Note 38 — A DISSERTATION ON THE Inutility of Amputation.

The troublesome symptoms which I have here enumerated, happen seldomer when the limb is entirely carried off by the ball, although the concussion caused by the compression of the air must be greater in this case, than when the ball has only grazed; a circumstance which might induce one to call in question the justness of my remarks in this section. But these doubts will vanish, when we reflect, that in a contusion there is no discharge of blood, whereas it is very considerable in cases where the limb is intirely carried off; and thus, the remedy is here a consequence of the accident itself, since this hemorrhage effects what we would wish to effect by artificial bleeding; in contusions, where there is no discharge of blood, it removes obstructions, and disperses the extravasated humours, which are the consequences of concussion.