If the pain in the parts become violent, eight or ten drops of liquid laudanum (T), together with thirty or forty drops of sweet spirit of nitre (D), should be given once, twice, or thrice a day. If the wound begins to discharge plenty of matter, it should be dressed with the same dressing often. But if the parts become black, very fœtid, the patient in great pain, and grows faint, a mortification is to be feared; which I shall treat of in its proper place.
When the suppuration is unkind, and the parts are much inflamed, a poultice will be very proper.
No. II
Take oatmeal (15) or (if that is not on board) biscuit pounded about three spoonfuls, honey one spoonful, water a sufficient quantity to boil it into soft poultice; in which put of sweet oil about half a spoonful. This poultice should be renewed twice a day at least, and put on as warm as possible it can be borne.
As gun-shot wounds are apt to degenerate into malignant ulcers, I shall refer the reader to the treatment of ulcers in general.
SECT. III.
Of Bruises.
Bruises, in whatever degree, have more or less some blood and other vessels torn and injured, and may properly be considered as wounds under whole skin. It is from the tearing to pieces blood vessels, whereby the blood extravasates from their natural channels, that occasions the swelling. If the bruise is but slight, the vessels are soon enabled to circulate the humours; but if the contusion is great, the extravasated humours are apt to corrupt, and make a collection of matter; thence an aposthume and ulcer must naturally follow.
Bruises on fleshy parts are not so bad by far, as on the joints, because the fibres in the muscles are more pliable, and sooner unite; the ligaments on the joints are very rigid, and extremely sensible; for which reason also, they are generally more painful and tedious in their cure.