CHAP. VIII. Of an Ulcer putrid and breeding Worms.
* 1.1WOunds are divers times bred in ulcers, whence they are called Wormy ulcers; the cause hereof is the too great excrementitious humidity prepared to putrefie by unnatural and immoderate heat. Which happens, either for that the ulcer is neglected, or else by reason of the distemper and depraved humors of all the body, or the affected part; or else for that the excrementitious humor collected in the ulcer, hath not open and free passage forth; as it happens to the ulcers of the ears, nose, fundament, neck of the womb, and lastly, to all sinuous and cuniculous ulcers. Yet it doth not necessarily follow that all putrid ulcers must have worms in them; as you may perceive by the definition of a putrid ulcer which we gave you before. For the cure of such ulcers after generall means, the worms must first be taken forth, then the excre∣mentitious humor must be drawn away, whence they take their original. Therefore you shall foment the ulcer with the ensuing decoction, which is of force to kill them; for, if any labour to take forth all that are quick, he will be much deceived; for they oft times do so tenaciously ad∣here to the ulcerated part, that you cannot pluck them away without much force and pain. ℞. absinth. centaur. majoris, marrubii, an. M.j. fiat decoctio ad lb. ss. in qua dissolve aloes ℥ ss. unguenti Ae∣gyptiaci ℥ j.* 1.2 Let the ulcer be fomented and washed with this medicin, and let pledgets dipped herein be put into the ulcer; or else, if the ulcer be cuniculous or full of windings, make injec∣tion therewith which may go into all parts thereof.
* 1.3Achigenes much commends this following medicin. ℞. Cerusae, polii montani, an. ℥ ss. picis nava∣lis liquidae quantum sufficit, misce in mortario pro linimento. If the putrefaction be such that these medicins will not suffice for the amendment thereof, you must come to more powerful, or to cau∣teries also, or hot Irons, or to Section; yet you must still begin with the more gentle, such as this of Galen's description. ℞. cerae, ℥ij. cerusae ℥ j. olei ros. ℥ij. salis ammon. ℥ ss. squam aeris ʒij. thur∣alum. arug. malicor. calcis vivae, an. ʒ j. fiat emplastrum. Or lb. terebinth. lotae ℥ij. cerae albae ℥ ss. lique∣fiant simul addendo sublimati, ʒ ss. salis torrefacti, & vitrioli calcinati, an. ℥ j. fiat mundificativum. Or you must use our Aegyptiacum alone, which hath Sublimate entring into the composition thereof; but in the interim the circuit of the Ulcer must be defended with refrigerating and defensative things for fear of pain.