Chap. 11. Of Clensing Medicines.
CLensing Medicines can neither be defined by heat, nor coldness,, because some of both sorts clense.
A clensing Medicine then is of a terrene quality, which takes away the filth with it and carries it out.
Here to avoid confusion, a difference must be made between wathing 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉.* 1.1
A thing which 〈◊〉〈◊〉, carries away by Fluxion, as a man washeth the dirt off from a thing.
A clensing Medicine by a certain roughness or ni∣trous quality, carries away the compacted filth with it.
This also is the difference between clensing and discussing Medicines, the one makes thick humors thin, and so scatters them, but a clensing Medicine takes the most tenacious humor along with it, with∣out any alteration.
Besides, Of clensing Medicines some are of a gentler nature which the Greeks call 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, some are more vehement called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
These are not known one and the same way, for some are sweet, some salt, and some bitter.
The Use of clensing is external, as the use of Pur∣ges internal.
They are used to clense the Sanies and other filth of Ulcers, yea and to consume and eat away the Flesh it self, as burnt Allum, Prescipetate, &c.
When these must be used, not only the affects of the Ulcers, but also the temperature of the Body will tell you.
For if you see either a Disease of fulness, which our Physitians call [Plethora] or corrupted humors which they call [Cacochyma] you must empty the Bo∣dy of these, viz. fulness by bleeding, and corrupt