CHAP. I. Of an Alopecia, or the falling away of the hairs of the head.
AN Alopecia is the falling away of the hair of the head, and somtimes al∣so of the eie-brows, chin and other parts; the French commonly call it the Pelade: Physicians term it the Alopecia, for old Foxes (subject,* 1.1 by reason of their age to have the scab) are troubled oft-times with this diseas. This affect is caused either through defect of nourishment fit to nourish the hairs, as in old age through want of the radical humiditie,* 1.2 or by the corruption of the alimentarie matter of the same, as after long Fevers, in the Lues venerea, Leprosie, the corruption of the whole bodie and all the humors, whence follow's a corruption of the vapors and fuliginous ex∣crements; or els by the vitious constitution of pores in the skin in raritie, and constricti∣on or densitie, as by too much use of hot ointments made for coloring the hair, or such, as are used to take off hair, therefore called Depilatoria, or by the burning of the skin, or loss thereof, having a scar in stead thereof, by reason of whose densitie the hair cannot spring out; as by too much laxitie the fuliginous matter of the hair staie's not, but presently va∣nisheth away. The Alopecia which com's by old age, a consumtion, burn-baldness, le∣prosie, a scald head, is incurable: that which admit's of cure, the caus beeing taken away,* 1.3 is helped. Wherefore if it proceed from the corruption of humors, let a Physician bee called, who, as hee shall think it fit, shall appoint diet, purgeing and phlebotomie. Then the Sur∣geon shall shave off the hair which is remaining, and shall first use resolving fomentations, applie Leeches and Horns to digest the vitious humor which is under the skin, then shall hee wash the head to take away the filth with a Lee wherein the roots of Orris and Aloës have been boiled. Lastly, hee shall use both attractive fomentations and medicines for to draw forth the humor which is becom laudable in the whole bodie by the benefit of diet fit∣ly appointed. But if the Alopecia shall happen through defect of nourishment, the part shall bee rubbed so long with a cours linnen cloth, or fig-leaf, or onions untill it wax red; be∣sides also the skin shall bee pricked in many places with a needle, and then ointments appli∣ed made of Labdanum, pigeons dung, staves-acre, oyl of bays, turpentine and wax,* 1.4 to draw the blood and matter of the hairs. If the hair bee lost by the Lues venerea, the patient shall bee anointed with quick-silver to sufficient salivation. To conclude, as the causes of this diseas shall bee, so must the remedies bee fitted which are used.