­cellent use, because thereby you may restrain the descent of the bloud, till by your Dress and bandage, you have so far secured the part, as that it can receive no damage thereby.

In this way of Cure, Phlebotomy, Julaps, Ligature of the extream parts, if need be, [Page 112]with what else may contemperate the bloud, hinder defluxion and maturation, and pro­motes Consolidation, though declaimed a­gainst in that Discourse, is in this case very useful and necessary.

In the succeeding Dressings, Medicines healing per symphysin, are to be used; and a­mongst them perhaps there are none better, than that already mentioned, adding some powder of the roots of great Comphery thereto; the dossil if you use any, may be left out the next dressing, or that following it.

That this Method hath cured such a stump in three weeks, is a truth I can vouch by sufficient testimony, and I believe you will not much doubt it, when you have perused this, and considered how easie, and soon such large Consolidation hath been made; for this, though it be no re-unition, but the consoli­dation of flesh never before united, will yet be nevertheless effected, as is evident in the coalition of Hair-lips, the aptitude of the Fin­gers, Eye-lids, Lips, glans and praeputium, and the3. Ob. Med. Chy­rurg. de Clausura u­teri, ob. 2. Vagina uteri, when ulcerate, (of which last, Rhoonhuse giveth us a memorable instance) to unite, and is also more strangely evident, in the stories of Sir In the 115 page of his Discourse of the Sympathe­tical Pow­der. K. Dighy, Lib. 23. cap. 22. Amb. Pareus, and Taliacotius, concerning supply­ing lost Noses, not only by knitting a part of the homogeneous arm; but of another mans, [Page 113]to supply the scandalous want of that obvi­ous part, to which the incomparable Au­thor of Hudibras thus alludeth,

I must not forget to intimate to you, that this manner of dismembring, &c. is not to be made use of, where the part hath been much inflamed, tumified from fluxion, or other­wise vexed therewith, nor in members am­putated for Chronick causes: as Cancers, Fi­stula's, &c. or where the body is pockt, or very cachectick, because in such, digestion (which would destroy the unition) is neces­sary to rectifie and sweeten the Mass, which it doth by draining off the Miasma of the disease, more than ten fontanels can do. It's also no less unavoidable; for the course of matter that hath that way discharged it self so long, (as in a Fistula) cannot of a sudden be obstructed, without hazard of a mis­chievous apostumation; moreover in such ill habits, as those cases either cause or re­sult from, Consolidation is difficult, if not im­possible to be so suddenly performed, as this manner of Cure requireth; the dyscrasis of [Page 114]the bloud having destroyed or weakened its Balsam, that it cannot expedite the work, which if not speedily done, cannot be per­formed securely and firm; and in parts in­flamed and tumified by fluxion, or by con­gestion, it's easie to imagine, there must be a discharge of that concrete matter, which cannot be, and yet the Wound cured by sym­pathy.

But in most of the Amputations made at Sea in fight, or on Land in Battels, or where­soever acute accidents, such as Wounds, re­cent Lacerations require it, it may be done, and that with those advantages of the other way it Rivals.

First, That it's more speedy; I mean the Cure, not the Operation: for it effects it in at least one third, or fourth part of the time, that the other method can possibly at­chieve it: and of what good use this is, both to the Chirurgeon, and Patient, I need not trouble you to mention.

Secondly, Here no dysepulotick Ʋlcer can pos­sibly happen, as there frequently doth; espe­cially to stumps of the Legs, when by the un­avoidable prolixity of the cure, such a course of matter hath that way discharged it self, as cannot afterward be restrained, without great trouble and difficulty, if at all.

Thirdly, Stumps are this way cured without [Page 115]scaling the bone: perhaps there is not much trouble, &c. always prevented thereby, as I have already told you, yet some there is at all times, and at some very much: for instance, when Nature is slow in casting off the Caries, and the Hyposarcosis usually invading stumps, about the time of Cicatrization, cover the bone before it separate, so that applica­tions cannot be made locally, to dispatch it, which many times proves a great Remora to the desiccation.

Fourthly, Here is no expensive profluence, ei­ther of the Radical moisture, by maturation, and fluxion, or of the bloud by Hemorrhage, or of the Succus nervosus by a Synovia: or of the lympha­tick Liquor, by the lacrymation of those Vessels: ill consequences usually attending the other Method, and Medicaments.

I need not prove it, with respect to all these, they being truths too manifest to need it: I shall be particular as to the Hemorrhage, be­cause it may seem a strange Assertion, that this way should have any advantage of the other, for restraining them.

That it hath so, will appear to you, if you please to consider, how much more likely it is, that the bleeding Vessels should be secu­red, not only from present fluxion, but future Hemorrhage, by the so close adhesion, and firm unition of flesh, to that which is circum­jacent [Page 116]to them, and (as may be presumed, de facto) to the ends of the Vessels themselves, than by any of the common Methods, or Me­dicaments I have examined; for that here the Consolidation is so quickly and secure­ly made, by help of the Application and Ligature, that the divided Vessel can no more break out, than in cured stumps, where they have not only been stop'd by any of those common Methods, but covered by the Incarnation and Cicatrix.

