CHAP. II. Of the signs of Ulcers.
* 1.1THere are various signs of Ulcers according to their differences. For it is the sign of a putrid Ulcer, if it exhale a noysom, grievous, stinking and carion-like vapour, together with filthy matter. An eating Ulcer is known by the eating in, hollowness and wearing away of the part wherein it resides, together with the adjoyning parts. A sordid Ulcer may be known by the grosseness and viscidity of the excrements it sends forth, and by the loose and spongy softness, or the crusted inequality of the flesh which grows over it. A cavernous Ulcer, by the straitness of the orifice, and largeness and deepness of the windings within. A fistulous Ulcer, if to the last mentioned signs there accrew a callous hardness of the lips or sides of the Ulcer. A cankrous Ulcer is horrible to behold, with the lips turned black, hard and swoln; flowing with virulent and stinking corruption, and sometimes also with bloody matter, together with the swelling and lifting up of the adjacent veins.* 1.2 An untemperate, or as they term it, a distempered Ulcer, is such as is nourished by some great distemper, whether hot or cold, moist or dry, or compounded of these. An ill* 1.3 natured or malign Ulcer is known by the difficulty of curing and rebellious contumacy to remedies appointed according to Art and reason. We know a catarrhous Ulcer, if the matter which feeds it flow to it from some varices thereunto adjoyning; or dilated, swollen and broken veins, or from some entrail, or from the whole body being ill affected. An Apostumatous Ulcer is perceived by the presence of any tumor against nature, whose kind may be found out by sight and handling. Telephian Ulcers, are such as affected Tele∣phus; and Chironian (in whose cure Chiron excelled) are Ulcers which may be known by their magnitude, not much putrid, and consequently not sending forth any ill smell, not eating, not tormenting with pain; but having their lips swoln and hard, and therefore ill to be healed. For although they may be sometimes cicatrized, yet it being but slender may easily be broken, and the Ulcer renewed. They are almost like an ulcerated Cancer, but that they are accompanied with swelling in the adjacent parts; they are also worse than these which are termed Cacoethe, that is,* 1.4 ill natured, or malign; whence it is, that Fernelius thought they had a hidden cause of ma∣lignity, besides the common default of the humor, and that such as can scarce be driven away; such commonly are felt after the plague. Wherefore Galen thinks such to be malign as will not suppurate or yield any quitture.