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. 3. Of the Erosion or eating away, and of the Exulcerati∣on of the Gums.

THe Gums are eaten away and exulcerated by sharp corroding humors which come unto them. The parts from whence they come are, the Brain, Stomach, Spleen, and others. Men that have Diseases in the Spleen, are most subject to Ulcers in the Gums, as in the Scurvy; somtimes the erosion of the Gums comes from worms, or the corrupt humors which cause worms, so that it is a plain sign of worms when it continueth long. So saith Fabricius Hildanus, Obs. 59. Centur. 1. the Son of a Citizen of Dusseldorp was long troubled with erosion of the Gums, and died, after the use of many internal Medicines and Topicks: when he was opened we found abundance of worms, which had ea∣ten through his Guts, and many in his Stomach.

The Cure is first to be directed to the antecedent cause, and the vicious humors are to be evacuated by blood-letting and purging; the sharp and hot humors are to be tempered with Apozemes, Juleps,

and Physical Broths, and the like. The flux of the same is to be diverted by Cupping-glasses, and Cauteries fitly applied. And lastly, the faults of the parts affected are to be corrected.

Afterwards you must use Topicks, which are to be altered according to the greatness of the disease, so that to a simple Erosion, you must apply only those which astringe and dry, as this Water fol∣lowing:

Take of unripe Galls, Acorn Cups, and Flowers of Pomegranates, of each one ounce: red Roses one pugil: Allum three drams: boyl them in two parts of Forge-water, and one part of old red Wine, and wash the Gums often therewith.

If the Erosion be not taken away with that, use this Opiate:

Take of Dragons blood three drams: Lignum Aloes, red Roses, Spodium; and burnt Harts∣horn, and Cypress nuts, of each one dram: Mirrh and Tobacco Ashes, of each three scruples: Al∣lum one dram. Make them into Pouder, and mix them with Honey and a few drops of Spirit of Vitriol, or Sulphur. Make an Opiate, which must be spread upon linnen cloth and laid to the Gums at night.

The Spirit of Vitriol and Sulphur, as they clense and whiten the Teeth, so they take away the rot∣tenness of the Gums, either alone, or mixed with Honey of Roses, or Water, as in the former Chapter.

If the Ulcer be deep and foul, anoint with this:

Take of choyce Mirrh and Sugar-candy, of each equal parts: pouder them, and fill the white of an hard Egg cut in the midst therewith; then tie it with a thrid, and hang it in a Wine-Celler with a glass under it, and there will come forth a Liquor or Balsom, with which anoint often.

But if by the use of the aforesaid, the disease be not cured, if the Tooth neer the Ulcer be rotten, you must pull it out, and then it will be presently cured, otherwise never.