A worthy treatise of the eyes contayning the knowledge and cure of one hundred and thirtene diseases, incident vnto them: first gathered & written in French, by Iacques Guillemeau, chyrurgion to the French King, and now translated into English, togeather with a profitable treatise of the scorbie; & another of the cancer by A.H. Also next to the treatise of the eies is adoiyned a work touching the preseruation of the sight, set forth by VV. Bailey. D. of Phisick

CHAP. 2 Of the consumption of the apple of the eye, called in Greeke Ptisis op∣thalmou, in Latine tabes oculi.

PThysis is vsed generally for all kind of decaying and leannesse:* 1.1 not∣vvithstanding it is vsed in the old wry∣ters for that affect of the eye,* 1.2 when the apple of it is made narrower and wea∣ker. This default (sayth Auicen) maye be in it from the first beginning,* 1.3 but they vvhich haue the apple of the eye so little haue their sight moste sharpe and quicke. VVhen this affection is not naturall,* 1.4 it may grovve by the dry∣nesse of the membrane vuea, vvhich is withered and drawne together, or by aboundaunce of moysture descending

vpon the same, which maketh the ed∣ges and borders of the hole so large, that they touch ech other, and so it is made narrovve: euen as wee see in a sieue made of parchment, the vvhich being wette, the holes thereof are clo∣sed vp. Moreouer the drynesse of the waterish humour may procure this di∣sease, which beeing dried becommeth lesse, and thereby is the coat that co∣uereth it made narrower.* 1.5 It may also be engendred thorow great weaknesse and extreme ach of the head. To them which are thus affected, all thinges ap∣peare greater then they are of their owne nature: and in truth in alweake∣nesse of the sight, the obiects are more great in show, but not so plainely dis∣cerned: which errour happeneth by the littlenesse of the apple of the eye.* 1.6 This order must bee obserued in the cure: If moysture haue brought forth this maladie, it shall bee cured by con∣trary medicines. It is profitable to rub the partes aboue it, and also the eyes with the fingers, to vvash the face and head, to rub it, and anointe it with oile of flower-deluce. In like manner to vse some sharpe biting salue which maye

dravve moysture vnto the eyes, as this. R. ammon. thimiamat. ʒ i. crocomag. ʒ iiij. croci ʒ ij. aerug siiij. put them in∣to water and beate them, aftervvarde make them fitte for your vse. If drynes procured it, Auicen giueth counsell to vse moist and suming meates,* 1.7 and vp∣pon the place this salue must be appli∣ed. R piperis, ammoniac. ana. partes i••. olei balsami nonu••partis vnius, croci part. i. dissolue the armoniake vvith fenel wa∣ter, put vppon it oleum balsami, & then with honye make vp your medicine. The authour accompteth this a moste singular remedie: but in my iudgment, I vvould in place of oleum balsami, take good venice turpentine.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Pthisis diuer∣slie vsed.
• * 1.2

  Aetius.
• * 1.3

  Little eies haue quicke, sight.
• * 1.4

  Causes.
• * 1.5

  VVeakenes of fight causeth all thinges to seeme greater then they are.
• * 1.6

  Cure.
• * 1.7

  Auicen.