Before the Suture of Stitching of the Intestines is made, it is expedient to foment 'em with Spirit of Wine, in which a little Camphire hath been dissolv'd: But if they be mortify'd, they must not be sown up again, but fomented with Spirituous Liquors. No Clysters are to be given to the Patient, for fear {233} causing the Intestine to swell; but a Suppository may be apply'd: Or else he may make use of a Laxative Diet-Drink, if it be necessary to open his Body: He ought also to be very temperate and abstemious during the Cure, so as to take no other Sustenance than Broths and Gellies. If the Intestines cannot be put up again, the Wound is to be dilated, avoiding the White-Line, and that too at the bottom rather than at the Top, if it be above. To this purpose the Intestines are to be rank'd along the side of the Wound, and a Bolster is to be laid upon 'em dipt in warm Wine, which may be held by some Assistant. Then the Surgeon introduceth a channel'd Probe into the Belly, and takes a great deal of care to fix the Intestine between the Probe and the _Peritonæum_, which may be effected by drawing out the Intestine a little; then holding the Probe with his Left-hand, to fit a crooked Incision-Knife in its chanelling, he cuts the Teguments equally both on the outside and within, and thrusts back the Entrails alternately into the Wound with his Fore-Finger. The Stitch must be intermitted, being made with two crooked Needles threaded at each end with the same Thread. The Surgeon having at first put the Fore-Finger of his Left-Hand into the Belly, to retain the _Peritonæum_, Muscles, and Skin on the side of the Wound, passeth the Needle with his other Hand into the Belly, the Point of which is guided with the Fore-Finger, and penetrates very far: Then he likewise passeth the other {234} Needle thro' the other Lip of the Wound into the Belly, observing the same thing as in the former, and without taking his Fingers off from the Belly. If there are many Points or Stitches to be made, they may be done after the same manner, without removing the Fingers from the Part, whilst a Servant draws together the Lips of the Wound, and ties the Knots. Afterward the Wound may be dress'd, and the Preparatives or Dressings kept close to the Part with the Napkin and Scapulary. But the Patient must be oblig'd to lie on his Belly for some Days successively, to cicatrize the Wound thereof, or that of the Entrails. If the Intestine were entirely cut, it wou'd be requisite to sow it up round about the Wound, after such a manner that some part of it may always remain open; for if the Patient shou'd recover, his Excrements might be voided thro' the Wound; of which Accident we have an Example in a Soldier belonging to the Hospital _Des Invalides_ at _Paris_, who liv'd a long time in this Condition. * * * * * CHAP. XII. _Of the Operation of the _Exomphalus_._