Surgeon's and barber's instruments.  Book III, Chapter 10, Section 3
 
3. Having now done with Letters and Learning, we shall now proceed to the Operations and works of it, for there is no Faculty but they must (in some measure) more or less be endued with it, else they are but Novices in their pretended Arts.
Now next to Divinity, there is none more required to be Scholars than Physitians, Chyrurgians and Apothecaryes; for as the Minister studyes for the good of Souls, so these ought to be knowing for the good of Bodies: I shall therefore in the next place give you the form and use of such Instruments as are used by such Sciences, and who doth bear such for their Coat Armours.


Physicians bath
Proof plate Image from proof plate
VII. He beareth a Physitians Bath, [with] the Pan. This is nothing else but a Close-stool made with a Back and sides like a Chair, under which is placed a Pan or Stool pan, with a long Pipe at it, whose use is for such as are Blooded in the Fundaments to sit on, with their Posterior parts bare, to which their cometh a hot Steam from the heat of the Water put into the Pan, that it causeth blood to proceed from The Orifice made either by Leeches, or a sharp Instrument: Now as the Water in the Pan cools, it is drawn out at the short Pipe, and hotter put in again by the long Pipe with a Fulling Dish as the Figure sheweth.


Surgeon's scarificatory
 VIII. He beareth a Chyrurgions Scarificatory.


Drawing goose bill
 IX. He beareth a Drawing Goose-Bill, and a Dilatory. These are two useful Instruments for Chyrurgions, of which in particular.
First for the Drawing Goose-Bill Instrument, called in Latine Rostrum Extrahens, the Drawing Bill; it is for the drawing out of Bullets shot into any part of Mans Body that is gross and flesshy.


Dilatory
 Secondly, the Dilatory, is an Instrument to open or stretch out a thing to its breadth.


Catheter
 X. He beareth a Catheter and a Terebelium. These are Instruments of Chyrurgery, of which Ambrose Parry in his rules of Surgery gives this description.
The Catheter, of some termed a Cataput, and Cataputia; it is an Instrument long, narrow, and round, save on one side a little hollow, spoon like, it is to search a deep wound, and also by the help of its hallow, to pour or squirt in liquid Oyntments and Salves to the farthest part of a Wound.


Terebellum
 The Terebellum, which in English may be termed the Chyrurgions little Piercer; it being an Instrument to take up broken or bruised Skulls.


Bed pan
  Image from published plate
In the Dexter Base is a Bed-Pan, it is used about Sick, Weak, and Infirm people, that cannot rise out of their Beds to ease Nature, out of which it may be cast forth without any trouble; and taken therefrom by means of an Handle screwed to it which is hollow.


Speculum oris
 XI. He beareth a Speculum Oris, with a Screw. This kind of Speculum Oris (for there are several sorts and forms, every Chyrurgion pleasing himself with what he best liketh) is by A. Parry much approved of before others, either with or without Screws: it is an Instrument to thrust between the Teeth of such as are in a Swoon, or have their Teeth set so close, by reason of some distemper upon them, that they cannot be opened. It is also termed a Spathomela, and a Speculum Latum, which is an Instrument for the opening or extending of parts that are closed, that the Surgeon may apply remedies. See chap. 11. numb.26.


Table with medical implements
Proof plate Image from proof plate
XII. a Table covered with a white Cloth, whereon is set a variety of things belonging to Physick and Surgery.
This for brevity sake is termed a Surgeons Table, or a Table furnished with Apothecaries Drugs.


Close stool
Proof plate Image from proof plate
XIII. He beareth a Close Stool. Of some termed a Physical Stool, or a Doctors Close Stool: it is used in Purging of Sick and Infirm Bodyes.


Griffon's foot
Proof plate Image from proof plate
Here in this division is presented to your view in the Fess part, an Instrument used by Midwives and Chyrurgion, that follow the Occupation of Midwifery. It is termed a Griffons Foot in English, but according to the terms of Art, blazoned Pedes Gryphii. It is to draw out false Conceptions out of the Wombs of Women. See numb.15.


Curling pipe
  Image from published plate
The other two in the chief, belong to the Perawick makers. First the Curling Pipe, is that in the dexter chief, which is only a rowl of Tobacco Pipe Clay burnt hard, or a turned piece of Wood, for Want broken Tobacco Pipes stand in the like stead, which are for no other use, than turning the hair of a Perawick upon, while it is either Boyling or Baking, to put it into a Curl.


Curling stick
  Image from published plate
The other is a Curling Stick, which is only a handsom Turned Stick Taperwise, about which the hair is set in its orderly Curls, when it is finished up.


Periwig thimble
  Image from published plate
That in the Sinister Base, is termed a Perawick Thimble, which is no other than an Iron Hoop to put on the Finger, having a piece of Iron coming out from it, with the which Iron striking between the Threads of the Waft, the Hair is woven close and strongly together.


Fontanel
 The other two long Instruments lying in the Base, the uppermost with an handle, is termed a Fontanel, or a small Pipe Fontanell.


Iron to burn a fontanel
 That under is an Iron to Burn a Fontanel; it is made to go through the hole of the abovesaid Pipe. Some Surgeons have it made streight, not thus bending, with a Screw in the end to put into a handle.



Griffon's foot
Proof plate Image from proof plate
XV. He beareth a Pedes Gryphii with two Hooks. This is another sort of the Instrument called a Griffyns Foot, of some termed a Just; of this and that mentioned numb.14. there is of them made, which have 2, 3, and 4 hooks. It is much used in such desperate cases, to pull dead Infants out of the Womb, when there is neither strength or power to deliver them.


Ozaena
 The two Instruments in chief and base, are termed an Ozaena and its Stile, these are to burn infected places. That in base is the Ozaena, which is an hollow Iron with a Screw on the side to put a handle on; it is named so from the Disease it helpeth to cure by Burning, wich is a stinking Disease in the Nose.


Stile
 The other is the Stile, which is a round Iron to be set in an handle, to be made hot and so thrust into the Ozaena.


Doctor's tub
Proof plate Image from proof plate
XVI. He beareth a Doctors Tub, (otherwise calle a Cleansing Tub,) Hooped. In this Pockifyed and such Diseased Persons, are for a certain time put into, to Stew, not to Boyl up to an height, but to Par-boyl); from which Diseases of Morbus Gallicus, Noli me tangere, Miserere mei, &c. and from such a Purgatory, Libera nos Domine; let it be the Prayers of all good people to be delivered from such a Poudering Tub.


Related text(s)   Insessus   Lotio   Laconicum   Psammismus   Therma   Vaporarium
Previous section  

 

 
icon  Back to Main Text and Picture index  

[Table of Contents] [Picture Index] [Image List]
[Table of Subjects] [Text Index]   [Ms Pages]
[Introduction: Randle Holme and The Academy of Armory] [Introduction: Editing the CD-ROM]
[Copyright details] [Site map] [Guided Tour]



icon  © 2000 The British Library Board