This author's manner of thinking is very far from being established as might be wished, amputations being still too frequent. Mr. Bilguer's work ought at this time to be so much the more favourably received, as a celebrated company, whose decisions ought to have great weight in matters relating to surgery, has formally declared, about seven years ago, _That amputation is absolutely necessary in gunshot wounds, complicated with fracture of the bones_; and have left unfortunate wounded men no other alternative, but that of losing the injured limb on the spot, or a few hours later. That line of Juvenal seems very applicable on the occasion: _Nulla unquam de morte hominis cunctatio longa est._ FOOTNOTES: [1] _Le Manuel du Chirurgien d'Armée_; or, The Art of methodically curing Gunshot Wounds, &c. By L. L. M. C. Printed for Houry, at Paris. My edition is the second, published 1693. A TABLE OF THE SECTIONS. _Inutility of amputation of the limbs._ I. _The author's design in this treatise._ _Page_ 1 II. _What afforded him the first hints._ 2 III. _What encouraged his inquiries._ 3 IV. _Motives which induced him to write this treatise._ 4 V. _Subject of the dissertation._ 6 VI. _Accidents which are supposed to render amputation necessary, viz. mortification, shattered limbs, violent contusion, wounds of the large vessels, caries of the bone, cancer._ 7 VII. _Internal medicines; remarks on the use of the bark in mortifications. Questions by M. Tissot with respect to two cases._ 9 VIII. _External applications; incisions on the parts affected, manner of performing them._ 12 IX. _Separation of the dead from the sound flesh, without cutting to the quick; nicety of this operation._ 15 X. _Manner of dressing the wounds, and the bones, when affected._ 17 XI. _Continuation._ 19 XII. _Scarifications round the mortified Part._ Ibid. XIII. _Doctrine of the ancients and several moderns with respect to fomentations, confirmed. Forms answering to different intentions._ Ibid. XIV. _Alteration of the condition of wounds; time to administer the bark._ 25 XV. _Manner of giving it._ Ibid. XVI. _Sequel of the external treatment; formation of pus._ 27 XVII. _Conjecture on S. G.'s manner of performing cures._ 30 XVIII. _Reflections on the abuse of amputation, its inexpediency when the mortification proceeds from an internal cause._ 31