IMPOSTHUMES. 241 



every intention of this kind by medicines ; 

 but as they have not, I think, laid down 

 fufficient rules for their appl. cation in 

 thole cafes where they are mofl: wanted, 

 I hope the following general diredions 

 will not be unacceptable •, as the difficulty 

 in healing fome kinds of fores arifes fre- 

 quently from the unlkilful manner of dref- 

 fing them. 



It may be necefTary then to obferve How fore^ 

 here once for all •, that the cures of mod J^°^^^j^^ 

 fores are efFecled by the fimpleft me- 

 thods, and that it is often of much more 

 confequence to know how to drefs a fore, 

 than what to drefs it with •, and in this 

 confifts indeed the chief art of this branch 

 of furgery ; for the mod eminent in that 

 profeffion have long fince difcovered, 

 that variety of ointments and falves are 

 unnecedary in the cure of mod wounds 

 and fores, and they have accordingly 

 difcarded the greareft part, formerly in 

 repute for that purpofe ; repeated obfer- 

 vations havino; taught them, that after 

 the digedion, nature is generally dif- 

 pofed to heal up the wound fad enough 

 herfelf, and that the furgeon's chief care 

 is to prevent a luxuriency commonly 

 called proud flefh ; which all ointments, 

 wherein lard or oir enters, are but too 



R prone 



