The store-house of physical practice being a general treatise of the causes and signs of all diseases afflicting human bodies : together with the shortest, plainest and safest way of curing them, by method, medicine and diet : to which is added, for the benefit of young practicers, several choice forms of medicines used by the London physicians / by John Pechey ...

CHAP. XXXVI. Of Ʋlcers of the Nostrils, and of an Ozaena.

AN Ulcer of the Nostrils is either fresh and simple, or old and putrid, which is called an Ozaena.

The fresh and simple proceeds either from extetnal Causes; as a Wound or Contusion, or from internal, viz. From Acrimony of Humours flowing thither, espe∣ally from Salt Flegm.

But an Ozaena comes from a simple Ulcer neglected, or by reason of greater Acrimony of Humours.

A simple Ulcer hath little or no Pain; and Blood flows frequently from it, especially when it is touched or rubd, or it is covered with a dry and black Scab, which is sometimes blown out; but an Ozaena is accompanied with a greater Pain, the Scab is more filthy, and the Snot stinks, and it often eats the Back Bones, and perforates the Pallat, especially if it be of a cancerous Nature, or from the French Pox, or an Elephantiasis.

As to the Cure, such a Course of Diet must be ordered as may attemperate the Acrimony of the Humours, and hinder its Generation; afterwards the whole Body must be evacuated by Bleeding and proper Purges; and Cup∣ing-glasses must be applyed with Scarification. And if the Fluxion of sharp Humours to the Nostrils be very obsti∣nate, Derivation must be made by Blisters in the Neck, and Issues there, and things that strengthen the Head must be used.

After universal Remedies, Topicks must be applyed, and first you must see whither the Ulcers are crusty, if they are, the Scabs must be taken off before you go any

farther; and first you must foment them with warm Wa∣ter, or anoint them with fresh Butter, with fresh Goose or Hens Grease, or with rhe Oyl of sweet Almonds, or the like.

When you have mollified them, they must not be forci∣bly pulled off, but you must suffer them to fall them∣selves, or gently remove them with your Finger, anoint∣ed with Oyl of Almonds.

When the Scabs are cleared, you must use drying and astringent Medicines; in a simple Ulcer it may be suffici∣ent to wash it with Barly-water sweetned with Honey of Roses, and to anoint it, with Oyntment of Tutty, or with the white Oyntment of Rhasis, or with the Oyl of the Yolks of Eggs rub'd in a leaden Mortar.

But for an Ozaena you must prepare the following Medicines.

Take of whole Barley one Pugil, of the Leaves of Agrimony, Plantane, Wormwood, and the lesser Centaury, one Handful; of red Roses half a Pugil; boil them in Smiths Water, in the Liquor strained dissolve four Ounces of Honey of Roses, make an Errhine, which must be often snuffed up.

After it hath been cleansed, the following Decoction must be used.

Take of Balaustins, and Pomegranate-peel, each two Ounces, of the Leaves of Plantane, Horse-tail, Mouse-ear, Rupture-wort, each one Handful, of the Roots of Bistort one Ounce, of Crude-alum, one Ounce and an half; make a Decoction.

The Water of Allum is also very good, and also those Medicines which are to be proposed to dry a Polypus in the following Chapter. Egyptiacum also dissolved in Barly-water is good.

Afterwards use the following Oyntment.

Take of Omphacine Oyl half an Ounce, of Pomegranate-Bark and Balaustines, each three Drams; of Mirrh, Allum, and Labdanum, each two Drams; of Chalcitis,

Aloes, and the Bark of Frankincense, each one Dram; of the Oyl of Roses, and Mirtles, each two Ounces, of red Wax, a sufficient Quantity to make an Oyntment; apply it to the Ʋlcer, or dissolve it in Wine, or Plantane-water, snuff it up often, the Mouth being filled with Water.

When the Ulcer is well cleansed, you must dry it with the Powder of red Roses snuft up. Rondeletius says, that nothing is so effectual to dry the Ulcers as Fumes of Orpiment and Cinnabar: As for Instance,

Take of Pure Labdanum, of Hypocistis, Mastich, and Mirrh, each three Drams; red Storax, and Storax calamit, of the Bark of Frankincense, Sandarach, and Orpiment, each two Drams; mix them all with Tur∣pentine, and make Troches, wherewith let the Sick be fumed, Morning and Evening in his Chamber.

It is also of great Use to burn Candles made of red Wax in the Patient's Chamber, which ought to be small, and the Windows and Doors must be kept close shut. And this Way, says Rondeletius, I have cured Ulcers which the Italian and French Physicians left off as incurable.