AS for what is done by the Knife, the Infected are certainly as much benefitted by it, as by the actual Cautery; especially if the Incision be made deep, and goes to the Root at the Centre; for by this may be made a very expeditious Elevation and Separation of the Eschar; and this Means is more particularly to be used where a Gangreen is threatned; but in doing it, great Care must be taken, as before hinted, that there is not made any Effusion of Blood by cutting the larger Vessels, especially the Arteries.
BUT when this Separation is once finished, whether it be by a Knife, or by Burning, or of its own Accord; the next thing is to peal it off; and this is frequently assisted by moistening it with new Butter, Oil of Elder, or Oil of Lilies. The Eschar is likewise to be loosened gradually, and not too hastily; that is, a kind of Maturation is to be waited for. After the Carbuncle is fallen off, Care must be taken to cleanse away the Sordes upon it, and promote Digestion by the Use of suitable Applications; and every thing else carefully managed, as before directed in the Cure of Buboes.
LASTLY, Incarning is gradually to be effected, and the Ulcer slowly healed over; for by being too hastily closed, it is not uncommon to find some pestilential Miasmata lurking behind, which afterwards prove mischievous, and often fatal, as may easily be gathered from a preceding History, and many others not here mentioned.
BUT because sometimes the Parts where Carbuncles arise, cannot be cleansed conveniently from the morbid Humours, whence the Cure proves slow, or cannot be effected
at all, the circumjacent Parts at first should be guarded by Defensatives, which would astringe the Laxity upon those Parts, keep the Passages clear, and give Room for the due Motions of the Juices and Spirits, while at the same time they prevent the Exhalation of the natural Heat; But if notwithstanding the utmost Care, Sphacelation comes on, immediate Recourse is to be had to Embrocation, with the following.
[a]℞] Cinerum absynthii, scordii, cardui, centaurii min. ana [a]℥] iij. è quibus paretur lixivium, indendo flor. chamemeli, sambuci, meliloti ana M j. liquoris limpidi lib. ij. adde spir. vini opt. lib. [a][ss.] dissolve theriac. Lond. [a]℥] ij. M. S. pro fotu p. affectæ bis de die, quàm caladissimè, exin Cataplasma conficiatur è theriac. Lond. cum Elix. proprietatis.
LASTLY, To put an End to this Section, wherein to prevent prolixity, I have studiously avoided all Points of Controversy; I cannot altogether omit the Mention of those skilful and faithful Surgeons, with due Honour, whose Task in this raging Calamity was very hard and dangerous, how they had the Care of all pestilential Tumours and Ulcers, &c. But although some of these fell themselves in
the Discharge of their Duty to others, yet the Survivors went on chearfully in their Business; and they who lived through the whole, owed a great deal to a Constancy of Mind, as well as to the conservatory Power of Providence.