CHAP. XVI. Of Epuloticks, or skinning medicines.
AN Epuloticke medicine is that which covereth the part with skin: it is said to bee such as by drinesse and astriction without biting desiccates, bindes, and condensates the flesh into a certain callous substance, like to the skinne, which we commonly call a cicatrize or scarre: yet this, as the generating of flesh, is the worke of na∣ture. A medicine therefore is said to be Epuloticke, for that it as∣sists nature in substituting and generating a scarre, in stead of the true skinne, whilest it consumes the superfluous humidities, condensates, incrassates, and binds the next adjacent flesh; therefore it ought to dry more powerfully than a sarcoticke. Epuloticke medicines are of three kindes: the first is the true epulotick, * 1.1 which only dries and binds. The second is an acride and biting epuloticke, which, for that it wastes the proud flesh, is called so; and this must bee sparingly used, and that only to hard and rusticke bodies. The third is that which onely dries without astriction. The things whereof they consist are these: Aristolochia utraque, gentia∣na, iris, centaurium majus, pentaphyllon, symphitum majus, chamaedrys, betonica, cauda equina, eupatorium, verbenaca, plantaginis & symphyti folia, gallae, baccae myrti, glandes & earum calices, balaustia, cupressi nuces, malicorium, cortex quercus, cortex tamaricis, cortex ligni aloës, acacia, colophonia, sarcocolla, sanguis draconis, ladanum, lithargyros auri, argenti, cerusa, plumbum ustum, alumen ustum, tuthia, squamma aeris & ferri, & eorum scoria, aerugo, flos aeris, as ustum & lotum, sulphur vivum, chrysocolla, corali, bo∣lus armenus, terra sigillata, cineres buccinarum, ostreorum, silicis, ossa usta & siccata, ca∣ries lignorum, ung. diapompholygos, ung. alb. rhasis, desiccativum rubrum, emp. de cerusa, de betonica, diacalcitheos, emp. nigrum.
We use Epuloticks when as the ulcer is almost filled up, and equall to the adjacent * 1.2 skinne. In the use of these we must also have respect to the tendernesse and hardnesse of the body; for such things as are corrosives to tender and delicate bodies, are epu∣loticke to hard and rusticke bodies. Also wee must have regard, whether the body be plethoricke or replete with ill humours, for such do not easily admit cicatrizati∣on. Also it is most worthy of your observation, to marke whether the ulcer that is to be cicatrized, be fed or nourished by the present defect of any part, as the liver, spleene, lungs, or a varix lying about it. For it cannot be cicatrized before these im∣pediments (if any such be) be taken away. Lastly, the callous lips of an ulcer, unlesse they be scarified or softened, hinder cicatrization. Therefore all such defaults must be taken away, and then such an epulotickeapplyed, as may not by the too much drinesse leave the scarre too hollow, or the too little, leave it too high.