A treatise on the operations of surgery : with a description and representation of the instruments used in performing them : to which is prefixed an introduction on the nature and treatment of wounds, abscesses and ulcers / by Samuel Sharpe, fellow of the Royal Society, and member of the Academy of Surgery at Paris.
- Samuel Sharp
- Date:
- 1788
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: A treatise on the operations of surgery : with a description and representation of the instruments used in performing them : to which is prefixed an introduction on the nature and treatment of wounds, abscesses and ulcers / by Samuel Sharpe, fellow of the Royal Society, and member of the Academy of Surgery at Paris. Source: Wellcome Collection.
Provider: This material has been provided by University of Bristol Library. The original may be consulted at University of Bristol Library.
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![Jt IXTRO D-U C T I O N. dangerous) it may be made a rub to ufe nothing more oilv than warm milk, with which the face may be embrocated live or fix times a day. If after four or fi\ e days, the inflam- mation begins to fubfide, the purg- ing waters and manna may take place of other purges, ; nd the embrocation of oil and vinegar be now omitted, or fooner, if it has begun to exco- riate. The ointment of wax and oil may be continued to the hit : or if, upon conelufion of the cure, the itch- ing of the (kin (bould be troubleforr.e, it ma)- better be relieved by the appli- cation of nutritum, which is an oint- ment made of equal parts of diachy- lon andfweet oil., melted foftly down, and afterwards ftirred together with a little addition of vinegar till they are cold. During the cure, a thin diet is abfoluteh neceflary, and, in t',-.e height of the inflammation, the drinking of thin liquors is of ^reat fervice. Here I have fuppofed that the in- flammation had fo great a tendency to difcullion, asly the help of proper aiiiltance to termin tein that manner; but when it happens that the difpofi- tion of the tumour refills all difcu- tient means, we muft then defifi from any farther evacuations, and, a* much as we can, affift nature in the bring- ing on a fuppuration. That mattei will moft likely be formed, we may judge from the in- crcafc of the fvmptomatic fever, and enlargement of the tumour, with more pain and pulfation; and if a fmall rigour come on, it is hardly to be doubted. Inflammation; after a fever, and the fmail-pox, almoft, always fuppurate ; but thef- prcfently dif- cover their tendency, or at lealr. fhould be at firft gently treated, as though we c\pccted r.n impofthuma- don. It is a maxim laid down in forgery, thai evacuation, are perni- cious in every circun fluncc of ad:f- eafe, which is at kilt to end in fup- puration : but as pi yficians do now acknowledge J that 1 leeddng on cer- tain occafioBsr in t:c fmaU-rox, is not only no impediment to the m: ration, but even promotes it; fo, the formation of abfeeffes, when veflels have been clogged; and fuppuratior: has not kindly advance bleed ing has fometimes quickened exceedingly ; but, however, this pr; tice is to he followed with cautii Purges are, no doubt, improper this time; yet if the patient be cofti\ he muft: be affiited with gentle clyilt every two or three days. Of all the applications invented promote fuppurution, there are no: fo eafy as pultices; but as there a particular tumours very flow of fu purntion, and almoft void of pa (fuch, for inftance, are fome of t fcrophulous fwellings) it will be le troublefome in thefe cafes to we; the gum-phlTcrs, which ma_y be newed every four or live days onh Amongft the fuppurative pulti< perhaps there is none preferable that made of bread and milkfoftene with oil ; at leail, the advantage any other over it, is not to be dilci gui(lied in practice. The ufe of fu punitive plaflers in hafty abfcefl'e or infl inmations to a weak or dro fical habit of bod}-, is by no mea advifeable, as they are apt to fit ur c'afy on the inflammation, are oftej painful to remove when we enquir into the ftare of the tumour, and b] their comprefs in bad conftitrjtions add femething to the difpofition o the part to mortify. The abfeefs majl be covered with the pultice twice a dav, till it lie come to that ripenelT as to require o ening, which will be? known ay the thinnefs and eminence of the (kin in fome part of it, a fluc-j tuation of the matter, and, generally! fr.eakirig, an abatement of the pain] previous to thefe appearances. Thd frjanner of o; ening an ahfeefs I fhallj defcrib* after having fpokvn of u gangrene, which is the other confei] quencc of an inflammation. ' The figns of a gangrene are thefe H the inflammation lofes its rednefs, and] becomes dnflcifh and livid; the tenfe-fl neffl of the ikin g^es off, and feelstm the i](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b21442502_0016.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
