Age ‘BOTANIC PHYSICIAN. 
wound would require : at the same time, the patient would have a 
good stump, which 6.08 considerable consequence as a matter of — 
convemien ugh fife. 3 ! so ® 
es 7 he re at cae ‘mentioned, namely, distorted limbs, when they 
are sound otherwise, amputation is made necessary only by the choice 
“<ees 
= es the causes: above mentioned, it is a. very general prac- 
tice with most surgeons to amputate in the following disorders, viz. 
extensive mortification; white swellings of the joints; large hard 
swellings of the bones; caries of the bones, accompanied with bad 
ers: cancer, and inveterate ulcers; indolent tumors; death and 
rottenness of the bone; and extensive lacerated and contused 
wounds. 
SY ts possible that amputation may be advisable in extensive es) a 
tification ; but I have never yet found a case however severe, M 
nich I have not succeeded in ag ng its progress, without recourse 
to the Besides, wh tification has spread far, the juices 
* of th bec 
Lf 
e whole system become so contaminated that an operation would 
‘Trot save life. 
_ ‘To stop the progress of mortification, poultices of charcoal and 
yeast may be applied, or these mixed with a strong decoction of 
wild indigo root; and these should be applied unsparingly, and) 
changed very often, till the mortification is arrested. At the same 
time, saffron tea, and tonics of the most bracing kind, may be given 
internally. When the disorder stops, the “ green salve,” or some- 
thing similar, may be applied over the affected part, which will assist . 
mn the separation of the dead flesh, and bring the parts to a healthy 
appearance. ‘ 
This treatment, when thoroughly applied, I believe will save at — 
east all that could possibly be saved by amputation ; and at the same 
time restore the limb to soundness. __ = ea 
~ White swellings at the joint, is another disorder in which ampu- 
tation is frequently practised. I cannot consider this judieious, be- 
cause, first, when proper means are used, they can generally be cured 
without ; and secondlly, as they proceed from a constitutional affec- 
tion, or-a scrofulous taint, it follows that a removal of a part of the . 
body cannot eradicate the disease from the remainder. 
The impropriety of the operation holds the same also, in cases of 
cancer, caries, and hard swellings, of the bones, death of the bone, — 
inveterate ulcers, tumours, &c.: their cause is constitutional, and 
row be removed by general purifying remedies, if removed at 
_ "These disorders are treated of in another part of this work. 
REMARKS ON THE METHOD OF AMPUTATING. 
Surgery is not perhaps, in any part of it, brought to greater pel- 
fection than in the method of amputating limbs. Before the able. § 
tg oe ' 7 
' operation was attended with so much 
inkr is hao to perform it; and even long — 
