CHAP. XII. Of suppuratives.
A Suppurative medicine is said to be that, which shutting the pores, and preventing tran∣spiration by his emplastick consistence, increaseth the matter and native heat, and therefore turneth the matter cast out of the vessels into pus and sanies. It is of nature hot and moist, and proportionable to the native heat of the part to which it is applied, and of an emplastick consistence, that so it may hinder the native heat from being exhaled; in which re∣spect it differeth from emollients and malacticks, of which we shall speak hereafter. There be two kindes of suppuratives: for some do it of themselves, and by their proper quality; others by accident. Those things which by their own strength do bring to suppuration, are either simples or compounds.
Simples are radix liliorum, cae••a, allium, malvarum omnium folia & semina, buglossum, acanthus, senecio, violae, pari••taria crocus caules, ficus, passulae mundatae, with a decoction of these things, fari∣na tritici, farina volat••lis, farina hordei excorticati, lolii, seminis lini & foenugraeci, galbanum, ammoni∣acum, styrax pirguis, ladanum, viscum aucupatorum, thus, pix, cera, resina, colla, adeps suillus, vituli∣nus, vaccinus cap••inus butyrum, vitellus ovi, oesipus humida-stercus suillum, columbinum, caprinum, pueri.
Compounds are oleum liliorum, lumbricorum, de croco, unguent basilicum, emplast. diachilon com∣mune, magnum, de mucilaginibus.
Those things do suppurate by accident which work it only by the means of an emplastick con∣sistence: for so oft-times astringents, because they are of earthy and thick parts, are found to sup∣purate; such are unguentum de bolo rutritum, and such like. Such also are those which by their coldness keep the heat in, and shut the po••es. Hence it is that the qualities of sorrel are com∣mended to generate pus: for whilst it keepeth the heat within, it increaseth his effects, to the thickning of the suppurable matter, and the overcomming other rebellious qualities. We use things ripening in great inflammations, whose growth we cannot hinder with repellers, or increase with resolvers or discussers.