Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 4, 1802).djvu/390

^56] WOU injuries arc always more speedily healed with oil and emollient cata- plasms, than with essences, bal- sams, and other heating drugs. But, as the opinions of professional men gieatly differ on this subjed, >ve must refer the curious reader to Mr. John Bell's late publica- tion, entitled " Discourses on the Nature and Cure of It^owids ," (8vo. ps.) ; and shall add a few remarks oflDr. Robert Jackson, extraded from the 1 Ith vol. of " The London MedicalJoumal-" where this skil- ful praditioner expresses himself to the following effeft : — ^The praftice of dilating, poulticing, &c. of gun- shot wounds, appears to be justi- fiable only in those cases, where it btcomes necessary to extraft the ball, or the fragment of a bone ; or in which inflammation is about to commence. In all other in- stances. Dr. J. considers dilatation as superfluous, and even as con- tributing to retard the cure : m his opinion, it is sufficient to bind the wound with linen rags, or similar bandage, to prevent the access of air. Cataplasms, says he, may be serviceable in cold climates ; but, in warm countries, bandages moist- ened with laudanum, or spirituous ^iquors, and even the affusion of cold water upon wounded limbs, dispose them to heal in a very re- markable manner. He contirms these observations by numerous cases of soldiers who were wounded in the contest with America ; and vrho recovered more speedily by this treatment, than by adopting the practice of dilatation, and suppura- tion. — See also the articles Styptic and TouBNiauET. Wounds of the joints, such as the knee, foot, &c. heal most ex- peditiously by the simple applica- tion of cold water j provided Uie WOU onfice of such wounds be imme- diately contracted by means of ad- hesive plaster. If they happen to be deep,ScHMUCKER advises blood to be drawn from a vein ; while he observes, that, by renewing the compresses with fresh water, as soon as they become warm, such injuries have generally been cured, witJiout producing inflammation, or any other symptoms. — FoH, on this occasion, recemmends the pow- der of colophony to be strewed oa a pledget, which should be moist- ened with re6tified spirit of wine, and thus applied to the injured part J where it will promote the discharge of the glutinous synovia, or the water lubricating the joints. —See also Tendons. WOUNDS, in farriery, may be occasioned by various accidents j but, as our prescribed limits do not admit of a minute detail, we shall at present state only the treatment, which may be most advantageously adopted, on common occasions. In all fresh wounds, occasioned by cutting instruments, it will be sufficient to bring the lips together by ligature, or by suture ; after which, rags dipped in brandy should be applied ; or the orifice may be covered with a pledget spread with the following ointment : — ^Take of Venice turpentine, and bees-wax, each lib.; of olive-oil if lb., and 12 oz. of yellow resin : let these ingredients be melted together, and 2 or 3 oz, of finely-pulverized ver- digrease be added ; the whole be- ing stirred, till it become cold.— See also vol. ii. p. 482. lo cases of scalds or bums, where the skin remains sound, it will be advisable to bathe the part with camphorated spirit of wine, and to cover it with rags dipped in the same liquor : salt may also be applied