Gilbert, after premising two short chapters entitled “De vulneribus colli” and “De perforatione colli ex utraque parte,” continues as follows: 

“De vena organica incisa.

“Si vena organica in cervice incidatur:  tota vena suatur cum acu, ita quod vena non perforetur, et ux alia parte acus cum filo ei adherente ita nectatur atque stringatur quod (non) emittat sanguinem, et ita fiat ex superiori parte et inferiore vene.  In vulnere autem pannus infusus in albumine ovi mittatur, nec tamen de ipso panno vulnus multum impleatur.  Embroca vero superius dicta, si in hyeme fuerit, superponatur, donec vulnus saniem emittat.  Si vere in estate, vitellum ovi tum super ponatur, et cum saniem fecerit, panno sicco, et unguento fusco et ceteris regenerantibus carnem, curetur.  Cum vero extremitatem vene superioris et inferioris putruisse cognoveris, fila dissolvantur et a loco removeantur, et deinde ut dictum est procedatur.

“De incisione nervi secundum longum aut secundum obliquum.

“Si vero secundum longum aut obliquum vervi incidantur, et non ex toto, ita consolidamus.  Terrestres vermes, qui sub terra nascuntur, similes in longitudine et rotunditate lumbricis, qui etaim lumbrici terre appellantur:  hi aliquantulum conterantur et in oleo infusi ad ignem calefiant, et nullo aliomediante, ter vel quater vel pluries, si opportunum fuerit, plagelle impone.  Si vero ex oblique nervus incidatur, eodem remedio curatur, et natura cooperante saepe conglutinatur.  Potest quoque cuticula quae supra nervum est sui, et pulvis ruber superaspergatur.  Nervos enim conglutinari et consolidari hoc modo sepius videmus.  Si vero locus tumeat, embroca, praedicta in vulnere capitis quae prima est ad tumorem removendum, superponatur, quousque tumor recesserit.  Si vena organica non inciditur, pannus albumine ovi infusus in vulnere ponatur.  Embroca vero post desuperponatur” (f. 179 c).

The selection and collection of words and phrases in these two passages leaves little doubt that one was copied from the other.  Indeed, so close is their resemblance that it is quite possible from the one text to secure the emendation of the other.  Numerous similar passages, with others in which the text of Gilbert is rather a paraphrase than a copy of the text of Roger, serve to confirm the conclusion that the surgical writings of the English physician are borrowed mainly from the “Chirurgia” of the Italian surgeon.  Some few surgical chapters of the Compendium appear to be either original or borrowed from some other authority, but their number is not sufficient to disturb the conclusion at which we have already arrived.  Now, as Roger’s “Chirurgia” was probably committed to writing in the year 1230, when the surgeon was an old man, these facts lead us to the conclusion that Gilbert must have written his Compendium at least after the date mentioned.

Another criticism of these chapters suggests certain interesting chronological data.  It will be observed that Roger, in the passage quoted above, recommends a dressing of egg-albumen for wounds of the neck, and expresses considerable doubt whether nerves, when totally divided, can be regenerated (consolidari), though they may undoubtedly be reunited (conglutinari).