The first lines of the practice of surgery. ... Being an elementary work for students, and a concise book of reference for practitioners / By Samuel Cooper.

Cooper, Samuel, 1780-1848.

Date:: 1809

Credit: The first lines of the practice of surgery. ... Being an elementary work for students, and a concise book of reference for practitioners / By Samuel Cooper. Source: Wellcome Collection.

68/676 (page 38)

$without removing the cause, and even the removal of that, after a certain period, will not prevent the disorder. Cushions placed in particular situations under the patient, and change of posture, are the grand means of prevention in most cases, The local treatment does not differ from that of other mortifications. In every case of sphacelus, the surgeon should endeavour to find out, and, if possible, remove the cause. I his sometimes cannot be discovered ; frequently it is known, but cannot be removed. The progress of mortification often stops spontaneous y, especially, when it arises from external injuries. Some external injuries are inevitably followed by mor- tification. Here amputation is frequently proper in the first instance 5 for the wound of the operation is less da^ gcrous than sphacelus. , . ° When the substantial part of the lower extrenuty has mortified, the formation of a serviceable stump genera y renders amputation requisite, as soon as the spreading oi the disorder has ceased. Sometimes, however, it is pru- dent to delay the operation a Utde, until the system has re, \ivcd from its dejected state. CHAP. VI. ERYSIPELAS. ERYSIPELAS is a kind of inflammation most fre- quently affecting the small vessels on the surface of tfic body. It is more commonly, as Mr. Hunter observes, a cu- taneous inflammation, than one of parts more deeply sit ua- ted ; although, in some constitutions, every inflammation, •wherever it exists, will most probably be of this kind. However, Mr. Hunter very justly remarked, that the skin appears to be the most susceptible of erysipelas, because$