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. XIII. Of FRECKLES.

I. THEY are called in Greek, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. in Latin, Ephelides; and in English, Freckles.

II. These come sometimes from the Heat of the Weather, some∣times from Sun-burning, and sometimes are occasioned by Wo∣mens Breeding of Children; and come upon the Face and Hands, especially in Spring and Sum∣mer, and chiefly in such as have very thin Skins; which about Winter-time disappear again.

III. The Signs. They are known by their form, being of a dusky liver-colour, and as big as flea∣bites; often disfiguring the whole face, and sometimes the Hands alfo.

IV. The Differences. They differ from Lentigines in these things: 1. They are much less than they. 2. They come at the season of the year, and go away again of their own accords in Winter; or if they be in a Woman with Child, when she is delivered.

V. The Cause. It is either external, from the Air: or inter∣nal, from fuliginous Vapours, sent from the Lympha and Blood, and there stopt in their passage by the gluten of the Cuticula.

VI. But Celsus, lib. 6. cap. 5. has another kind of Ephelides; quae nihil sunt, nisi asperitates quaedam, & durities mali coloris: they are (saith he) rough and hard Eruptions, of an evil colour; i.e. rough, brown Tuber∣cles or Eruptions in the Skin, (which agrees not with the above-described Ephelides:) and these come upon Women with Child, viz. on their Fore∣heads, Temples, or Cheeks, many times as large as an hand∣bredth.

VII. The Cause. These com∣monly arise from the suppression of the Terms; and in Virgins, sometimes from eating of Beets.

VIII. The Prognosticks. They are seldom cured, till the Woman is delivered: and if perchance they by Medicines are taken away, yet they commonly re∣turn again: after Delivery, they for the most part vanish of their own accord.

IX. These Child-bearing Ep∣helides of Celsus, are cured by a Pap made of the pouder of Bay-berries and Mushroom-water, being often smeared on in a Bath, or the juice of Bugloss-roots.

X. There are commended also, Oils of Elder, of bitter Almonds, and Oil of Ben; Oil of Tartar per deliquium being mixed with them: Baths of Bean and Oro∣bus meal, with Camphir: to which add, Almond-milk mixt with juice of Limons, Butter-milk, Asses-milk, and such-like.

XI. But the depraved Hu∣mars, which are the antecedent and internal Cause of this Affect, ought to be evacuated, in what∣soever Women it happens, who are not with Child: it some∣times affecting Women who have a preternatural stoppage of their Terms:) but where impregnation is, there we ought to content our selves only with Topical Remedies.

XII. The Cure of the other sorts of Ephelides, which are properly Freckles, is hardly worth the attempting: fince at the season of the year they go away of their own accord: yet, if you please, the following things may be applied.

XIII. Wash the Face with juice of Beets, mixed with good Vin∣egar; or with Juice expressed out of Bugloss-roots: also with an Emulsion of bitter Almonds, mixed with meals of bitter Orobus, Barley, Beans, &c.

XIV. If these things do not, besmear the Face every night going to bed, with Bulls-gall: or with a Tincture of Bulls-gall, drawn with Spirit of Wine.

XV. Lastly, you may wash with a Decoction of Coloquin∣tida; or with the juice of Limons, in which flowers of Sulphur and Saccharum Saturni have been for some time di∣gested.