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. XXIII. Of GALLING.

I. IT is called in Greek, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. in Latin, In∣tertrigo; and in English, Galling.

II. The Cause. It is caused in Infants many times from the acrimony of the Ʋrine; or the Linen lying rough, or in heaps, and rubbing hard upon the Scarf-skin, &c.

III. In Women it is many times caused from overflowing of the Whites; or a preternatural Hu∣mor, hot and sharp, continually distilling from the Womb: and if it be in their Arm-holes or Groins, it is from a superfluous and sharp Moisture, with which the Glandules of those Parts are repleat.

IV. And in Men of ripe years, and also in Women, it many times happens in the Seat, or between the Thighs, tho' the Patient sits still, and stirs not: and this is not caused from any external Matter or Urine, or violent Exercise, as much going, riding, &c. or rubbing any hard thing against the Part affected; but purely from the repletion of the Parts with many salt and acrid Humors; so sharp, as even to dissolve the Scarf-skin in some few hours

time: tho' the Patient is as quiet, still, and reposed, as may be.

V. The Signs. It is known by sight and feeling; the Cuticula or Scarf-skin being worn, rubbed, or fretted off by some accident; or scalded by hot and dripping Urine, or Whites, or dissolved by acrid Humors as aforesaid; the Part is raw, and the Patient has sharp pains.

VI. The Prognosticks. It is without danger, and for the most part easily cured: if it has been (in elder persons) of many years standing; that is, con∣stantly to return at periodical times, for a long while, it will be much more difficult to be cured; and if cured, (unless done with caution) it may hazard the causing some worse Disease.

VII. The Cure. If it proceeds from a Diabetes, or a constant distilling down of sharp Ʋrine; you must first stop the preter∣natural flux of Urine by Our Pulvis ad Diabeten; and cool the heat thereof, by giving some few Doses of Sal Prunellae; applying in the mean season Topicks.

VIII. If it proceeds from a long and constant course of the Whites, or other sharp Humors distilling from the Womb; you can no ways cure it, but by curing those Whites, or that preter∣natural running; the method of doing which, see in its place.

IX. If it be from the repletion of any Part with superfluous and acrid Humors, and it has been periodical for any considerable time; you must first evacuate the Body with Pilulae Catharticae, Tinctura Purgans, or an Infusion of Sena and Rhubarb, or with the Pulvis Cornachini, which is an excellent thing.

X. If the Stomach be foul, it ought to be cleansed once or twice by Vomiting: and once a week, for two months together, the Patient ought to take a Purge; and in the intervals of purging, to take such things as shall cool and sweeten the Blood, Lympha, and other Humors.

XI. These things being said, we must now consider what Topical-Applications are necessary. Children ought to be kept dry and sweet, and their Linen often changed.

XII. The Parts galled ought to be first well washed and cleansed with Water, and indeed fair Water will do; or Water in which a little Saccharum Saturni, or Alum has been dissolved. ℞ Fair Water lbij. Saccha 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Saturni, or Alum, ʒ ij. mix, and dissolve.

XIII. The Affect being thus well washed, strew over the Part Pompholyx in fine pouder, or Ceruss washed and levigated, or fine Bole, in very fine pouder.

XIV. But that which is inferior to no other, is Amylum, or white Starch in soft pouder, which answers all the external in∣tentions of Cure, and heals in twelve hours time. See the third Edition of Our Synopsis Medi∣cinae, lib. 2. cap. 26.