No: It is sufficient to procure the Re-uniting of the Parts simply by the Means of Balsam in small Wounds; because they ought not to be brought to Suppuration: so that Digestives and Suppuratives are only necessary in great Wounds, and those that are accompanied with Contusion, avoiding the ill Custom of some Country-Surgeons, that stuff up their Wounds too much with Tents and Pledgets, whereas they might well be content with simple Bolsters or Dossels which shou'd be dipt in the ordinary Digestive composed of Turpentine and the Yolks of Eggs with a little Brandy, or else with the Tincture of Myrrh and Aloes. Suppuration may also be promoted by mundifying and quickening the Wound, especially if the Bolsters be steep'd in the following Composition. {148} Take half an Ounce of Aloes and Myrrh powder'd, two Drams of _Sal Saturni_, twenty Grains of _Sal Ammoniack_, the same quantity of beaten Cloves, a Dram of Queen of _Hungary_ Water and half an Ounce of _Unguentum Basilicon_, and let the whole Mass be mingled together. In fine, the whole Mystery consists in well cleansing the Wounds with a Linnen Cloth, or with the Injections of the Tinctures of Myrrh and Aloes; or with simple Decoctions of Wormwood, _Scordium_ or Water-Germander, Bugle, Sanicle and Hore-Hound in White-Wine; as also by prescribing the Vulnerary Decoctions of Powder of Crab's-Eyes, and _Saccharum Saturni_, to be taken inwardly, to consume the acid Humours, which are a very great Obstacle that hinders the speedy cure of Wounds. _What are the Vulnerary Plants, the Decoctions of which is to be taken inwardly?_ They are _Alchymilla_ or Lion's-Foot, Ground-Ivy, _Veronica_ or Fluellin, St. _John_'s-Wort, Wormwood, Centory, Bugle, Sanicle, Chervil, and others. The Broth of Crabs may also be prescrib'd, which is an excellent Remedy, and may serve instead of a Vulnerary Potion. Sometimes Sutures or Stitches contribute very much to the re-uniting of the Lips of Wounds, when they cannot be join'd by Bandage. * * * * * {149} CHAP. III. _Of particular Wounds of the Head._ _What ought first to be consider'd in a Wound of the Head?_ Two things, that is to say, the Wound it self, and the Instrument with which it was made; for by the Consideration of the Wound, we may know whether it be Superficial or Deep; and by that of the Instrument, we are enabled to make a truer Judgment concerning the Nature of the same Wound. _What is a Superficial, and what is a Deep Wound in the Head?_ That is call'd a Superficial Wound in the Head, which lies only in the Skin; and that a Deep one which reacheth to the _Pericranium_, Skull, or Substance of the Brain. _What is to be apply'd to a Superficial Wound?_ It is cur'd with a little Queen of _Hungary_ Water; or else with a little Balsam, laying upon it the Surgeon's Plaister, or that of Betony. But if the Wound or Rent be somewhat large, it must be clos'd with a Stitch. _What is to be done to a Deep Wound?_