A most excellent and learned vvoorke of chirurgerie, called Chirurgia parua Lanfranci Lanfranke of Mylayne his briefe: reduced from dyuers translations to our vulgar or vsuall frase, and now first published in the Englyshe prynte by Iohn Halle chirurgien. Who hath thervnto necessarily annexed. A table, as wel of the names of diseases and simples with their vertues, as also of all other termes of the arte opened. ... And in the ende a compendious worke of anatomie ... An historiall expostulation also against the beastly abusers, both of chyrurgerie and phisicke in our tyme: with a goodly doctrine, and instruction, necessary to be marked and folowed of all true chirurgie[n]s. All these faithfully gathered, and diligently set forth, by the sayde Iohn Halle.

Of the heares and nailes. The .xii. Chapter.

FInally,* 1.1 Anatomistes recken the nailes, and the heares: which yet are no mēbers, but rather y^e superfluityes of members, as I sayde in the beginning. Whiche super∣fluityes come of grosse vapores, my••ed and condescended

with viscous matter, by reason wherof the pores in the skin suffyce not to auoyde,* 1.2 or expell them, wherefore they growe forthe in suche harde toughe, and dry substances: yet thou∣ghe it be true in dede, that they are but superfluities of mē∣bers,* 1.3 they haue vses verye necessarye in the bodye. The nayles defende the fyngers and the toes from greate bru∣ses: and they comely beutifye the fyngers, causynge them to take the better holde,* 1.4 and serue to clawe and scratch the bodye when it itcheth: wherby muche noyous and fylthys humores are the better auoided. For the skin, wherof we laste spake, beynge full of pores or smalle holes, ordeyned of nature,* 1.5 to expel such moistures and vapores as are noi∣full to the body, hathe often times the saide pores opilated, or stopped: throughe the which stopping not only itche, but diuers other euels happen to the members. Wherfore the clawing or scratchinge of the nayles, is in suche case vtyle and profitable: for as muche as the sayde scratchynge is a meane to open the pores.* 1.6 And the heares, are also necessary for diuers vses: the fyrste is, it defendeth the brayne from to muche heate, or to muche cold, and from other incommodi∣ties. Also it maketh the figure or forme of the face, the more comelye and decentr: and by the heare of the face, man and womā differ much, & by the colour of the hear, we know the complexion of the brain, and the other principal members. Grosse vapores also and ••umosities,* 1.7 in places nedefull, are by the heares the more easilye expelled: as experience pro∣ueth y^e swette and grosse vapores come soner forth, where there is muche heare growynge, then where there is lytle heare, perceiued or sene.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Pili & imgues Superflui∣tyes of mem∣bers.
• * 1.2

  Gener••••yon of heares and nayles.
• * 1.3

  The vses of the nayles.
• * 1.4

  Grosse hu∣mores expel∣led by nayles.
• * 1.5

  Pores in the skyn.
• * 1.6

  The vses of heare.
• * 1.7

  Grosse va∣pores purged by heare.