Thesaurus chirurgiae : the chirurgical and anatomical works of Paul Barbette ... composed according to the doctrine of the circulation of the blood, and other new inventions of the moderns : together with a treatise of the plague, illustrated with observations / translated out of Low-Dutch into English ... ; to which is added the surgeon's chest, furnished both with instruments and medicines ... and to make it more compleat, is adjoyned a treatise of diseases that for the most part attend camps and fleets ; written in High-Dutch by Raymundus Minderius.

CHAP. XII. Of the Skin.

THe Skin is a similar, spermatick part, having some Blood mixed with it, reddish, white, loose, investing the Body, and serving for feeling.

'Tis covered by a Scarf-skin, for the greater de∣fence, every where perforated with Pores, to give vent to the useless Fumes and Vapors; endued likewise with manifest Perforations, as are the Mouth, Nostrils, Ears, &c. whose use is suffici∣ently known.

It hath Cutaneous Veins and Arteries, as also Nerves.

Its Use is, to cover the Body, as moreover it is the Instrument of feeling.

Chirurgical Consideration.

1. The Skin being discoloured by the Jaundies, Freckles and other Spots, this Water renders again smooth and fair.

Cosmetick Water of Minsicht.

Take white Frankincense, Sugar-Candy, of each two ounces; white Hermodactils, Florence-Orrise, Venice-Borax, of each an ounce; Salt of Tartar, Burnt Ivory, Camphire, of each half an ounce; Flowers of white Lillies, of the white Water-Lillies, of the white Garden-Mallows, of each three handfuls; Virgin-Honey, three ounces; Goats-Milk, two quarts; Bean-flower-water,

and white Rose-water, of each a pint and half; white Lilly-water, and Solomons Seal-water, of each a pint; being mixt, let them be distilled in Balneo Mariae.

2. Scars remaining after the Small Pox, Wounds or Burns, we take away by the following Medicines if deep and great, first, having used Exedents, then Sarcoticks.

Take Venice-Borax, three drams; Camphire, a scruple; Oxes-Gall, a dram; Oyl of Mirrhe, two drams; Capons-grease, half an ounce: Make it into a Liniment.

Or.

Take Powder of the Roots of Snake-weed, of Orrise, of each three dams; Seeds of Melon blanch'd, of Raddishes, of each a dram; Burnt Egg∣shels, half a dram; Common white Chalk, a dram and half; Frankincense, a dram; Sugar-Candy, three drams; Gum Tragaganth dissolved in Rose-water, an ounce; Goose-grease, as much as suffic∣eth to make it into a Liniment.

3. Scabs blemishing the Skin, are sometimes moist, dry, spreading, eating, crusty, malignant; this difference is of so small consideration, that ge∣nerals being well known, 'tis not difficult to one that well weighs every thing, to proceed aright in particulars.

Seeing the Cause of this Disease is a sharp, chole∣rick, serous, salt Humor, mixt sometimes with Phlegm, the often use of Purging, Sweating and Vomiting, of Bleeding, Scarification, Leeches, Natu∣ral and Artificial Baths, as also of cooling, drying Medicines, and those that temper the acrimony of the Blood, Lotions and Unctions are here very profita∣ble; an Example of each I here give.

A Purging Decoction.

Take Roots of Asparagus, Grass, Polypody, of each six drams; Liquoras, three drams; Leaves of Fumitory, Succory, of each an handful; Sen∣na, an ounce and half; Rhubarb, half an ounce▪ Tamarinds, an ounce; Anifeeds, two drams: Cream of Tartar, three drams: let them infuse 24 hours in a sufficient quantity of Whey; then boil them, and to a pint and half of the strained Liquor, add Syrup of Dianicum, three ounces: Make it into an Apozem. Dose, three ounces.

A Vomit.

Take Oxysaccharum Vomitivum, Syrup of Roses solutive with Senna, of each an ounce; Fumitory-water, as much as is sufficient: Make it a draught.

A Sudorifick.

Take Flower of Brimstone, Antimony Dia∣phoretick, Salt of Holy-Thistle, Sal Prunellae, of each a dram: Make it into a Powder, to be di∣vided into six equal Doses.

A Bath.

Take Roots of red Docks, Briony, of each six ounces; Leaves of Fumitory, six handfuls; Ca∣momile Flowers, three handfuls; Bran, a pound; Brimstone, two ounces; Nitre, an ounce; Alom, an ounce and half; common Salt, two ounces; Mix them.

In a grievous and rebellious Scab, the Powder

of Snakes is excellent; this is the Preparation of it: Take a Snake (in March, if possible, before it hath laid its Eggs) the Head and tail being cut off, and the Skin stript off, all the inward Bow∣els (except Tongue, Heart and Liver) thrown away, let it dry in an Oven moderately warm, to a Powder: The Dose from four grains to fifteen.

Vipers dried after the same manner, excel Snakes, and are commended in the Leprosie it self.

A Fomentation.

Take Burnt-Talk, an ounce and half; quick-Lime, two ounces; Litharge of Gold, half an ounce; Bole-armenick, an ounce; dry Tabacco-Leaves, three ounces; White-Wine, a pint; clear Water, a quart: Let them boil a little, and keep the strained Liquor for use.

A Liniment.

Take Crude Brimstone, two drams; Venice-Sope, a dram and half; prepared Nitre, half a dram; Litharge of Gold, two drams; Mercurius dulcis, a dram and an half; White Camphorated Ointment, an ounce; Oyl of Rhodium, eight drops: Make it into an Ointment.