Enropean and Atsialk Turkey, 131 



parts of Ireland, with great benefit, in a bad case of sciatica : the 

 operator made twenty or thirty very superficial but long incisions 

 in the skin, close to each other, so as nearly to cover the calf of 

 the leg ; much blood flowed from the wounds. 



Abscesses the Turks treat with poultices, made of figs and 

 honey, and never venture to open them. They pour oil or melt- 

 ed butter into gunshot wounds ; inflamed and painful wounds, 

 they cover with the hot flesh of an animal recently killed, or 

 else apply to them an ointment, made on the spot, by beating 

 up white lead with eggs. When an ulcer is relaxed or indolent, 

 they lay chewed figs upon its surface, which they sometimes 

 sprinkle with a little arsenic or red precipitate. In cancerous 

 sores, they are acquainted with the use of animal charcoal, 

 which they applied, not in substance sprinkled over the sore, but 

 made into a liniment with oil. Being totally unacquainted with 

 the use of either charpe or lint, they apply cotton, in the shape 

 of dressing, to sores ; a practice which, as Dr Oppenheim re- 

 marks, has deservedly found advocates in Germany, as well as 

 England, particularly when the sores are extensive, and the pro- 

 cess of scabbing may be attempted with a prospect of success. 

 Dr Oppenheim says, that he has found nothing so effectual or so 

 convenient for the cure of the ill-conditioned surfaces, occasion- 

 ally produced by blisters, as dressing the part with very fine 

 cotton-wadding ; this must be kept applied to the part by means 

 of a bandage; the exudation from the blistered surface soon 

 concretes, and causes the cotton to stick closely, forming a 

 sort of scab, under which the part often heals without further 

 trouble. This process has been likewise adopted with great 

 advantage, in cases of extensive scalds and burns, in our manu- 

 factories and hospitals, and is founded on most rational prin- 

 ciples. In cases where the external surface is extensively de- 

 nuded by wounds, I have little doubt that the process of scab- 

 bing might be often facilitated by a similar treatment. Poisoned 

 wounds the Turks suck, excise, and cauterize. There are many 

 of them who profess only a single branch of surgery, as bone- 

 setthig, operators for cataract, hernia operators, lithotomists, 

 &c. &c. ; such persons often enjoy a great reputation, which is 

 handed down from father to son. They observe strict secrecy 

 as to their modes of operating, and boast unceasingly of their 



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