Part 2
Gentle purging of the bowels agrees with most ulcers, and in wounds
of the head, belly, or joints, where there is danger of gangrene,
in such as require sutures, in phagedaenic, spreading and in otherwise
inveterate ulcers. And when you want to apply a bandage, no plasters
are to be used until you have rendered the
[p. 335]sore dry, and then indeed
you may apply them. The ulcer is to be frequently cleaned with a sponge,
and then a dry and clean piece of cloth is to be frequently applied
to it, and in this way the medicine which it is supposed will agree
with it is to be applied, either with or without a bandage. The hot
season agrees better than winter with most ulcers, except those situated
in the head and belly; but the equinoctial season agrees still better
with them. Ulcers which have been properly cleansed and dried as they
should be, do not usually get into a the state. When a bone has exfoliated,
or has been burned, or sawed, or removed in any other way, the cicatrices
of such ulcers become deeper than usual. Ulcers which are not cleansed,
are not disposed to unite if brought together, nor do the lips thereof
approximate of their own accord. When the points adjoining to an ulcer
are inflamed, the ulcer is not disposed to heal until the inflammation
subside, nor when the surrounding parts are blackened by mortification,
nor when a varix occasions an overflow of blood in the part, is the
ulcer disposed to heal, unless you bring the surrounding parts into
a healthy condition.