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. 2. Of Sarcoma, and Polypus.

SOmetimes there is not only an Ulcer, but an excrescency of flesh in the Nose, which maketh pre∣ternatural Humors called Polypus and Sarcoma.

Sarcoma is flesh growing in the Nostrils without any certain shape, but like the proud flesh of an Ulcer.

But Polypus is an Excrescency of flesh growing with smal roots, and spreading and hanging down to the lower part of the Nose, like the fish called Polypus, from whence it hath the name. Rhasis calleth it the Hemorrhoids of the Nose, because like those of the Fundament. This flesh is soft, som∣times white, somtimes red and blew, and if it grow big, it hangeth out of the Nose: but if it grow in the highest part of the Nose, it somtimes hangeth down to the Pallat, and stops the common passages, and may easily be seen behind the Uvu••a. In Southernly weather, and at the full Moon, it is much swelled. But in a Northernly dry time, and at new Moon, it is le••s. It differs from Sarcoma in this: Sarcoma groweth chiefly in the lowest part of the Nose, where it is ••••••shy; but Pol▪ pus grows in the highest part by the Root of the Nose.

The Cause of both, is a gross slimy humor coming from the Brain mixed with blood; somtimes with melancholly, and then you may fear a Cancer. Sarcoma o••ten cometh from the sup••r••luous nourishment of the Nose turned into proud flesh, and therefore is more easily cured.

The knowledg of these Diseases is ea••ie by what hath been ••aid, they being app••rent to the Eyes.

The Prognostick is thus made:

A Sarcoma is easily cured for the most part; but Polypus hardly. But that which is soft, white, or red, or white and red, is more easily cured; but that which is hard and livid or blew, is di••••icultly cured, and is like to be a Cancer. Also that Polipus whic•• groweth low, or in the middle of the no∣stril, is more curable than that which is rooted high, because Remedies will not so well reach it.

Both are cured with the same Medicines, which are to be ••o ordered that the superfluous flesh may be taken away; but first you must remove the antecedent Cause, that is, the slimy humor which co∣meth from the Head, which you must do by a drying and attenuating Diet, general purging, by Re∣vulsion, derivation and drying of the head; all which may be done by those Remedies which are pre∣scribed in the cure o•• the cold distemper of the Brain, being di••cree••ly used; and although many Au∣thors commend the Decoction of Guajacum with a drying diet, you must take heed lest by so doing you mix the flegm with not humors, and ••o it turn into a Cancer.

After this, you must take off the superfluous flesh with Causticks, or with Cissers made purpose∣ly, and t••en cicatrize. But in the beginning of this disease, it may be cured with only strong dryers and astringents; and constantly you must apply such kind of Medicines first, before you come to stronger.

First of all, try the Medicine made of the three sorts of Pomegranates prescribed by Galen, lib. 3. de comp. med. sec. loc. cap. 3. thus: Take three Pomegranates, one sowr, another sweet, and the o∣ther of the middle sort: let them be ripe, bruise them in a ••ortar; then take the Juyce, and boyl it to a Limment; dip a tent therein, and often put it into the Nose. This dryeth and astringeth with∣out sharpness, and consumeth the Excrement.

This following Water doth it more powerfully:

Take of unripe Grapes three pound: Pomegranate peels and flowers, and Sumach, of each two pound: macerate them in Vineger, and distil them: then put to it Allum one pound: Vitriol three ounces: then distil them all together again, and touch the part affected often with that Water.

If these things will not do, you must u••e stronger, by putting Sandarach and Orpiment to the afore∣said Water.

Or you may mix the Spirit of Vitriol, or the Water for separating Gold, commonly called the se∣cond Water, with Plantane Water, and touch the Polypus often therewith.

Or with the Mercury Water prescribed in the Cure of the Ulcer in the Nose.

Or you may put in a tent dipped in the juyce of Cuckoo-pintle roots, and if it be too sharp, mix it with Plantane Water.

Mercury Precipitate, which is red, is accounted the best Medicine to consume proud flesh without pain, if it be often washed. This Pouder is to be mixed with Honey of Roses, and applied with a ••ent.

There are also Plaisters of the same vertue to consume a Polypus, without pain, as this:

Take the Emplaister de Mucilaginibus half an ounce: the pouder of Savin two drams: Incorpo∣rate them, and put thereof into the Nostrils. Or,

Take of Verdegreece, Orpiment, Vitriol, and Allum, of each one ounce and an half: Antimony six drams: Steep them in Vinegar, then beat them fine, then dry them: thus beaten and steeped eight times, let them be steeped in Plantane Water, and then dried. Then take of Oyl of Roses four ounces: Litharge two ounces: Boyl them, and about the conclusion ad two drams of the said pou∣der: Make a stiff Plaister thereof, of which make tents.

In the use of Causticks, first you must observe that before they be applied, you defend the No∣strils with the cooling Oyntment of Galen, or with Nutritum, or Populeon, or white of an Eg bea∣ten with Oyl of Roses, and the like.

Secondly, lest the Causticks should hurt the Nostrils, they must be applyed through a silver pipe, so that it may compass the Polipus, and the Medicines may be conveyed to it without touching the Nostrils.

Thirdly, You must observe that these Medicines are to be used in the decrease of the Moon, for the tumor then is less, and therefore Medicines may easily be conveyed to the root.

Lastly, If Polypus cannot be taken off with Medicines, you must come to Chyrurgery, or Manu∣al operation; which is described in Paulus Aegineta, Cornelius Celsus, Jerom, Fabricius de Aqua∣pendente, and other Modern Writers.