gangrened Carbuncle.

We immediately attack all these sorts of Carbuncles by Scarification, making the Incision to the Right and to the Left, in the Middle, and on the Edges, to the Quick; and if the Escarr is Thick and Callous, we take away all the Thickness, and what is Callous, as much as the Situation of the Parts will permit.

We have not thought proper to use here the actual or potential Cauteries which are employed in our Province, in the case of common Carbuncles, because, having made Trial of them at the Beginning, we observed that they caused Inflammations so considerable, that a Gangrene presently ensued, and its Edges became Callous again: The Caustick Stone succeeded not but in small Carbuncles, which heal of themselves, almost without any Help.

After having scarified these Tumours, we applied Pledgets with good Digestives, as in the Case of Buboes, only with this Difference, that we have left out the suppurating Ingredients, using only the Treacle, Balsam of Arcæus, and Oil of Turpentine; and if there is much Corruption, we add the Tinctures of Aloes, of Myrrh and Camphire, &c.

We put over the Pledgets, emollient and anodine, or spirituous and dissolving Cataplasms, as over the Buboes, according to the diversity of Indications. In the Course of the Dressings, the Lotions and Injections are also employed the same as for the Buboes, according to the Exigence of the Case. And, if in the Process of Suppuration, the new Flesh be so sensible, that the Digestives applied cause a very great Pain, as we have seen it often happen, then we substitute in their room Pledgets with Unguentum Nutritum, with very good Success.

The Method relating to the Sick of the Fifth Class.

We believe it will be useless to give every particular of the Method that has been followed, and which is still actually used in the Cure of the diseased of the Fifth Class, wherewith the Hospitals are filled; because they being afflicted with no other Symptom besides the Buboes and Carbuncles ill looked after, or neglected, and by consequence, nothing here offers it self but the Abscesses, Ulcers, Fistula’s, Scirrhus’s, and Callus’s, which Negligence, or an ill Treatment have left behind them; so that there is here nothing farther required, but to put in Use the Method laid down above, or to employ the Means practised in the like Cases, according to the Rules of Art.

We shall remark, in concluding, that all the Methods we have here proposed, are not so general, or constant, as to be without Exceptions, in respect to certain particular Cases, which have fallen under our Observation during this terrible Sickness, and which may furnish Materials for a more exact Account. But what we have already delivered may be sufficient to instruct the young Physicians and Surgeons, that are employed in attending Infected Persons; and at the same time, to let the Publick know what Opinion ought to be had of all those singular Methods, and of those pretended Specificks so cried up by the Populace, and by the Empericks.

F I N I S.

Transcriber’s Notes:

Long “s” has been modernized.