The Compleat Surgeon Part 1

The Compleat Surgeon, or the Whole Art of Surgery Explain'd in a Most Familiar Method.

by Charles Gabriel Le Clerc.

PREFACE.

_So great a number of Treatises of Surgery, as well Ancient as Modern, have been already publish'd, that a plenary Satisfaction seems to have been long since given on this Subject, even to the Judgment of the most curious Inquirers: But if it be consider'd that a young Surgeon ought always to have in view the first Principles of this n.o.ble Art explain'd after a familiar and intelligible manner, it will be soon acknowledg'd that there is good reason to set about_ _the Work anew: For besides that the Writings of the Ancients being so voluminous, are not portable, they are also very intricate and confus'd; nay the whole Art has been so far improv'd and brought to perfection by able Masters in the present Age, that they are now almost become unprofitable._

_Some Modern authors have set forth certain small Tracts, which only explain a few Chirurgical Operations, and on that account deserve only the Name of Fragments. Indeed the Works of some others seem to be sufficiently compleat, but are printed in so large Volumes, and contain so many Discourses altogether foreign from the princ.i.p.al Subject, that they have almost the same Inconveniences with those of the Ancients. Therefore the Reader is here presented with a small Treatise of Surgery, yet very plain and perspicuous, in a portable Volume; being free from a Multiplicity of impertinent Words, and containing every thing of moment that has been producd by the most approv'd Authors both Ancient and Modern._

_An Introduction is made into the Matter by small Colloquies or Dialogues, to the end that the young Student may be at first lead as it were by the Hand; but as soon as he has attain'd to a considerable Progress in these Studies, this innocent and puerile manner of speaking is abandon'd, to conduct him in good earnest to the most sublime Heights of so admirable an Art; to which purpose, after having penetrated into its first Rudiments and Grounds, he is well instructed in Anatomy, and furnish'd with a general _Idea_ of Wounds and Tumours, which are afterward treated of in particular: He is also taught a good Method of curing Wounds made by Gun-shot, the Scurvy, and all sorts of Venereal Diseases: From thence he is introduced into the Practice of all manner of Chirurgical Operations in Fractures and Luxations; together with the use of their respective Dressings and Bandages._

_At the end of the Work is added a _compleat Chirurgical Dispensatory_, shewing the Method of preparing such Medicinal Compositions as are chiefly us'd in the Art of Surgery; so that upon the whole Matter, it may be justly affirm'd, that this little Manual has all the Advantages of the Ancient and Modern Writings on the same Subject, and is altogether free from their Superfluities and Defects._

{1}

THE

_Compleat Surgeon:_

OR, THE

Whole ART

OF

SURGERY

Explain'd, _&c._

CHAP. I.

_Of the Qualifications of a Surgeon, and of the Art of Surgery._

_Who is a Surgeon?_

A Person skill'd in curing Diseases incident to Humane Bodies by a methodical Application of the Hand.

_What are the Qualifications of a good Surgeon in general?_

{2}

They are three in Number: _viz._ Skill in the Theory, Experience in the Practical part, and a gentle Application of the Hand.

_Why ought a Surgeon to be skilful?_

Because without a discerning Faculty he can have no certainty in what he doth.

_Why must he be experienc'd?_

Because Knowledge alone doth not endue him with a dexterity of Hand requisite in such a Person, which cannot be acquir'd but by Experience, and repeated Manual Operations.

_Why must he be tender-handed?_

To the End that by fit Applications he may a.s.swage those Pains which he is oblig'd to cause his Patients to endure.

_What is Chirurgery or Surgery?_

It is an Art which shews how to cure the Diseases of Humane Bodies by a methodical Manual Application. The Term being derived from the _Greek_ Word [Greek: Cheir], signifying a Hand and [Greek: Ergon], a _Work_ or _Operation_.

_After how many manners are Chirurgical Operations usually perform'd?_

Four several ways.

_Which be they?_

I. _Synthesis_, whereby the divided Parts are re-united; as in Wounds. II.

_Diaeresis_, that divides and separates those Parts, which, by their Union, hinder the Cure of Diseases, such is the continuity of Abscesses or Impostumes which must be open'd to let out the purulent Matter. III.

_Exaeresis_, which draws out of the Body whatsoever is noxious or hurtful, as Bullets, Arrows, _&c._ IV. _Prosthesis_ adds some Instrument or Body to supply {3} the defect of those that are wanting; such are Artificial Legs and Arms, when the Natural ones are lost. It also furnishes us with certain Instruments to help and strengthen weak Parts, such as _Pessaries_, which retain the _Matrix_ in its proper place when it is fallen, Crutches to a.s.sist feeble Persons in going, _&c._

_What ought to be chiefly observed before the undertaking an Operation?_

Four things; _viz._ 1. What the Operation to be perform'd is? 2. Why it is perform'd? 3. Whether it be necessary or possible? And 4. The manner of performing it.

_How may we discern these?_

The Operation to be perform'd may be known by its Definition; that is to say, by explaining what it is in it self: We may discover whether it ought to be done, by examining whether the Distemper cannot be cur'd otherwise: We may also judge whether it be possible or necessary, by a competent Knowledge of the Nature of the Disease, the Strength of the Patient, and the Part affected: Lastly, the manner of performing it may be found out, by being well vers'd in the Practice of Surgery.

_What are the Fundamental Principles of Surgery?_

They are Three in number: _viz._ 1. The knowledge of Man's Body. 2. That of the Diseases which require a Manual Operation. 3. That of proper Remedies and Helps upon every Occasion.

_How may one attain to the Knowledge of Humane Bodies?_ {4}

By the study of Anatomy.

_How may one learn to know the Distempers relating to Surgery, and the Remedies appropriated for them?_

Two several ways; _viz._ 1. By the reading of good Books, and Instructions receiv'd from able Masters of that Art. 2. By practice and the Observation of what is perform'd by others upon the Bodies of their Patients.

_What are the Diseases in general that belong to Surgery?_

They are Tumours, Impostumes, Wounds, Ulcers, Fractures, Dislocations, and generally all sorts of Distempers whereto Manual Operations may be applyed.