YET although common Experience attests to the Advantage of Cataplasms, as they wonderfully cherish the languid and almost extinguished natural Heat, supple the neighbouring Parts, relax the Skin, and contemper and asswage sharp Humours; yet, I say, because their frequent Repetition is sometimes on many Accounts inconvenient and disagreeable, I used to substitute the following Cerate in their Room.
[a]℞] Emp. Oxycrocci [a]℥] iij. galbani colat gum. curannæ ana [a]℥] j. picis navalis [a]℥] ij. è liquatis simul.
cum ol. chamemeli, & liliorum, v. a. e. F. massa pro empl. And I am bold enough to affirm, that with this I have prevented the Want of a Surgeon in more than a thousand Instances: But when a Buboe is artificially opened, it is the most proper to do it in some depending Part of the Tumour; taking Care not to wound the larger Vessels and Muscles.
BUT whether a Buboe breaks of it self, or is opened by Incision, it is to be washed and cleansed with a Lixivium of Ashes, Scordium, Betony, Bugloss, Sanicle, &c. in which also is dissolved some London Treacle: And the following Mixture I have found very good for this Purpose, consisting of Birthwort Root, Myrrh, Aloes, and Saffron, infused in Spirit of Wine, and to the strained Tincture, adding a little Oil of Turpentine. Furthermore, to promote Digestion, and prevent Putrefaction, the following may be applied:
[a]℞] Mellis ros. [a]℥] i. terebinth. cum vitello ovi solut. [a]℥] [a][ss.] theriac. Lond. [a]ʒ] iij. farinæ tritici [a]℥] ij. [a][ss.] cum ol. hyperici & sambuc. ana q. s. coq. in Cataplasmatis consistentiam.
Or,
[a]℞] Ung. basilic. p. duas, linimenti Arcæi p. Tertiam, ol. terebinth. [a]ʒ] [a][ss.] M. S. But here it is to be observed, that Detergents are by no Means to be used, unless the Ulcer is foul; as also that to appease the Enormity of Pain and Inflammation, by Opiates and Repellers, is a most pernicious Practice, because it drives back the Venom upon the nobler Parts; and also by their frequent Continuation, is a Sphacelation endangered upon the Extremities.
THESE Ulcers are likewise by no Means to be healed up until they are well cleansed, and all the pestilential Symptoms quite disappear. But here I cannot but remark, that these Ulcers do heal much easier than any other when the Venom is fully conquered: And in the Cure, it chiefly concerns the Surgeon to prevent the Lips growing callous, because sometimes that Error is not easily again remedied; when the Ulcer is well cleansed, the ordinary Sarcoticks used in the common Method will soon fill up the lost Substance: To prevent
Repetition, the Parotides are to be treated after the same Manner as Buboes.
AFTER this transient View, our Method now brings us to the Cure of Carbuncles; since therefore these Eruptions have their Rise from a pestilential Lixivium, thrown upon several Parts of the Body, and there burning them into an Eschar, the Business of a Surgeon herein is directed to three main Intentions.