equal in magnitude to the natural fingers to which they grow, yet more frequently they are shorter. Those which are only fleshy, are easily amputated and made even with a razor; but such as are also bony cannot be cut off, unless with the cutting mullets hereafter descri∣bed, and this is a disease of the fingers in number. There is also another disease in fingers, for they sometimes stick together, and otherwhiles they are very little separated. This fault happens either from the first original, by the error of the formative faculty; or else it hap∣pens afterwards by accident, as by a wound, or burn ill cured. For neighbouring fingers be∣ing ulcerated do easily grow together, unless they be kept asunder by a linnen rag. And if they by chance shall grow together by a little and thin skin and flesh, they shall forthwith be divided with a sharp razor; but if they be joined by the interposition of a more gross and dense substance, to wit, the nerves, tendons, and vessels, being knit together on each side, it will be best not to meddle at all with the dividing them.
Neither must we omit, that many have their nails run with such bony sharpness into the flesh of their fingers lying under them, that they cause most cruel pain; neither com∣monly do you avail any thing by paring them; for growing up within a while after, they press downwards again with the more violence. Therefore the Surgeon is often forced to cut away all the flesh whereinto the sharpness of the nail runs. Which I have done in many with happy success. Many have corns growing upon their fingers in divers fashions: They are taken off by paring away by little and little, the callous hardness, and then laying a head of garlick beaten thereon. Yet the cure is more quick and certain, which is performed by causticks, as aqua fortis, or oil of vitriol.