# Compleat Surgeon

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THE Compleat Surgeon: OR, The whole Art of Surgery explain'd in a most familiar Method.
Containing
An exact Account of its Principles and several Parts, viz. Of the Bones, Muscles, Tumours, Ulcers, and Wounds simple and complicated, or those by Gun-shot; as also of Venereal Diseases, the Scurvy, Fractures, Luxations, and all sorts of Chirurgical Operations; together with their proper Bandages and Dressings.
To which is added,
A Chirurgical Dispensatory; shewing the manner how to prepare all such Medicines as are most necessary for a Surgeon, and particularly the Mercurial Panacæa.
Written in French by M. le Clerc, Physician in Ordinary, and Privy-Counsellor to the French King; and faithfully translated into English.
LONDON,
Printed for M. Gillyflower, in Westminster-Hall; T. Goodwin, and M. Wotton, in Fleet-street; J. Walthoe, in the Middle-Temple Cloysters; and R. Parker, under the Royal-Exchange, in Cornhill, 1696.

## THE 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 Noble 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 principal 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.

### A TABLE OF THE CHAPTERS And of the Principal Matters Which are contain'd in every Chapter.

** CHAP. I.
*** Of the Qualifications of a Surgeon, and the Art of Surgery,
**** Of Synthesis, Diæresis, Exæresis, and Prosthesis
**** What ought to be observ'd before the undertaking of an Operation
** CHAP. II.
*** Of Chirurgical Instruments, portable and not portable
** CHAP. III.
*** Of Anatomy in general, and in particular of all the Parts of which the Human Body is compos'd
** CHAP. IV.
*** Of the general Division of a Human Body
** CHAP. V.
*** Of the Skeleton
**** Of the different kinds of Articulations,
**** Of the Number of the Bones of the Human Skeleton
** CHAP. VI.
*** Of Myology, or the Description and Anatomy of the Muscles of the Human Body
** CHAP. VII.
*** Of the Myology or Anatomy of the Muscles of the Head
** CHAP. VIII.
*** Of the Myology or Anatomy of the Muscles of the Chest, or of the Breast, Belly, and Back
** CHAP. IX.
*** Of the Myology or Anatomy of the Muscles of the lower Belly
**** Of the Muscles of the Parts that serve for Generation in both Sexes
** CHAP. X.
*** Of the Muscles of the Shoulder-Blades, Arms and Hands.
** CHAP. XI.
*** Of the Muscles of the Thighs, Legs, and Feet,
**** A List of all the Muscles of the Humane Body,
** CHAP. XII.
*** Of the Anatomy of the Nerves, Arteries, and Veins in general
**** Of the Structure of the four Tunicks of the Arteries
**** Of the Structure of the four Tunicks of the Veins
**** Of the Beginning and Origine of all the Veins
**** Of the Distribution of the ascending Vena Cava
** CHAP. XIII.
*** Of the Anatomy of the Abdomen or lower Belly,
**** Of the Opening of a dead Body at a publick Dissection
**** Of the Peristaltick Motion of the Guts
**** Of the Parts appointed for Generation in Men
**** Of the Parts appropriated to Generation in Women
** CHAP. XIV.
*** Of the Anatomy of the Breast, or middle Venter,
**** The manner of opening the Breast in order to dissect it
** CHAP. XV.
*** Of the Anatomy of the Head or upper Venter,
**** An exact Historical Account of the Holes of the Skull, and the Vessels that pass thro' 'em
**** The manner of opening the Head, and Anatomizing the Brain
** CHAP. XVI.
*** Of Straps, Swathing-Bands, Bandages, Bolsters, and Tents
* A Treatise of Chirurgical Diseases.
