The practice of physick in seventeen several books wherein is plainly set forth the nature, cause, differences, and several sorts of signs : together with the cure of all diseases in the body of man / by Nicholas Culpeper ... Abdiah Cole ... and William Rowland ; being chiefly a translation of the works of that learned and renowned doctor, Lazarus Riverius ...

Chap. 1. Of the Ʋlcer of the Nostrils, and Ozaena.

THe Ulcer of the Nostrils is either New and Simple, or Old and Stinking; This last is called Ozaena.

The New Ulcer which is Simple, either comes of External Cause, as a Wound, or Contusion: Or, from an Internal Cause, as the sharpness of Humors, flowing to the part; & especially salt Flegm coming from the Brain.

Ozaena cometh from a simple Ulcer neglected, or from the Malignity and Acrimony of the Cause by which it becometh putrid and filthy.

The Diagnosis of both is this; a Simple Ulcer Causeth little or no pain, but only sends forth blood often, especially when it is meddled or tampered withal; otherwise is is covered with a dry black Scab which somtimes is cast forth. But Ozaena Causeth great pain, the Scab is fouler; as also Stinking Matter cometh from it. The Patient is not only annoyed therewith, but noysom unto o∣thers: and the Greeks cal it Ozaena from the stink. Often this Ulcer creepeth, or either eateth the Gristle of the Nose, or the parts between, or the tender Bones thereof, and putrifie••h them, and

somtimes destroyeth the Pallat, especially if it turn to a Cancer, or if it come from the French Pox as it often doth, or from an Elephantiasis.

As for the Prognostick, Ulcers that are New, and come from a gentle Humor that hath little Ma∣lignity are easily Cured: but Old Ulcers that are sordid and putrid are hardly Cured, and if they turn into a Cancer, never. If they come of the French Pox, or Elephantiasis, they cannot be Cured except those Diseases be first Cured.

For the Cure: First you must appoint a good Diet, which may asswage the sharpness of the Humors, and hinder the breeding of them; then you must Evacuate the whole Body by Bleeding, convenient Purging, and by Cupping Glasses with Scarrification: And if the Defluxion of Humors into the Nostrils be very stubborn, it must be derived by Vesicatories and Causticks applied to the hinder parts, and then you must give things to strengthen the head.

After Universal Remedies you must come to Topicks. And first take notice if the Ulcers be Crusty and Hard. and before you proceed, take away that with a little warm water and fresh Butter, or Goo••e grea••e, or Hens grease, Oyl of sweet Almonds, or the like.

The Scabs being mollified, must not presently be taken off by force, lest the Ulcer be exasperated with a Defluxion; but you must expect til they fal off of their own accord by blowing the nostrils; or at last you may take them gently off with a little Oyl of sweet Almonds upon the tip of your ••inger.

After the Scab is off you must use astringent and drying Remedies.

In a Simple Ulcer it is sufficient to wash it with Barley water, and Honey of Roses, and then to anoint it with Ointment of Tutty, or with the white Ointment of Rhasis, or the Oyl of yolks of Egs which wil be of more sorce if it be made in a Leaden Mortar.

But for the Cure of Ozana, you must prepare the••e following Medicines.

Take of Barley one pugil: Agrimony, Plantane, Wormwood, and the lesser Centaury, of each one ••andful: Red Roses half a pugil: boyl them in Forge-water: in the straining dissolve of Honey of Roses four ounces: Make an Errhine to be of••en snuffed into the Nostrils.

After it is somwhat clean, you must use this following Decoction.

Take of the Flowers and Rinds of Pomegranates of each two ounces: Plantane, Horstaile, Fleabane, and Rapture-wort, of each one handful: the Roots of Bistort, or Snakeweed, one 〈◊〉〈◊〉: Crude Allum, one ounce and an half: Make a Decoction.

Allum Water is also good; as also those Remedies which shal after be prescribed for the Cure of P••lypus, in the following Chapter.

Aegyptiacum▪ Dissolved in Barley Water is good for the same.

After this make Ointments which may Ast••ing or Bind, Clense, and Dry exceedingly, as of Pom∣••holygos, with Allum Chalcitis, and the Pomegranate Peels.

Or, This following.

Take of Oyl Olive, half an ounce: Pomegranate Peels, and Flowers, of each three drams: 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Allum, La••••anum, of each two drams. Chalcitis, Aloes, Frankinsence, of each one dram: Oyl of Roses and Myrtles, of each two ounces: Red Wax as much as is sufficient: Make an Oint∣ment, which apply to the Ʋcer; or dissolve it in Wine, Plantane, Rose or Myrtle-water, which f••en snuff ••nto the Nose, the mouth being filled with Water.

If these things prevail not, wash the Ulcer with sublimate Water, twice, thrice, or four times in a day, for it dryeth very much, and clen••eth without any pain or biting: You must make it thus.

Take of Plantane water four ounces: Crude, Sublimate Poudered, twelve grains: boyl them in a Glass to the Consumption of half, you may encrease or diminish the quantity of the Sublimate as you desire to have it stronger or weaker.

When the Ulcer is wel Clensed, you must proceed to the Drying of it up: for which purpose the Po••der of Red Roses blown into it, is very good.

Rondeletius witnesseth that there is nothing more efficacious for the drying of Ulcers after suffici∣ent clensing than a Fumigation, becauset it entreth deep into the parts, and drieth, and he saith it must be made of powerful dryers, as of Orpiment, and Cinnaber, to which you must ad some sweet things, from whence there will arise a fume or sm••ak to dry the Ulcer; as Mirrh, Frankinsence, Mastich, ••en∣jamin, and the like, which may be brought into this form:

Take of the best Labdanum, Hypocistis, Mastich, and Mirrh, of each three drams: red Storax, and Styrax calamita, Frankinsence bark, Sandarach, & Orpine, of each two drams. Make them up with Turpentine into Troches, with which let the Patient be fumed morning and evening in his Chamber.

It is excellent also to burn Candles of red Wax; for the smoak of them will powerfully dry the

Ulcers in the Nose, especially if the Patient be kept in a close room. And Rondeletius saith, That we may perceive that the smoak of a Candle doth affect us by receiving it: for if at any time we sit long in a little Study by Candle light, our spittle and snot will appear afterwards black: And by this means he saith he cured an Ulcer, which neither Italian nor French Chyrurgeons could Cure.