Chapter XI · Of Medicines breeding flesh.

There are many things diligently to be observed in the cures of wounds and ulcers, which incur and hinder that the cure cannot be speedily done, nor the separated parts reduced to their natural state.

Viz. Fluxes of blood, inflammation, hardness, pain, and other things besides our present scope.

Our present scope is, to shew how the cavity of ulcers may be filled with flesh.

Such medicines are called Sarcoticks.

This, though it be the work of nature, yet it is helped forward with medicines, that the blood may be prepared, that it may the easier be turned into flesh.

These are not medicines which breed good blood, nor which correct the intemperature of the place afflicted, but which defend the blood and the ulcer itself from corruption in breeding flesh.

For nature in breeding flesh produceth two sorts of excrements, viz. scrosus humours, and purulent dross.

Those medicines then which cleanse and consume, these by drying are said to breed flesh, because by their helps nature performs that office.

Also take notice that these medicines are not so drying that they should consume the blood also as well as the sanies, nor so cleansing that they should consume the flesh with the dross.

Let them not then exceed the first degree unless the ulcer be very moist.

Their difference are various, according to the part wounded, which ought to be restored with the same flesh.

The softer then, and tenderer the place is, the gentler let the medicines be.