Of a drie scabbe and itch. Chap. 64.

A Drie scab is corruption of humour betwéene the skinne and the flesh,* that chaungeth and grieueth the bodie, and maketh it itch. For some Cholarike superfluitie, that is smoaky, is put and throwne from the inner partes to the vtter part of the skinne, and infecteth the skinne, and maketh it full of smal pim∣ples & scabs, as though it were sprinke∣led with Branne. And than the skinue is infected with small chins and itching. And sometime this infection commeth of too strong Cholarike matter: or of me∣lancholike, as Constantine sayth. And this euill is called Impetigo. For it let∣teth and grieueth the skin and the flesh, namely with tickeling and itching. Also this euill is called Serpigo, as it were a créeping euill. For it créepeth into all the skinne, as it were a Serpent or an Ad∣der, and infecteth the skinne, and desoy∣leth it with small scabbes after scratch∣ing and clawing. Sometime this Euill beclippeth the skinne of some lim all a∣bout, as it were a girdell, and such a scab is called Herpes Cingulus among phi∣sitions. But Impetigo is an other euill then Serpigo. For Impetigo commeth of more rising, and of more firie matter: for it commeth of Cholar. And therfore it maketh euenlong holes, straight, and full small, and moue alway vpward as fire: But the other manner seab that is called Serpigo, commeth of matter that is lesse firie: And therefore it mooueth not vpward, but it beclippeth the mem∣bers all about. Therefore it is sayd as it were créeping all about. This euill shal be cured with stewes and baths, y^t open, consume, and wast, clense and wipe, and also with ointments. He shall be an∣nointed with y^e iuyce of Ebuli, Sambuci, Iappatij, Fumiteriae, and other such. Af∣terward he shall vse baths of swéete wa∣ter, as Constantine sayth. And men say, that the spittle of a fasting man helpeth against this euill. Alway this euill hath fellowship of passing biting and itching, and of desiring of frosing, rubting, scrat∣ching and clawing. Thereof commeth a manner false liking and qualitie, y^t is re∣solued of hot smoake and sharpe, y^t biteth Page  113 and fretteth the skinne, and that smoak is resolued of hot matter. And such a li∣king is false and gréeuous. For it ma∣keth the skin discōtinued & ful of blains, and aketh and smarteth full sore at the last end.