** CHAP. I.
*** Of Tumours in general, Impostumes or Abcesses, Breakings out, Pustules, and Tubercles
** CHAP. II.
*** Of the general Method to be observ'd in the curing of Tumours
**** How many several ways may all curable Tumours be terminated
**** What are the best means of curing Impostumes, whether to dissolve, or to bring 'em to Suppuration
**** Of the Circumstances, to be observ'd by a Surgeon in the opening of Tumours
**** Of the general Causes of Tumours
** CHAP. III.
*** Of Natural Tumours, and first of the Phlegmon, and its Dependances
**** Of Remedies proper for the Phlegmon
**** Remedies for the curing of Aneurisms and Varices
**** Remedies for Echymoses, Contusions, or Bruises
**** Of Tumours, and their Remedies
**** Of a Gangrene
**** Remedies for a Gangrene
**** Of Kibes and Chilblains, and their Remedies
**** Of the Panaritium and its Remedies
**** Of a Burn and its Remedies
**** Of the Erysipelas and its Dependences
**** Remedies for the Erysipelas
**** Of Erysipelatous Tumours or Impostumes, and their Remedies
**** Of the Oedema, and its proper Remedies,
**** Of Oedomatous Tumours and Impostumes
**** Of a Scirrhus and its Remedies
**** Of Scirrhous Tumours
**** Remedies for the Polypus
**** Of Cancers
**** Remedies for Cancers
** CHAP. IV.
*** Of Bastard or Encysted Tumours
**** Of the Remedies for Encysted Tumours
** CHAP. V.
*** Of Critical, Malignant, Pestilential, and Venereal Tumours and Impostumes
** CHAP. VI.
*** Of the Scurvy,
* A Treatise of Wounds, Ulcers, and Sutures,
** CHAP. I.
*** Of Sutures or Stitches,
** CHAP. II.
*** Of Wounds in general
**** Of Remedies proper to stop the Hæmorrhage of a Wound
**** What is to be done when a Convulsion happens in a Wound, by reason of a Wounded Nerve or Tendon
**** What Course is to be taken to draw extraneous Bodies out of a Wound
**** Of Vulnerary Decoctions to be taken inwardly
** CHAP. III.
*** Of the particular Wounds of the Head
** CHAP. IV.
*** Of the particular Wounds of the Breast
** CHAP. V.
*** Of the particular Wounds of the lower Belly
** CHAP. VI.
*** Of Wounds made by Guns or Fire-Arms
**** Of the Prognostick of Wounds by Gun-shot
**** Of the cure of Wounds by Gun-shot
**** Of a Burn made by Gun-powder
** CHAP. VII.
*** Of Ulcers in general
** CHAP. VIII.
*** Of Venereal Diseases
**** Of the Chaude-Pisse or Gonorrhæa
**** Of Shankers
**** Of Bubo's
**** Of the Pox
**** The manner of making the Mercurial Panacæa
* A Treatise of the Diseases of the Bones.
** CHAP. I.
*** Of the Dislocation of Bones
** CHAP. II.
*** Of the Fractures of Bones
** CHAP. III.
*** Of the particular Fractures of the Skull
** CHAP. IV.
*** Of the Caries, Exostoses, and Nodus of the Bones
** CHAP. V.
*** Of Cauteries, Vesicatories, Setons, Cupping-Glasses, and Leeches
**** Of the compounding of Potential Cauteries
** CHAP. VI.
*** Of Phlebotomy
* A Treatise of Chirurgical Operations.
