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I. THEY are called in Greek, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. in Latin, Vari; in English, Pimples.
II. The Description. They are little hard Extuberances on the skin of the Face, made of a coagu∣lated thick Juice; being about the bigness of Hemp-seed, and sometimes longer, of a reddish colour, and hard in the Flesh; and infesting young People who are inclined to
Venery, but yet chast withal.
III. The Causes. These Tuber∣cles are caused from a thick Juice; made partly of Blood, partly of Lympha, and partly of Choler; gathered together in the Cutis, and sent forth into the Cuticula.
IV. And by reason it is want∣ing in salt Serum, it is altoge∣ther without itching, so that there is no need of any scratching: and the Humor causing them, is said by some Authors to be for the most part Alimentary, insinuating it self into the Pores of the Skin: but for my part, I cannot but believe it to be mostly Excrementitious, mixt with Choleric Blood.
V. The Prognosticks. They are without danger, only troublesom, causing a little deformity: and therefore Celsus, lib. 5. cap. 6. says, it is a meer folly to attempt the curing of them.
VI. If they have been of long standing, with great redness, and deep in the Flesh, they will be difficult to cure, if not impossible; and if by strong Medicines they should be re∣moved, yet will the redness remain, and increase.
VII. If the Humor causing them be thick and gross, they will be firm and stable; if the Humor be thin or excrementitious, they will yield a kind of ichor or thin matter; and if they be sup∣purated, they degenerate into Ulcers.
VIII. They are cured with diffi∣culty, if there be a deep red∣ness in the Face, with Pustles; especially if there be withal a bloat Face, and hoarsness of Voice.
IX. The Cure. In order to the Cure, use the general Evacuations; or an Infusion of Sena in Wa∣ter, sharpned with Sal Tartari.
X. Then outwardly, Oils of Vitriol, Sulphur, or Tartar touched upon the places in the evening, and washed off the next morning with Decoction of Bean-meal, or Wheat-bran, are much commended.
XI. Emollients and Discussives are of good use here: as, ℞ Meal of Lupins and Orobus, a. ℥ j ss. roots of Mallows peeled, and Flowerdeluce, a. ʒ ij. Salt Armoniack ʒ j. with Mucilage of Gum Tragacanth make Troches, which at the time of using may be dissolved in Milk.
XII. Or, ℞ Litharge ʒ iij. Turpentine ʒ iv. Oil, q.s. mix them.
XIII. If they be harder than ordinary, ℞ Black Soap ℥ ss. Ammoniacum, Frankincense, a. ʒ j ss. dissolve in Water, to the thickness of a Cerate.
XIV. Or, ℞ Juice of Sharp-pointed-dock ℥ ij. Vinegar of Squills ℥ ss. Ammoniacum dis∣solved in Vinegar ʒ ij. Borax ʒ j ss. Alum ʒ ss. mix them.
XV. Some have been cured by fomenting the Face with warm Water, to open the Pores; and then anointing with Oil of Co∣loquintida, or Ʋnguentum Cosme∣ticum.
XVI. Others have been cured by often washing the Face with Lac Virgineum, and repeating the Wash five or six times a day; letting it dry in every time,
and continuing the use thereof for six, eight, or ten weeks, more or less; according to the stubbornness, or easiness of the Distemper.
XVII. Others have been cured by application of a Cataplasm of Purslain-leaves, laid on every night: washing the Face the next day with the Lac Virgineum, four, five, or six times in the day-time; letting it dry in.
XVIII. Others have cured by application of a Cataplasm of the greater Housleek; or of the green leaves leaf by leaf laid on, taking off the skin of that side which you lay next the Face: and so binding them to at night going to bed, anointing the Face the next day with Oleum Refrigerans; and after five or six hours washing it with this: ℞ Running-water lbj. juice of Limons ℥ viij. mix them.
XIX. Lastly, some have been cured by application of a Vesicatory, all over the place where the Affect is; and when healed up, repeating it again if need requires; then an∣ointing with this: ℞ Oil of Ben, Mutton-suet, a. ℥ vj. melt them together; and add thereto Oil of Tartar per deliquium ℥ j. flowers of Sulphur ℥ v. artificial Cinnabar ℥ ss. mix them.