Prefent Stale of Surgery in Turhj. Xlty 



whom Prince Potemkin had fent for purpofely from Paris, 

 and who was a man of note, ordered them to be conftantly 

 bathed with warm camphorated fpirits : the elder was re- 

 moved to the hofpital, when a mortification began; the 

 younger I kept, and as we removed into winter quarters, 

 I carried the child along with me. The mortified parts 

 feparated, the bones of the toes came off, and, after a 

 confiderable time, the fores healed. I fliould have faid, the 

 furgeon was for immediately amputating both the limbs. 



In a fubterranean room, not far from mine, were feveral 

 women whofe feet had been in a like manner frozen; but 

 as no furgeon attended them, the Ruffian foldiers and wag- 

 goners undertook the cure. It was alfo the fecond day 

 when they applied their remedy, and the parts were per- 

 fectly black. This remedy was goofe-greafe, with which 

 the parts were fmeared warm, and the operation often re- 

 peated : their directions were, never to let the parts be dry, 

 but always covered with greafe. The confequence was, that 

 by degrees the circulation extended lower down, and the 

 blacknefs decreafed, till, laft of all, the toes were only dif- 

 coloured, and at length circulation was reftored to them. 



I can account fur this no otherwife, than that the fat kept 

 the pores fhut, and prevented the air from promoting putre- 

 faction; in the meantime the veffels were continually ab- 

 forbing part of the ftagnated blood, till by degrees the whole 

 circulation was reftored. It is known that extravafated and 

 ftagnated blood will remain a long time in the body with- 

 out putrtfying, if it be not expofed to the air. I conclude 

 alfo, that in thefe cafes of froft, the mortification firft begins 

 on the furface, which is in contact with the air. 



I only meant, however, to relate facts, and leave it to 

 Others to account for them. 



This is a general practice of the peafants throughout all 

 Rufiia; but if a part is discovered to be frozen, before the 

 per) on comes into a warm room, the froft may be extracted 

 by plunging the part into cold water, or rubbing it with 

 fnow till the circulation returns. 



Vol. Ill, K IV. AcewM 



