CHAP. XXXV. Of the itching and inflammation happening in pestilent ulcers, and how to cicatrize them.
* 1.1THe parts adjoyning to a pestilent Ulcer, oft-times are superficiarily excoriated by reason of ulcerous pustles, which here and there, with burning and great itching prick and vellicate the part. The cause may happen either externally or internally; internally, by a thin and biting sanies, which sweating from the Ulcer, moistens the neighboring parts. But external∣ly by the constipation of the pores of the skin, induced by the continual application o•• medicines. To remedy this,* 1.2 the place must be fomented with discussing and relaxing things, as aqua fortis, which the Gold-smiths have used for seperating of metals, Alum-water, the water of Lime, Brine, and the like. But Ulcers left by Carbuncles and pestilent Buboes, are difficultly cicatrized, by reason of the corroding sanies,* 1.3 proceeding from the cholerick, or phlegmatick and salt blood, which being in fault by the corruption of the whole substance, causeth the abscess: Besides, such Ulcers are commonly round, and therefore hard to be cicatrized, for that the Quit ture hath no free passage forth; so the ••anies, of its own nature acrid and corroding, doth by delay acquire greater acrimony and introsity; so by its burning touch dissolving the adjacent flesh, it hinders the conjunction and unition of the lips of the Ulcer: but in the interim, the lips of the Ulcer become callous, which, unless they be helped by cutting, or eating medicines, the Vlcer cannot be he••led; for that by their denfity they hinder the sweating out of a sufficient quantity of the dewie glue, to heal up the Vlcer. Now the Vlcer being plained and brought equal to the other flesh,* 1.4 we must use Epuloticks; that is, such things as have a faculty to cicatrize Vlcers by conden∣sing and hardning the surface of the flesh: of these there are two kinds; for some without much biting bind and dry: such are Pomegranat-pills, Oak-bark, Tutia, Litharge, burnt bones, scales of brass, Galls, Cypress-nuts, Minium, Antimony, Bole-Armenick, the burnt and washed shels of O••s••ers, Lime nine times washed, and many metalline things. Others are next to these, by which proud flesh is consumed; but such must be sparingly used: Of this kind is washed Vitriol, burnt Alum, which excelleth other Epuloticks, by reason of the excellent drying and astringent faculty consolidating the flesh, which by being moistened by an excre∣mentitious humor, grows lank. For that the scar which is made, is commonly unsightly in this kind of Vlcers,* 1.5 as red, livid, black, swoln, rough, by reason of the great adustion imprinted in the part, as by a bu••ning cole: therefore I have thought good here to set down some means, by which this deformity may be corrected or amended. If the scar be too big, or high, it shall be pl••ined by making convenient ligation and strait binding to the part a plate, of lead rubbed over with quick-silver; but you may whiten it, by annointing it with Lime nine times washed (that so it may be more gentle, and lose the acrimony) and incorporated with oil of Roses. Some take two pound of Tartar or Argol, burn it, and then powder it; put it in a cloth, and so let it hang in a moist Vault or Cellar, and set a vessel under it to receive the dropping of liquor, which is good to be rubbed for a good space upon the scar. The same faculty is thought to be in that moisture of eggs, which sweats through the shell, whilst they are rosted at the coles; as also unguentum citri∣num,* 1.6 and Emplast de cerussâ newly made. The three following compositions are much approved. ℞. Axungiae suillae nonies lotae in aceto acerrìmo ℥iv. cinab. succi citri, & alum. usti, an. ℥ss. sulphur. vivi ignem haud experti, ʒii. camph. ℈ii. fiat pulvis; then let them all be incorporated together, and make an ointment: it attenuates the skin, and cleanseth spots. ℞. olei hyos. olei semin. cucurb. an. ℥i. olei tartar ℥ss. cerae alb. ʒiii. liquefiant simul lento igne; deinde adde spermat. ceti ʒvi. removeantur praedicta ab igue donec infrigid. postea adde troch. alb. Rhasis pul. ʒiii. camph. ʒi. tandem cum mali citri succo omnia dil••gent. commisce, fiat linimentum. Or else, ℞. rad. serpent. ℥i. bulliat in aquâ com. lbi. ad dimid. deide adde