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206 THE MIDDLE AGES.
so much in the writings of the ancients as in their own
experience. They were in this way saved indeed from
that uncritical acceptance of the observations of strangers
which is a frequent feature of Arabian literature, but at the
same time they were deprived to a certain degree of those
important suggestions and corrections which a knowledge
of history affords in the study of any branch of knowledge.
It is certainly noteworthy that among the means recommended
for the arrest of haemorrhage, in addition to styptics
mention is made of suturing and applying ligatures* The
internal use of sea-sponge was recommended for the
removal of bronchocele or the operation of excision was
performed with the use of hair-ligatures; to avoid relapses, ,
the whole capsule was extirpated. Massage of the bron- .
chocele was also employed.f
Among other operations are mentioned trephining, the
removal of nasal polypi, resection of the inferior maxilla,J
the operation for hernia, which was performed according to
the directions of PAULUS JEGINETA, and lithotomy according |
to the precepts of CELSUS. The operation for cataract was
performed by puncture of the sclerotic. Allusion is also
made to ulcerative loss of substance in the palate and on
the penis which refers to cancer and syphilis, and
malignant tumours of the rectum and uterus are mentioned.
The decline of operative surgery and the frequent""
employment of the cautery demonstrate the influence of
Arabian medicine.
It fared even worse with midwifery than with surgery «
although this branch was practised by scientifically trained
women. TROTULA alludes to turning in but one single
* Chirurg. ROGERI in DE RENZI : Collect. Salern. ii, 436.
T A. WOLFLER : Die chirurg. Behandlung des Kropfes, Berlin 1887, S. 10 et
seq.
X DE RENZI : Collect. Salernit. ii, 445, 513, 628, 650 (lib. ii, of the Commen-'
taries of the four Masters). The mysterious four Masters remind one of the
four Doctors of Law at Bologna, of whom SAVIGNY speaks' (Geschichte des
romischen Rechts, Bd. iv, S. 68).