Ars chirurgica a compendium of the theory and practice of chirurgery in seven books ... shewing the names, causes, signs, differences, prognosticks, and various intentions of curing all kinds of chirurgick diseases ... : to which is added Pharmacopoeia chirurgica, or, The medical store, Latin and English ... / by William Salmon ...

CHAP. XI. Of a SCALD-HEAD.

I. IT is called in Greek, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. in Latin, Achores, Crusta Lactea, & Favus; in English, a Scald-head.

II. The Cause. Galen, de Comp. Med. secund. loc. lib. 1. cap. 8. saith, that this Disease arises from sharp, serous, and excrementitious Humors: or ra∣ther, it is generated of a mixt Humor, partly thin, partly thick, partly serous, partly grumous, and biting; of a salt, acid quality.

III. And from hence it is, that the colours of the Ʋlcers are sometimes white, sometimes yel∣low, sometimes red, sometimes blackish; but always salt and biting, and causing a kind of itching: all which proceeds

from the different mixture of the Humors causing them.

IV. This Disease, in Infants, proceeds also many times from the putrid Humors collected in the Mothers Womb, and the impurity of the Maternal Blood, with which the Child in the Womb is nourished: and sometimes from the vitious Milk, which the Child sucks from its Mother or Nurse.

V. The Differences. It is ei∣ther dry and crusty, like a Scab; and then it is called Crusta la∣ctea, from its colour: and this is either small, little, and of no thick substance; and then it is called Tinea; or of a very thick and yellow substance, and then it is properly Crusta, or the Dry-Scald.

VI. Or it is moist, running, and full of Matter; called Tu∣bercula ulcerosa, or, the moist and running Scald: and this is either Achores, Ulcerous Pustles, out of which a glutinous, vi∣scous matter continually issues, which creates a very great Scabbiness: or Favi, wherein the substance of the Flesh and Skin is hollow, like to a Honey-comb or Spunge; out of whose spungy holes a purulent juice is seen continually to flow, which drying, becomes also a Scab; but by reason of its continual weeping, is apt often to fall off, and become raw again.

VII. It is also either recent, or inveterate; and both these may either be gentle, or malign: and they are accompanied either with a morphew-like Scab, or a crusty Scab; and that afflict∣ing either a part of the Head only, or the whole Head toge∣ther, sometimes with some of the adjacent parts.

VIII. The Prognosticks. A Scald-Head in the beginning is not dangerous; but is generally of very difficult cure.

IX. If it be inveterate, and stubborn, it is not cured without very much trouble: and many times it degenerates into Tinea, or there follows it a Defluvium, or Alopecia.

X. And if the matter which flows is very malign, it sometimes thro' its long continuance pierces to the very Skull, and penetrates that also: and sometimes it so corrupts the Cranium, that it is necessary to take it forth; whereby the Meninges of the Brain are laid open, and made bare.

XI. All sorts of Scald-Heads are for the most part long in curing, and rebellious Diseases; and often, when seemingly well, return again.

XII. The Cure. The Morbi∣fick matter is first to be eva∣cuated, with such things as purge salt and serous Humors; and the matter of the Purgation is often to be repeated•• for which pur∣pose, after using Pills, Pou∣ders, &c. it will be good to prescribe a purging Diet-drink, which may keep the Body in a course of Purging for some time.

XIII. But this Evacuation is best to be begun with an Eme∣tick, as Infusion of Crocus Me∣tallorum, Tartar Emeticum, or

Oxymel Scilliticum; proporti∣oning the Dose to the age and strength of the Patient, and to be twice or thrice repeated.

XIV. After which, Cathar∣ticks may be used: as, Our Family Pills, Pulvis Cornachi∣ni, &c. and then this Diet: ℞ Sena ℥ vj. Mechoacan thin sliced ℥ iv. roots of sharp-pointed Dock bruised lbj. Aniseeds, Juniper-berries bruised, a. ℥ iij. Garden-scurvigrass lbj. Horse-radish scraped ℥ iij. blew Cur∣rans lbj. crude Antimony in pouder, and tied up in a rag, lbj. mix, and make a Bag for four Gallons of Ale. Dose, three quarters of a Pint, twice a day: but to Children less, according to age and strength.

XV. Next we must come to the application of Topicks: and first, the Part affected must be well bathed, with a Decoction made of Sharp-pointed-dock-roots, Pilewort-roots, (if to be had at that season) Ce∣landine, Wormwood, Fenu∣greek, Southernwood, and the like.

XVI. This done, anoint with Oil in which pulp of Coloquin∣tida has been boiled; or with this: ℞ Of the former Oil ℥ viij. Oil of Tartar per deli∣quium ℥ j. flowers of Sulphur, Ceruss, a. ℥ij. Verdigrise ʒ iij. mix, and make an Ointment; which apply twice a day.

XVII. If the Disease is re∣cent, and not stubborn, you may take up with weaker Medicines, which may be strong enough; as this: ℞ Oil-olive ℥ iv. Ceruss, Tutty levigated, a. ℥ j. Aloes, Myrrh, a. (in fine pouder) ℥ ss. Saccharum Sa∣turni ʒ j. Oil of Tartar per deliquium ʒ ij. mix, and make an Ointment.

XVIII. Or thus: ℞ Juices of Celandine and Wormwood, a. ℥ iij. in which dissolve Aloes ℥ ss. then add thereto Oil of Coloquintida ℥ ij. Ceruss, Lith∣arge, a. ℥ j. pouder of Tobacco ʒ vj. Turpentine ℥ j ss. mix them.

XIX. But if the Disease is inveterate and stubborn, and will yield to none of the for∣mer Remedies, you must then apply this following: ℞ Oil of Coloquintida, juice of Tobacco, a. ℥ iv. Turpentine ℥ iij. mix them: and then add flowers of Sulphur, pouder of Tobacco, a. ℥ ij. pouder of Round-birthwort-root, white Precipitate, a. ℥ j. Verdi∣grise ʒ iij. mix them, and make an Ointment.

XX. Or this. ℞ Oil of Co∣loquintida ℥ iij ss. Turpentine ℥ j ss. pouder of Tobacco, Staves∣acre, a. ʒ vj. pouder of Round-birthwort-roots ʒ iij. white Hel∣lebor ʒ ij. burnt Alum, Vitriol, a. ʒ j. mix them: and carefully apply it.

XXI. Barbett commends this: ℞ Pot-ashes, and make a Lixi∣vium with Wine of an indifferent sharpness; in a quart of which boil leaves of Marjoram, South∣ernwod, a. M. ij. Maidenhair M. j ss. Rose-leaves M. j. with which make a Fomentation. With this he professes to have cured this Disease alone. Where note, that if you cannot get

Pot-ashes, you may use Salt of Tartar instead.

XXII. Now I suppose this Medicine is chiefly of use whilst the Disease is recent, and after due purging, and taking the Infusion of Sena, or Juice of Fumitory in Goats-whey.

XXIII. After the use of which things, the Cataplasm ad Por∣riginem, mentioned in Our Doron Med. lib. 3. cap. 7. sect. 1. may be applied; which when it has done its duty, Valentia Scabiosa, or some other Sty∣ptick Vulnerary, will be of good use to consummate the Cure.