the Nerves and Lymphaticks, and the Juices they contain.
MANY Persons of publick Note have elegantly given the Anatomy and Use of the Glands; it is therefore sufficient for my Purpose here to shew, how from an Obstruction of those Juices, which flow through the larger Nerves, particularly of the Arms and Thighs, and their subservient Vessels, and their Impregnation with heterogeneous and poisonous Particles, Buboes do arise.
IF any one makes it a Doubt, why these Tumors should rather come in the above-mentioned Places, rather than on the parotide Glands, let such consider, that it is owing to the Magnitude and Capacity of the Nerves and Vessels constituting the Glands of those Parts; as also that their different Dispositions to Suppuration does proceed from the same Cause.
BUT that this Affair may more fully appear, it is to be discovered from what Source that Matter flows, which degenerates into Matter, and discharges from a Buboe in so great Plenty.
IN the Prosecution of this Enquiry, it shall not be without a Colour, at least, of Reason, that I shall dissent from an Opinion both of Ancients and Moderns, about the Blood alone being immediately changed into Matter; for I rather think it to proceed from other Juices; and this I shall endeavour to support by the following Arguments.
AND first of all, notwithstanding the Blood which runs in the Arteries and Veins does sometimes, though very seldom, appear whitish; it then happens from too great a Mixture either of nutritious Juice, or of a degenerate Chyle, that will not easily change, and take its red Colour; but it never passes into Matter, because the necessary Conditions of Circulation will not admit of so much Rest as is requisite thereunto; besides, even the extravasated Blood will not easily undergoe such an Alteration: For when any Vessels, and chiefly the Capillaries, are so obstructed by Contusions, or any other Means, that the neighbouring Parts swell, every Physician and Surgeon too, I hope, knows that discutient Medicines and Cataplasms will restore the
former Motion and Fluxility to the Blood, ease the Pain, and dissipate the Tumour.
IF the Blood be too fluid in the Arteries, it is apt to occasion Anareusms, and in the capillary Veins an Ecchymosis; but nothing is more commonly observed in Practice, that upon a Recovery of the Blood’s due Constitution and Circulation, the obstructed Matter in an Ecchymosis will dissipate through the Pores of the Skin, or be absorbed by the refluent Blood: But when the Blood happens to be too grumous and stagnate, a Fever immediately arises, unless it be prevented by Evacuation; and in such a Disorder every one knows that there is most Danger of a Schirrus, or a Mortification.
AND as it hath been already observed that Blood could not be drawn from the infected by Phlebotomy, without Loss of Strength, if not of Life, whereas the greater Quantities of Pus were obtained by Suppuration of their Buboes, the Patient was so much the better for it; it seems consonant to Reason, that if Pus was generated immediately from the Blood, the Strength would as much decay upon its Loss, as upon Phlebotomy: But I have always found
it, (as many Times already observed) that how little soever the Quantity of Blood drawn away was, and although done at several Times, yet it proved of more Prejudice to the Patient than an hundred times as much Matter drawn from a Buboe; and that the whole remaining Mass was not able to recruit the Loss sustained thereby.