CHAP. I. Of an Alopecia, or the falling away of the haires of the head.
AN Alopecia is the falling away of the haire of the head, and sometimes also of the eye-browes, chin and other parts; the * 1.1 French commonly call it the Pelade. Phisicians terme it the Alopecia, for that old Foxes subject, by reason of their age, to have the scab, are troubled oft times with this disease. This affect is caused either through defect of nourishment fit to * 1.2 nourish the haires, as in old age through want of the radicall humidity, or by the corruption of the alimentary matter of the same, as after long fevers, in the Lues venerea, leprosie, the corruption of the whole hody and all the humours, whence followeth a corruption of the vapours and fuliginous excrements; or else by the vitious constitution of the pores in the skin in rarity, and constriction or density, as by the too much use of hot oyntments made for colouring the hair, or such as are used to take off haire, therefore called Depilatoria, or by the burning of the skin, or losse thereof, having a scarre in stead thereof, by reason of whose density the haire cannot spring out, as by too much laxity the fuliginous matter of the haire stayes not, but presenly vanisheth away. The Alopecia which comes by old age, a consumption, burne, baldnesse, leprosie and * 1.3 a scald head, is uncurable: that which admits of cure, the cause being taken away, is helped. Wherefore, if it proceed from the corruption of humours, let a Phisician bee called, who as hee shall thinke it fit, shall appoint diet, purging and phlebotomie. Then the Surgeon shall shave off that haire which is remaining, and shall first use re∣solving fomentations, apply Leaches and Horns to digest the vicious humour which is under the skin, then shall he wash the head to take away the filth with a lye where∣in the roots of Orris and Aloes have been boyled. Lastly, hee shall use both attra∣ctive fomentations and medicines for to draw forth the humour which is become laudable in the whole body by the benefit of diet fitly appointed. But if the Alope∣cia shall happen through defect of nourishment, the part shall bee rubbed so long