Copy 1

On superstitions connected with the history and practice of medicine and surgery / By Thomas Joseph Pettigrew.

  • Pettigrew, Thomas Joseph, 1791-1865.
Date:
1844
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: On superstitions connected with the history and practice of medicine and surgery / By Thomas Joseph Pettigrew. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    172/186 (page 158)
    Digby, of whose knowledge regarding some extraordinary remedies for the healing of wounds he had become apprized. Sir Kenelm first inquired whether he pos- sessed anything that had the blood upon it, upon which Mr. Howel immediately named the garter with which his hand had been bound, which was accordingly sent for. A basin of water being brought, Sir Kenelm put into it a handful of powder of vitriol, and dissolved it therein. He then took the bloody garter, and immersed it in the fluid, while Mr. H. stood conversing with a gentleman in a corner of the room; but he suddenly started, and, upon being asked the reason, replied that he had lost all pain— that a pleasing kind of freshness, as it were a wet cold napkin had passed over his hand, and that the inflamma- tion, which before had been so tormenting, had vanished. He was then advised to lay aside all his plasters, to keep the wound clean, and in a moderate temperature. After dinner, the garter was taken out of the basin and placed to dry before a large fire; but no sooner was this done than Mr. H.’s servant came running to Sir Kenelm to say that her master’s hand had again inflamed, and that it was as bad as before; whereupon the garter was again placed into the liquid, and before the return of the servant all was well and easy again. In the course of five or six days the wound was cicatrized, and a cure performed. This case excited considerable attention at the court, and the king, making inquiry respecting it of Sir Kenelm Digby, his Majesty learnt that the knight had obtained the secret from a Carmelite friar who had travelled in various parts of the world, and who became possessed of it while journeying in the East. Sir Kenelm communi- cated it to the king’s physician, Dr. Mayerne, whence it passed into many hands, so that there was scarce a country barber but had acquaintance with it.