Account of the life and works of Maister Peter Lowe : the founder of the Faculty of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow / by James Finlayson.

  • James Finlayson
Date:
1889
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Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Account of the life and works of Maister Peter Lowe : the founder of the Faculty of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow / by James Finlayson. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Glasgow Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Glasgow Library.

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    Iesus Christ to the Iewes : these three Mondayes with the Innocents day, by diuers of the learned are reputed to be most vnfortunate of all dayes, and ought to be eschewed by all men for the great mishaps which often doe happen in them : and thus much concerning the opinion of our ancients ef dayes. [Lib. ix. Cap. 2, p. 373-] Great interest was excited among surgeons of the 16th century by the peculiarities of gunshot wounds and burning by gunpowder. Here again we find the good common sense of our author asserting itself as is shown in the following extract:— Of Wounds doone by Gun-shot.— .... These wounds come indifferently to all parts of our body whereof there are diuers opinions : some thinke that there is venenosity in the powder, and burning in the bullet, which is false, for the things whereof the powder is ordinarily made, as Brimstone, Saltpeeter, coales of diuers sorts of trees, Water, Wine, and Aquauite, haue no venenosity in them : likewise there is no burning in the bullet, for if the bullet of lead being shot a great way, should burne, through heat would be melted it selfe. I haue cured diuers within these thirty1 yeares of diuers nations, which haue followed the warres in Fraunce, and other Cuntries, in the which I haue found no more difficulty then in other contused wounds ; so I thinke these accidents come onely by contusion and dilaceration of the flesh, and not by any venenosity, or vstion : yet there may be some extraordinary mixtion in the powder, which causeth venome, for the which wee take some other indication, according to the thing. [Lib. vi. Cap. 5, p. 301.] The next extract seems to refer to subcutaneous emphysema—a rare accident in childbirth. Of the tumor in the necke or cragge called Brvncoceli, or Hernia Gvttvris.— . ... As for the other kindes of it, if that auaile not, you shall haue recourse to my Booke of the disease of W'omen, by reason oftentimes it happeneth to them in time of their trauailing, by stopping of them to crye in the time of their extreame paine, the which Booke God willing shortly shall come to light. [Lib. v. Cap 40, p. 216.] The following is evidently a case of pyaemia, very graphically described. Of the scituation of the three Vaines in the arme, the way to open them, and their effects.— .... Once I saw in opening of this [vena mediana] the nerue pricked, of the which within the space of 4. dayes after there came a soft tumor in the Omoplat, with a relaxation of the ioynt, as also all the ioynts of the body, for the which the deepe profounding is forbidden by Avicen, and Rasis. [Lib. ix. Cap. 4, p. 38i.] 1 In the first edition (Lib. vi. Cap. 5) “ within these tenne yeeres of diuers nations which haue followed the warres in Fraunce.