CHAP. II. Of the Tinea, or scalde Head.
THE Tinea (let me soterme it in Latine, whilst a fitter word may be found) or a scald head, is a disease possessing the musculous skin of the head or * 1.1 the hairy scalpe, and eating thereinto like a moth. There are three diffe∣rences thereof, the first is called by Galen scaly or branlike, for that whilst it is scratched it casts many branlike scales: some Practitioners terme it a dry scall, because of the great adustion of the humour causing it. Another is called ficosa, a fig-like scall, because when it is dispoyled of the crust or scab which is yellow, there ap∣peare graines of quick and red flesh, like to the inner seeds or graines of figges, and casting out a bloudy matter. Galen names the third Achor, and it is also vulgarly ter∣med the corrosive or ulcerous scall, for that the many ulcers wherewith it abounds are open with many small holes flowing with liquid sanies like the washing of flesh, stinking, corrupt and carrion-like, somewhiles livid, somewhiles yellowish. These holes, if they be somewhat larger, make another difference which is called Cerion or Favosa (that is, like a hony combe) because as Galen thinks, the matter which floweth * 1.2 from these, resembleth hony in colour and consistence. They all proceed of an hu∣mour which is more or lesse vicious, for a lesse corrupt humour causeth a scaly, a more corrupt, the fig-like, but the most corrupt produceth the ulcerous. If it shall happen to an infant by reason of the fault and contagion of the nurse, or else presently after it is borne, it scarce admits of cure; neither must we attempt that be∣fore the child come to that age, that he may be able to endure the cure & medicines. But you may in the meane while apply the leaves of Colworts or beets besmeared with fresh butter, or other gentle medicine having a faculty to mollifie and open the passage for the shut up matter. Those who are of sufficient age to away with medi∣cines, * 1.3 may bleed, purge, bathe, according to art by the advice of a Phisician. For lo∣call medicines in a scaly scall, softning and discussing fomentations shall bee appoin∣ted, * 1.4 made of the roots of marsh-Mallowes, Lillies, Docks, Sorrell boyled in lye with a little vineger added thereto. The head shall bee twice in a day fomented with such a decoction, and on the sixth day the haire being shaven off, it shall bee sca∣rified, and then leaches and hornes put to it so scarified. Then it shall be forth with annoynted with oyle of stavisager mixed with blacke sope, both to draw & represse the malignity of the humour impact in the part. You may also use the following medicine even to the perfect cure of the disease, as that which is much commended in this kind of disease by Vigo, Gordonius, and Guido; it is thus made. ℞. elleb. albi & * 1.5 nigri, uttrament. auripigmenti, lithargyri auri, calcis viva, vitriol. alum. galla. fulig. ci∣ner. faecis vini usti, an ℥ ss. argenti vivi extincti, ℥iii. aeruginis aeris ʒii. fiat pulvis qui in∣corporetur cum succo boraginis, scabiosae, fumariae, oxylapathi, aceti, an. quart. i. olei anti∣qui lib. i. bulliant usque ad consumpt succorum, in fine decoctionis cineres ponantur, adden∣do picis liquidae ℥ ss. cerae quantum sufficit, fiat unguentum: These authors testifie that this will heale any kind of scall. Certainely none can dislallow of it who well consi∣dereth the engredients and composure thereof.
A crusty also or fig-like scall shall bee so long fomented with the prescribed fo∣mentation, untill the crusts or scabs fall off, yet there is nothing so good and effectu∣all * 1.6 as Cresses beaten or fryed with hogs suet. For it will make it fall off in the space of foure and twenty houres, besides, if it be continued it will heale them throughly, * 1.7 as I have knowne by experience, and reason also stands therewith; for according to