[ 594 ] 
the fymptomatic fever, than what occurs after the ufe 
of the needle and ligature, which is, by much, the 
moil painful procefs of the operation in amputations, 
and is fometimes productive of fatal convullions, as 
has been obferv’d by Moniieur le Dran, in his chapter 
of amputations j under which circumitances, he par- 
ticularly advifes the immediate removal of the li- 
gatures as a cure. 
The ligatures have fometimes the farther incon- 
venience of remaining quite fix’d to the lail ; on 
which account, they unavoidably retard the healing of 
the wound. 
Beiides the effeCt of retraining the hemorrhage in 
all recent wounds, which the agaric has in common 
with the ligature, it has one great advantage peculiar 
to itfelf ; which is that of effectually retraining the 
bleeding in wounds of feveral days or weeks handing, 
where the parts are become fo rotten, as to be in- 
capable of bearing the ligature. This I have known 
the effect of in feveral intances, where the ligature has 
been attempted in vain. 
The manner, in which the agaric aCts, is, by contra- 
cting, or purling up the extremities of the divided vef- 
fels. I had an opportunity of enquiring into the faCt, in 
the cafe of a patient, whofe leg was cut off below the 
knee. Immediately after the amputation, pieces of agaric 
were apply’d to, and properly fecur'd upon, the mouths 
of all the principal veffels. In about an hour after 
the operation, the flump bled afrefh ; on which ac- 
count, I remov’d all the dreffings, except thofe pieces 
of agaric, that were at firfl apply’d. This gave me an 
opportunity of difcovering the fource of the haemor- 
rhage. 
