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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    most important was the use of the Ligature.1 This was recommended by our Author, as shown in the following extracts, although spoken of somewhat slightingly by Wiseman,2 a subsequent writer, who is often called the “ Father of English Surgery.” But where there is putrifaction, we stay the fluxe of blood by Cauters actuals, and where there is no putrifraction, malignity, nor humor venomous, we vse the ligatour. . . . In amputation without putrifaction, I find the ligatour reasonable sure, prouiding it be quickly done. To doe it, first thou shalt cause the assister as I haue said, to hold his fingers on the vaines, letting one loose, on the which thou shalt take hold with the backe Decurbin, taking a little of the flesh or muscles with it : then put through a needle with a strong thread, knit with a double knot, tying a little of the flesh with the vaine, which will make it hold the better, etc. [Lib. iv. Cap. 7, P- 93-] In connection with the treatment of Dropsy we again find him appealing to his own experience of the dangers attending a particular line of treatment. The following extract is interesting also as showing that although throughout his work he magnifies the office of the surgeon he does not despise the “ learned Phisition.” Hydropsie.— .... Some in the sayd disease doe counsell to make incision, the which I haue often seene, but with euill successe, and not to bee vsed, as being reiected by Trallianus, Gordonius, and others. The manner of the incision is this : the sicke must bee commodiously placed, then the ouecture must bee made eyther with Bistory, Launcet, or Cauter, three ynches vnder the nauill, towards the flanke on either side, eschewing the Linea alba, and extreamities of the muscles of the epigaster, and the nerues and tendons of Musculi erecti, for in hurting of those, grieuous accidents may follow, as feuer, dolour, difficulty to consolidate the wound, sometimes death, as I haue ofte remarked in ye great Hospital of Paris, and other parts : the incision must be very little, taking good heed you picke nether vaine, artier, nor intestine, put a hollow tent in it, with a broad head made of Siluer or Gold, euacuate the humor by little and little, stoppe the tent with a cloth or water- 1 “ Taught me, as I interpret it, by the suggestion of some good angel. For I neither “learned it of my masters nor of any other man. . . . And thus I wish all Chirurgions to “ doe. For it is not in our Art as it is in Civill affaires that Prescription, Law, or “ Authority should prevail over right reason.”—Rhead : An explanation of the fashion and use op three and fifty instruments of Chirvrgery. Gathered out of Ambrosius Pareus, and done into English for the behoofe of young Ptactitioners in Chirurgery, by H. C. London, 1634, pp. 116, 117. - Several! Chirguricall Treatises, by Richard Wiseman. London, 1676, p. 453.