** CHAP. I.
*** Of the Operation of the Trepan
**** Of the Bandage of the Trepan
** CHAP. II.
*** Of the Operation of the Fistula Lachrymalis
**** The Dressing and Bandage of the Fistula Lachrymalis
** CHAP. III.
*** Of the Operation of the Cataract
**** The Dressing and Bandage of the Operation of the Cataract
**** Of purulent Matter gather'd under the Corneous Tunicle of the Eye
**** Of a Tumour that ariseth in the Eye,
**** Of the Eye-Lids glu'd together
**** Of the Hairs of the Eye-Brows that offend the Eye
**** Of the hard and transparent Tumours on the Eye-Lids
** CHAP. IV.
*** Of the Operation of the Polypus
** CHAP. V.
*** Of the Operation of the Hare-Lip
**** The Dressing and Bandage for the Hare-Lip
** CHAP. VI.
*** Of the Operation of Bronchotomy
** CHAP. VII.
*** Of the Operation of the Uvula
** CHAP. VIII.
*** Of the Operation of a Cancer in the Breast
**** The Dressing and Bandage of the Breast
** CHAP. IX.
*** The Operation of the Empyema
**** The Dressing and Bandage for the Operation of the Empyema
** CHAP. X.
*** Of the Operation of the Paracentesis of the lower Belly
**** The Dressing and Bandage for that Paracentesis
**** The Operation of the Parcentesis of the Scrotum
** CHAP. XI.
*** Of the Operation of Gastroraphy
** CHAP. XII.
*** Of the Operation of Exomphalus
** CHAP. XIII.
*** Of the Operation of the Bubonocele, and of the compleat Rupture
**** The Dressing and Bandage
**** Of the compleat Rupture
** CHAP. XIV.
*** Of the Operation of Castration
**** Of the Dressing and Bandage for the Castration
** CHAP. XV.
*** Of the Operation of the Stone in the Ureter
** CHAP. XVI.
*** Of the Operation of Lithotomy
**** The Dressing and Bandage for the Operation of Lithotomy
**** Of the Operation of Lithotomy in Women by the lesser Preparative
** CHAP. XVII.
*** Of the Operation of the Puncture of the Perinæum
** CHAP. XVIII.
*** Of the Operation of the Fistula in Ano
** CHAP. XIX.
*** Of the Suture of Stitching of a Tendon
** CHAP. XX.
*** Of the Cæsarian Operation
** CHAP. XXI.
*** Of the Operation of Amputation; with its proper Dressings and Bandages
** CHAP. XXII.
*** Of the Operation of the Aneurism
**** The Bandage for the Aneurism
** CHAP. XXIII.
*** Of the Operation of Phlebotomy
**** The Bandage in Phlebotomy
** CHAP. XXIV.
*** Of the Operation of Encysted Tumours
**** Of Ganglions
** CHAP. XXV.
*** Of the Operation of Hydrocephalus
** CHAP. XXVI.
*** Of the Operation of cutting the Tongue-String
** CHAP. XXVII.
*** Of the Operation of opening stopt Ductus's
**** Of an Incision made to open the Vagina Uteri
**** The manner of separating the Lips of the Pudendum when conglutinated
**** The manner of opening the Vagina when stopt with a Fleshy Substance
**** The Method of opening the Urinary Ductus as well in Boys as in young Virgins
**** The Method of opening the Ductus of the Ear, when stopt with a Membrane or a Carnous Substance
** CHAP. XXVIII.
*** Of the Operation of the Phimosis and Paraphimosis
** CHAP. XXIX.
*** Of the Operation of the Varix
** CHAP. XXX.
*** Of the Operation of the Panaritium
**** The Dressing and Bandage for this Operation
** CHAP. XXXI.
*** Of the Reduction of the falling of the Anus
** CHAP. XXXII.
*** Of the reducing of the falling of the Matrix
** CHAP. XXXIII.
*** Of the application of the Cautery and its Bandage
** CHAP. XXXIV.
*** Of the Application of Leeches, and the Dressing
** CHAP. XXXV.
*** Of the application of the Seton
** CHAP. XXXVI.
*** Of Scarifications
** CHAP. XXXVII.
*** Of the Application of Vesicatories
** CHAP. XXXVIII.
*** Of the application of Cupping-Glasses
** CHAP. XXXIX.
*** Of the opening of Abscesses or Impostumes
* A Treatise of the Operations of Fractures.
