But there are some peculiarities to be attended to in the joints. If the nerves, which secure them, are cut through, a weakness of that part follows. If that is uncertain, and the wound is from a sharp weapon, and that in a transverse direction, it is more easy to cure: and if it be from a blunt and heavy one, the figure of it makes no difference: but it must be observed whether the pus comes from above or below the joint. If it come from under it, and continue a long time white and thick, it is probable that a nerve is cut through, and the more so, the greater the pains and inflammations are, and the sooner they began. But although the nerve be not cut through, yet if a hard tumour continue round it long, the ulcer of necessity must be tedious, and even when that is healed, the tumour will remain; and it will be a considerable time before that limb recover its power either of extension or contraction. And it is longer before it can be extended, when the cure has been conducted with the joint bent, than it is before one can be bent, which we have kept straight. The limb, that is wounded, ought to be placed also in a certain position: if it is to be agglutinated, it must be laid high; if it is inflamed, so as to incline to neither side; if the pus has begun to flow, it must be kept in a depending posture. Rest too is an excellent remedy. Motion and walking are prejudicial, except to people in health: however, less dangerous to such as are wounded in the head or arms, than those, that are wounded in the lower parts. And walking is least of all proper, when the hurt is in the thigh, or the leg, or the foot. The place, where the patient lies, ought to be warm. Bathing also, while the wound is not clean, is extremely bad: for that renders it both tumid and foul; from whence the transition to a gangrene is common. Gentle friction is good; but in those parts, that are at a great distance from the wound. [Sidenote: _Deterging of wounds._] After the inflammation is gone, the wound must be deterged. That end is best obtained by lint dipt in honey; and over that must be applied either the tetrapharmacum plaister, or the enneapharmacum. Now that ulcer is clean, which appears red, and is neither too dry nor too moist. But any ulcer that is deprived of its sensibility, or whose feeling is unnaturally exquisite, or that is either too dry or too moist, or that is either whitish or livid, or black, that ulcer is not clean. [Sidenote: _Incarning of wounds._]