Surgery through time. Saturn extract: An 18th century medical prescription

Abstract

Objective: To analyze a medical prescription from the 18th century in the New Kingdom of Granada, nowadays Colombia, used in the treatment of soft tissue injuries, specifically wounds and skin ulcers. Method: A documentary search was conducted in the Cipriano Rodríguez Santamaria Historical Archive of the Octavio Arizmendi Posada Library, at Universidad de La Sabana (Chía, Colombia), and a review of the literature available in electronic databases. Results and conclusion: The colonial medical prescription mentions the benefits of lead acetate in poultice for inflammatory processes in general and skin alterations. However, its use is not recommended due to its potential cytotoxic effect at tissue level in various organs.