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AT the greater corner of the eye there is a glandule, made for the receiving,* 1.1 and con∣taining the moisture which serveth for the lubricating and humecting the eye, lest it
should drie by continual motion.* 1.2 This glandule sometimes by a sanguine or pituitous de∣fluxion falling violently from the brain, swells, impostumates, and ulcerates with an ulcer, not seldom degenerating into a fistula, so that in success of time it rotteth the bone that lieth under it. Of such fistulaes, some are open outwardly, and these usually have their ori∣ginal from a phlegmon; othersome are inwardly, and those are such as at first swelled by the defluxion or congestion of a phlegmatick matter, so that there appeareth no hole out∣wardly, but onely a tumour of the bigness of a pease, this tumor being pressed, floweth with a sanious, serous and red, or otherwise with a white and viscid matter, and that either by the corner of the eye,* 1.3 or by the inside of the nose. Some have this matter slowing continual∣ly, others have it only monethly, which is proper also to some fistulaes. Such weeping fistu∣laes if they become old, cause an Atrophia of the eye, and sometimes blindness and a stink∣ing breath. Therefore we must diligently and speedily by physical and chirurgical means resist the breeding disease. Wherefore, having used general medicins, we must come to par∣ticulars. Therefore if the ulcer be not sufficiently wide, it shall be enlarged by putting tents of spunge therein.* 1.4 The flesh of the glandule encreasing more then is fit, shall be corrected by putting therein the catheretick powders of Mercury, calcined vitriol, or some aqua fortis, or oyl of vitriol; and lastly by a potential cautery. If you cannot prevail by these means, and that the bone begins to rot,* 1.5 and the Patient be stout hearted, then use an actual caute∣rie whose use is far more effectual, ready, certain and excellent, then a potential cauterie, as I have tried in many with happy success. In my opinion it makes no matter, whether the cautery be of gold, silver, or iron; for the efficacy it hath proceedeth not from the matter, but from the fire. Yet if we must religiously observe and make choice of metals, I had rather have it of iron, as that which hath a far more drying and astringent faculty then gold, for that the element of earth beareth the chief sway therein, as appeareth by the waters which flow through iron mines. Wherefore you shall cause to be made a triangular iron, sharp at the end, that it may the more speedily penetrate. And then the sound eye and adjacent parts being well covered and defended, and the Patients head firmly holden in ones hand, left the Patient being frighted, stir himself in the very instant of the operation. But a plate of iron somewhat depressed in the midst, for the cavity of the greater corner shall be ap∣plied and fitted to the pained eye. This Plate shall be perforated that the hot iron may pass thereby to the fistula lying thereunder, and so may onely touch that which is to be cauterized.
* 1.6After the bone is burnt with the cautery, a collyrium made of the whites of egs beaten in plantain and night-shade waters must be poured into the hole it self, the eye and all the neighbouring parts; but the Patient shall be laid in bed with his head somewhat high, and the collyrium shall be renued as often and as soon as you shall perceive it to grow dry. Then the fall of the Eschar shall be procured by anointing it with fresh butter; when it is fallen away, the ulcer shall be cleansed, filled with flesh, and lastly cicatrized.
The use of the glandule at the greater corner of the eye.
The differences
Periodical and typical fistulaes
The cure.
The efficacie of an actual cauterie.
Things to be done after the cauterizing.