The seven books of Paulus Ægineta, volume 2 (of 3) : $b translated from the Greek: with a commentary embracing a complete view of the knowledge possessed by the Greeks, Romans, and Arabians on all subjects connected with medicine and surgeryPaulus, Aegineta
History
The seven books of Paulus Ægineta, volume 2 (of 3) : $b translated from the Greek: with a commentary embracing a complete view of the knowledge possessed by the Greeks, Romans, and Arabians on all subjects connected with medicine and surgery
Paulus, Aegineta
Medicine; Medicine, Arab; Medicine, Greek and Roman
Albucasis treats of aneurism in the following terms. When an artery
is divided, and the skin heals over it, a tumour frequently is the
consequence, and the same thing sometimes happens from the wound of a
vein. Aneurism of an artery is characterized by a deep-seated tumour in
the situation of an artery, the swelling subsiding when pressed upon by
the fingers, and being attended with a hissing sound. When it arises
from the wound of a vein it is round and exposed. He adds, to open such
tumours, especially if seated in the armpits, groins, and neck would be
a fatal mistake. When the aneurism arises from dilatation of the artery,
we are to make a longitudinal incision, and having dissected away the
artery from the surrounding parts, to pass below it a needle armed with
a double thread, and to tie the threads in two places as recommended
in angiology. The part between the two ligatures is then to be divided
and the blood evacuated. Suppurative applications are then to be made,
until the ligatures fall out; after which suitable ointments are to be
applied. If the disease arise from the opening of a vein, we are to grasp
as much as possible of the tumour in the hand, to push a needle through
it armed with a double thread, when the aneurism is to be firmly bound
with the threads in the manner described in the operation for staphyloma.
When danger is apprehended from the falling out of the threads, we are to
introduce another needle armed with another thread under the whole tumour
at the opening made by the first needle, and to tie the threads in four
places. The aneurism is then to be cut in its middle, and its contents
evacuated, when the superfluous skin is to be removed, and a compress
dipped in wine and oil applied. (Chirurg. ii, 49.) The threads which he
speaks of are meant to decussate one another like the letter Χ. This part
of his description is somewhat obscure.
We need scarcely remark that the operation of Albucasis is exactly the
same as our author’s.
Rhases borrows his account of aneurism from Antyllus and Paulus. The
operation of Antyllus consisted of tying the artery above and below the
tumour, and then evacuating its contents. (xiii, 7.) He states that
when the disease occurs in the hams, groins, or neck, it is dangerous
to meddle with it, but that when seated in the extremities it is easily
cured. All the cases in which he had known the artery to be opened during
the performance of venesection had terminated in aneurism, except one in
which a cure was effected by compression. (Cont. xxviii.)
Haly Abbas directs us when an artery has been wounded in bleeding, to
dissect away the parts about it, and having applied a silk thread on each
side of the wound, to divide the artery in the middle. When an aneurism
takes place he recommends a plan of treatment similar to that recommended
by Albucasis. (Pract. ix, 45.)
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