Chap. LI. Of Wounds. 199 



and when that is rightly performed, nothing contributes 10 

 much to their Re-union, as it in fome Meafure prevents the 

 Inconveniencies of Motion, and likewife as it puts a Stop to 

 the Swelling ; which, without a plentiful and fpeedy Dif-r 

 charge, will often caufe Ulceration, together with a preter- 

 natural Hardnefs in the Lips. 



Stitching and Bandage are nearly ally'd to each other, and 

 fometimesthe one fupplies the room of the other ; but moft 

 Wounds may be eafily cured, when Hitching and Bandage 

 can come in to one another's Aid. Wounds Large Wounds 

 which are large and deep, and which may ought to he 

 be prefs'd together with your Fingers are ptch'dy unlefs 

 the moft fit to be ftitch'd ; but Wounds that *^''y. P^^^rate 

 penetrate to the Bone,ought not to be (litch'd ^° ^^' ^'jf; '/ 

 ^vhen theFlefh is much divided from the >^^ ^« '^^A^^^- 

 Bone, otherwifean Abfcefs may be form'd which will caufe 

 the Bone to putrify ; the fame Caution is alfo to be obferv'd, 

 when by your Probe, or by a Swelling diilant from the 

 Wound, you have Reafon to fufpe<ft fome of the Mufcles 

 are divided, as it happens in very large Contufions. In this 

 Cafe Bandage is only to be made ufe of, v/ith the proper 

 Applications to the Wound ; but if the Swelling continues, 

 which for the moft part happens, if at all, underneath the 

 Wound, and therefore becomes unable to bear a firm Ban- 

 dage, it muft be treated as an Impofthume, by the Applica- 

 tion of ripening Cataplafms ; and when it comes to Matu- 

 rity, it muft be opened as low as polfible, that the Matter 

 may have a free Pallage and Vent j after which the Bandage 

 will become of infinite Service. 



Wounds that are of a round and circular Wounds of a 

 Figure can't be ftitch'd, but Nature muft circular Figure. 

 fill up that Space by Degrees ; neither can thofe be ftitch'd 

 which are very much ragged and torn ; but in a Wound that 

 Jias fevcral Points and Angles, Stitches may fometimes be 

 made to do Service, but for this Purpofe no general Rule can 

 be laid down. Solkyfellzdviks to cut all circular Wounds 

 into a large Figure, but that needs feldom be done where Ban- 

 dage can be apply 'd -, for the only thing that makes a circular 

 Wound hard to cure, is, when the Bottom of the Wound 

 happens to be large and loofe, or bruifed, or when the Wound 

 penetrates perpendicularly downwards; in this cafe, a mode- 

 rate Incifion downward may be made ; but when a circular 

 Wound is not very deep, or if it is not in fome refped like 

 a Well, or Pit, the Application of Bolfters and Bandage^, to 

 Jceep it firm at the Bottom, will, for the moft part, futftce. 

 X 4 la/Jiy^ 