It will seem less strange, if you further consider, that after the Ligature of an Arte­ry, for an Aneurism, &c. when the Silk rots, or the Vessel is fretted assunder thereby, there is nothing but this incompassing flesh that stops it.

Adding also hereto, that the flap which is to cover the stump, and ends of the bleed­ing Vessels, after Amputation, being of the membranous flesh; is for the most part fatty, and therefore sometimes called membrana A­diposa: by which, though it be not so apt for Consolidation, it is the more sit for securing the flux, because lying upon the ends of the Vessels, the bloud endeavouring to issue from them, cannot penetrate or strain it self through it, as in all probability it would do, in that which were more fibrous, and less pin­gued: the latter of them being impervious, [Page 117]the former full of little interstices: Moreo­ver, it's byGalen. morb. cur. l. 5. A. Pareus, lib. 9. c. 7. Dr. Read, Lect. 2. some allowed, one way of re­straining Hemorrhagies to divide the Vessel, that his bleeding end retiring among the Muscles, their compressure may by closing him, stop his bleeding; if there be any rea­son for that Method, and what it presumes, it's very considerable here.

No less is a more generally allowed Me­thod of stopping Hemorrhagies, viz. by Incar­nation, that is, by covering the mouths of the divided Vessels with newly generated flesh: this Method of the flap, having as much the advantage thereof, as such flesh whereof it consists, is more firm and fit to do it, than what is newly generated, which is always soft and spongy.

Nor is it ridiculous to believe, that recent flesh, by some specifique quality or manner of performance, stays Hemorrhagies, and that very strangely too, if you believe two no­table Stories delivered by Felix Platerus in sunguin. excretione, ob. lib. 3. the one of a Thief, who by order of Justice, having both hands cut off, had the bloud stayed.—Gal­lum gallinaceum, vivum, interea cultro à podice verus illius sternum scindendo, aperiebat & brachium mutilatum statim post ictum, in hane aperturam includebat.—The other of one that had his Finger bitten away by a Horse, [Page 118] Sanguinis (que) fluor, multis frustra tentatis non si­steretur: was cured by the same way — flu­orque statim substitit. —

But to proceed: Fifthly, The cure is this way performed with no less pain and hazard to the Patient; the great pain of stumps, the watching, Fever, Convulsions, Syncopes; the effect of that pain especially at Sea, where necessaries are wanting, are here prevented partly from Natures great complacency, and the delight with which she seems to co-ope­rate with Art, in curing per symphysin: I say, it is that wherewith she not only seems pleased, but what of her self (as I have al­ready suggested) she will perform, if the lips of the Wound be kept clean, close together, and free from the impressions of the Ambi­ent Air.

Partly from her not being put upon the work of digestion, or maturation: which (as I have proved) she never performed without a Fever, and perturbation.

And partly from the nature of the diffe­rent Applications, which are here (as all Ag­glutinatives) Anodyne; whereas those cu­red by the other way, must indure the heat of Restrictives and Digestives, the fretting of Detergents to mundifie, and Corrosives to erode, the Fungus's, always occurring more or less to Stumps.

Sixthly, It's much easier and cheaper to the Chirurgeon: the first, because much sooner cured, and seldomer dress'd; the first in three weeks, the last once a day: the second, for the same reason, and because fewer Medi­cines, &c. serve at each dressing: of what ad­vantage the former is to him when many men are wounded, and especially when distant from the ease of an Hospital, I leave those to tell you that have tryed it, as I have done. The benefit of the latter, considering the scantiness of publique allowances, and the great number of men, that may at one time be under Cure, especially in a Mediterranean Voyage, is obvious.

Seventhly, Stumps this way healed, are not obnoxious to break open again on every slight rub, or knock, as do those healed by the other Method, a mischief they can hardly avoid, though they indeavour it with the greatest Care and Art; whereas this being fenced with a firm skin, is no more incident to it, than a man's Fingers ends.

Eighthly, A new and commodious sort of Artificial Leg, having a Cavity to which the stump is to be intruded, and on which the weight of the body, on the alternate mo­tion of the Legs, must be laid, is here most tolerable and convenient: whereas the other way, scarcely admits the laying the due stress [Page 120]on them, by reason of the tenderness of the stump, or its incidency to strip and exco­riate.

These are all the considerable advantages manifestly acquired by this new Way, with­out doubt, use, and tryal, will discover more equal to them, and an abundance of lesser conveniencies, which at present occur not to my consideration; these are enough to shew the Novelty to be considerable, and worthy of imitation: let them have with you this accessional manifestation, that I am very ready to obey, and serve you,