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. XXIV. Of the SHINGLES.

I. THIS Disease is called in Greek, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, à 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Serpo; in Latin, Her∣pes simplex, Formica; in English, the Shingles.

II. The Description. Shingles, are little Cholerick-pustles, pure, and unmixt with other Humors; creeping upon the surface or skin of some part of the Body, from place to place, broad, and after a circular manner; the middle parts healing, while it breaks out farther afresh.

III. The Differences. A Her∣pes is threefold: 1. Simple, of which we treat in this Chapter. 2. Miliaris, Ulcerous Pustles, breaking out like Millet-seed. 3. Exedens, the Eating-herpes; which eats thro', and devours the Skin, and sometimes the Flesh too: but of these two latter, we shall treat in the third Book following.

IV. The simple Herpes differs from Phlyctaenae, or blister-like Eruptions; because they are gene∣rally Critical, and happen mostly in the Face, about the Cheeks, Lips, or Chin; and foreshew the mending of the Patient; and may very properly be called Critical-Shingles, or Shingles of the Lips: whereas what we speak of in this Chapter, are rather Symptomatical than Cri∣tical, and always happen in other parts of the Body.

V. It differs also from Psydra∣cia; which tho' they be bladder-like Pustles, yet they always happen in the Head: and by some are taken for one of the kinds of Scalds.

VI. The Signs. It seems to creep like unto a Snake; and no sooner does one part seem to be healed and well, but presently the Disease creeps unto the next adjacent parts.

VII. The Causes. Authors will have it to arise from sincere and pure Choler, severed and sepa∣rated from the rest of the Humors; which by its thinness pierces even to the Scarf-skin, and is diffused thro' it; making this appearance in a small tu∣mor, but less than in an Ery∣sipelas.

VIII. Now this simple Herpes is manifest to the Senses; for it is a broad tumor, which has little or no height in it: so that the Part is scarcely lifted up at all, but may rather seem to be exasperated, than to swell up to any height.

IX. There is also accompanying it a certain kind of hardness and pain; and as it were a certain sense or feeling of Heat or Burning; purely occasioned from the Cholerick Humor.

X. The Prognosticks. The Disease is accounted more or less troublesom, difficult to be cured,

and dangerous, accordingly as the Choler from which it arises, is more or less predominant and offensive: and some say, that if they encircle the whole Body, they are mortal.

XI. The Cure. The antecedent or remote Cause being yellow Cho∣ler and a salt Humor, that is first to be purged out of the Body, by Cholagogues, as Rhubarb, Aloes, Sena, Manna, Coloquin∣tida, and the like; Our Pilulae Catharticae are good in this case, as also an Infusion of Sena and Rheubarb, sweetned with Manna. Now unless the Body be well purged, Authors are of opinion that the Patient will never be cured, or made sound.

XII. If the Matter is extra∣ordinary thin, (as it is generally in a simple Herpes) then Sudo∣rificks ought to have their due administration: for which pur∣pose, Our Specifick Anodyn is of good use, and Bezoar-mineral, given to ℈ j. in some proper Vehicle.

XIII. If Phlegm, or serous Humors be mixed with the Choler, then such things as purge Phlegm and Water must be mixt with the other Purgers; as Resin of Jalap, mixt with a third part of Mer∣curius dulcis: and the Pills also of Bontius are excellent in this case.

XIV. Next, we are to come to the use of Topicks; where we are to use things which gently cool the Part affected: and these have respect to the conjoined Cause; for that they extinguish the extream and intense heat of Choler, and likewise repell and drive back moderately; such as are wont to be applied in an Erysipelas.

XV. The Part affected may be cooled, by anointing it with the Oil of Cream and Housleek; or with Ʋnguentum Populeon, or Oleum Refrigerans.

XVI. You may bathe them with a Lixivium of Beech-ashes; using after, either Our Ʋnguentum Album, or applying upon them a Cataplasm of Housleek, Pur∣slain, or Garden-lettuce.

XVII. When they are broken, wash them often with Lime-water, and dry them with Saccharum Saturni dissolved in fair Water, or with Our Ʋn∣guentum Album.

XVIII. If the Heat will permit, you must use Digestion and Discussion, by Bodies of a middle consistence: often to moisten them with ones Spit∣tle is admirable; and to an∣oint with Cats-blood, is said to be the certain Cure: nor much inferior thereto is, Bulls, or Bullocks Blood, Sheeps-blood, with the Blood of most other Animals.

XIX. The pouder of Lapis Scissilis, mixt with Vinegar, is used with good success: so also Ʋnguentum Populeon, mixt with Gunpowder.

XX. Lye made of Broom or Wood-ashes, mixt with Ʋrine, is commended: or Pouder of Chalk mixed with Cream, and applied; the Part being first fomented with hot red Wine, or Lees of the same: and if it is yet rebellious, the Part must then be anointed with Ʋnguentum Fuscum Wurtzii.

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