** CHAP. I.
*** Of the Fracture of the Nose
**** The Dressing and Bandage for the Fracture of the Nose
** CHAP. II.
*** Of the Fracture of the lower Jaw
**** The Dressing and Bandage
** CHAP. III.
*** Of the Fracture of the Clavicle
**** The Dressing and Bandage
** CHAP. IV.
*** Of the Fracture of the Omoplata or Shoulder-Blade
**** The Dressing
** CHAP. V.
*** Of the Fracture of the Ribs
**** The Dressing and Bandage
** CHAP. VI.
*** Of the Fracture of the Sternum or Breast-Bone
**** The Dressing and Bandage
** CHAP. VII.
*** Of the Fracture of the Vertebra's
** CHAP. VIII.
*** Of the Fracture of the Os Sacrum
** CHAP. IX.
*** Of the Fracture of the Coccyx or Rump-Bone
**** The Dressing and Bandage for that Fracture
** CHAP. X.
*** Of the Fracture of the Humerus or Arm-Bone
**** Its proper Dressing and Bandage
** CHAP. XI.
*** Of the Fracture of the Bone of the Elbow
**** The Dressing and Bandage
** CHAP. XII.
*** Of the Fracture of the Carpus or Wrist-Bone
**** The Dressing and Bandage
** CHAP. XIII.
*** Of the Fracture of the Bone of the Metacarpium or Back of the Hand
**** The Dressing and Bandage
** CHAP. XIV.
*** Of the Fracture of the Bones of the Fingers
** CHAP. XV.
*** Of the Fracture of the Thigh-Bone
**** The Dressing and Bandage
** CHAP. XVI.
*** Of the Fracture of the Patella or Knee-Pan
**** The Dressing and Bandage
** CHAP. XVII.
*** Of the Fracture of the Leg-Bone
**** Its proper Dressing and Bandage
**** The Dressing for complicated Fractures
** CHAP. XVIII.
*** Of the Fracture of the Bones of the Foot
**** The Dressing and Bandage
* A Treatise of the Operations which are perform'd in Luxations.
** CHAP. I.
*** Of the Luxation of the Bone of the Nose
**** The Dressing and Bandage proper for such a Luxation
** CHAP. II.
*** Of the Luxation of the lower Jaw-Bone
**** The Dressing and Bandage
** CHAP. III.
*** Of the Luxation of the Clavicle
** CHAP. IV.
*** Of the Luxation of the Vertebra's
**** The Dressing and Bandage
** CHAP. V.
*** Of the Luxation of the Coccyx or Rump-Bone
** CHAP. VI.
*** Of the Bunch
** CHAP. VII.
*** Of the Luxation of the Ribs
**** The Dressing and Bandage
** CHAP. VIII.
*** Of the sinking of the Xiphoides or Sword-like Cartilage
** CHAP. IX.
*** Of the Luxation of the Humerus or Arm-Bone,
**** The Dressing and Bandage
** CHAP. X.
*** Of the Luxation of the Bone of the Elbow
**** The Bandage for the same Luxation
** CHAP. XI.
*** Of the Luxation of the Carpus or Wrist-Bone
**** The Bandage
** CHAP. XII.
*** Of the Luxation of the Bones of the Fingers
**** The Bandage for that Luxation
** CHAP. XIII.
*** Of the Luxation of the Thigh
**** Its proper Dressing and Bandage
** CHAP. XIV.
*** Of the Luxation of the Knee
**** The Bandage
** CHAP. XV.
*** Of the Luxation of the Patella, Knee-Pan, or Whirl-Bone of the Knee
**** Of the Separation of the Perone from the Tibia
**** Of the Luxation of the Astragalus
**** Of the Separation of the Calcaneum from the Astragalus
* A Treatise of Medicinal Compositions necessary for a Surgeon.
** CHAP. I.
*** Of Balsams
**** The Balsam of Arcæus
**** The Balsam of Spain
**** The Green Balsam
**** The Samaritan Balsam
** CHAP. II.
*** Of Ointments
**** Unguentum Althææ
**** The mundificative Ointment of Smallage
**** The black or suppurative Ointment
**** Unguentum Rosatum
**** Unguentum Album, aut de Cerussa
**** Unguentum Ægyptiacum
**** Unguentum Basilicon, or the Royal Ointment
**** A cooling Cerate
**** An Ointment for Burns
** CHAP. III.
*** Of Plaisters
**** Of Plaister of Diapalma
**** The Plaister of simple Diachylum
**** The Plaister of Andreas Crucius
**** Emplastrum Divinum
** CHAP. IV.
*** Of the Cataplasms or Pultisses
** CHAP. V.
*** Of Oils
**** Simple Oil of Roses made by infusion
**** Compound Oil of Roses made by infusion
**** Oil of sweet Almonds made by expression
**** Oil of Bayes
**** Oil of Eggs made by expression
** CHAP. VI.
*** Of Collyriums
**** A dry Collyrium
**** A blue Collyrium
** CHAP. VII.
*** Of Powders
**** A Powder against Madness or Frenzy
** CHAP. VIII.
*** A Styptick Water
This work was published before January 1, 1929, and is in the public domain worldwide because the author died at least 100 years ago.
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