CHAP. XIV. Of the Ungula, or Web.
THE Ungula, Pterygion or Web is the growth of a certaine fibrous and membranous flesh upon the upper coate of the eye called Ad∣nata, arising more frequently in the bigger, but sometimes in the lesser corner towards the temples. When it is neglected, it covers not onely the Adnata, but also some portion of the Cornea, and comming to the pupill it selfe hurts the sight thereof. Such a Web sometimes adheres not at all to the Adnata, but is onely stretched over it from the corners of the eye, so that you may thrust a probe betweene it and the Adnata: it is of severall colours, somewhiles red; somewhiles yellow, somewhiles duekish, & other-whiles white. It hath its originall either from externall causes, as a blow, fall, and the like; or from internall, as the defluxion of humours into the eyes. The Ungula * 1.1 which is inveterate, and that hath acquired much thicknesse and breadth, and besides doth difficultly adhere to the Adnata, is difficultly taken away, neither may it bee helped by medicines whereby scars in the eyes are extenuated. But that which co∣vereth the whole pupill must not bee touched by the Surgeon, for being cut away, the scar which is left by its density hindereth the entrance of objects to the cristal∣line humour, and the egresse of the animall spirit to them. But oftentimes it is ac∣companied with an inflammation of the eyes, a burning itching, weeping defluxion, and swelling of the eye-lids. That the cure may rightly and happily proceed, hee * 1.2 must first use a spare diet, purging medicines shall be given, and bloud taken away by opening a veine, especially, if there be great inflammation. For particular remedies, this excrescence shall be eaten away, or at least kept from growth by dropping into the eye collyrium of vitrioll described in wounds of the eyes. But if that wee profit nothing by this meanes, it remaineth, that wee take it away with the hand after the following manner.
You shall set the patient upon a forme or stoole, and make him leane much backe, * 1.3 and be so held firmely, that he may not fall nor stirre; then must you open his sore eye, putting therein the speculum oculi formerly described in treating of the wounds of this part, and then must you lift up the Web it selfe with a sharpe little hook, with the point turned a little in, and put under the midst of the Web; when you have lif∣ted it a little up, thrust a needle threaded with a smoth threed between it & the Adna∣ta, then taking hold of the hooke, and the two ends of the threed drawne through with the needle, and lifting up the Web by them, you shall gently begin to separate it from the substance of the eye lying there-under, beginning at the originall thereof with a crooked incision knife, and so prosecute it even to the end, yet so as you hurt no part of the Adnata, nor Cornea.