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_).

Now Roland, in his edition of Roger's "Chirurgia," criticises both of
these statements of his master, as follows:

_Nota quod quamvis Rogerius dicat quod apponatur albumen ovi, non
approbo, quia frigidum est naturaliter, et vena et nervus et arteria
frigida sunt naturaliter, et propter frigiditatem utrorumque non
potest perfecte fieri consolidatio._

And again:

_Nota quod secundum Rogerium nervus omnino incisus non potest
consolidari, vel conjungi nec sui. Nos autem dicimus quod potest
consolidari et iterum ad motum reddi habillis, cum hac cautela:
Cauterizetur utrumque caput nervi incisi peroptime cum ferro candenti,
sed cave vulneris lobia cum ferro calido tangantur. Deinde apponantur
vermes contusi et pulveres consolidativi, etc._

It will be observed that Gilbert, in spite of the rejection by Roland
of the egg-albumen dressing of Roger, still recommends its use in