CAP. XV. Of the signes and tokens of a true erysipelas.

THE markes and tokens of a true and exquisite erypelas are gathered & knowen by conferring the same with phlegmone according to the doctrine of Galene 14. Therap. and 2. ad Glauconem:* whereby it plainely appeareth that a true and lawfull erysipelas is a certaine species of plegmone (that is) of an inflamma∣tion, as it is generally taken. The signes therefore of erysipelas are these, a red colour to beholde, declining somewhat to yellow,* which yellowish colour doth easely yeld to touching or handling of it, (that is) by thrusting it downe with the fingers, and then it slydeth in againe, a small tumour rather remaining in the skinne, then descending deepe∣ly, vehement heate causing a more vehement feauer then that which is accended of phleg∣mone: for erysipelas is farre awaie more hote, then phlegmone No great or strong breaking of the pulses, which is the proper simptomate of a great phlegmone. A byting and pricking paine without any extension, as it chaunceth in phlegmone, & many other like signes which doe signifie the dominion and rule of choler. But that which partayneth vnto the iudge∣mentes hereof, erysipelas doth chiefly laie holde one the face, and beginneth commonly in that part of the nose, which is commonly called lepus. then straightwaie it spreadeth ouer the whole face, and that through a double occasion, that is, for the thinnes of the skinne, & lightnes of the choler. But in the vncouering or laying naked of any bone, erysipelas is a so∣daine and maruelous disease, as Hypppocrates writeth lib. 7. Aporism. 19. that is to say, it is an euill symptomate, if the flesh lying rounde about the naked bone doth seeme to be occupied of erysipelas, but this, as Galene witnesseth, chaunceth verie seeldome. Againe Page  236 the same Hippo. writeth in the Aphorisme following, that of erysipelas there commeth cor∣ruption, suppuration, togeather with the disease, which thinges (saith Galene) neuer doe chaunce vnto erysipelata, except it be to them,* which are verie malignaunt. A true & law∣full erysipelas hath foure times or seasons, as other tumours also aboue nature haue: the si∣gnes whereof are to be sought out of those thinges which went before. An exquisite erysi∣pelas is seeldome ended by suppuration, but chiefly through an insensible transpiration or resolution. There happen sometime in erysipelas certaine symptomates, which oftentimes by reason of their greatnes do exceede the verie cause of the euill it selfe and therefore they do hinder the order of the cure (that is) they doe chaunge and peruert the method of cu∣ring (as hath also bene saide before in phlegmone). Moreouer erysipelas followeth the mo∣uing of a tertian feauer, with whose matter it hath a certaine analogie and proportion, for the matter of them both, is a cholericke humour. But it is not good to driue or turne erysi∣pelas from the outward partes to the inwarde, but contrariewise, from the inward mem∣bers to the outward partes, as Hippocrat. hath written lib. 6. Aphoris. 25. But those erysi∣pelata,* which doe arise about the head do put vs to more trouble, which (as Paulus sayth) are wont to be so daungerous, that except they be holpen with some effectuall remeadie, they sometime strangle & choake the sicke. Hippo. also writeth that erysipelas is verie mor∣tall & deadly, if it chaunceth in the wombe of a woman with childe, for erisipelas being thus engendred in the wombe, the childe of necessitie dieth. For truely a sharpe feauer (as Ga∣len saith in his commentaries) oftentimes destroyeth it without inflammation.