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. XXXII. Of WARTS.

I. THIS Tubercle is called in Greek, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Pl. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 vel 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Pl. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. in Latin, Thymus, Thymi; Verruca, Verrueae: and in English, a Wart, or Warts.

II. A Wart is a little tubercle on the Skin, resembling the flower of Tyme; proceeding from a thick, phlegmatick, and me∣lancholy Juice. Some have slen∣der Roots, and some broad.

III. The Prognosticks. It often vanishes alone; if cut off, and the root be remaining, it grows again. If the Roots be small and slender, they are easily removed; but if broad, with much more difficulty.

IV. The Kinds. They are of three kinds: 1. Myrmecia, seu Verruca sessilis, vel Formica; a small, callous, round and thick tubercle, having a broad foun∣dation; and when handled, yielding a sense like to the biting of an Ant or Pismire.

V. 2. Thymon, which has a narrower root than the former, but a much broader head; which when it is spread, or in flower, or seed as they call it, something resembles the flower of Time: being higher, harder, with a seedy top, and more apt to bleed.

VI. 3. Acrochordon, Verruca pensilis vel botoralis; which is a kind of Wart having a thin or slender root, with a callous bunch, like unto the knot of a Rope, hanging by a small string, round, and without pain.

VII. The Cause. They are all caused of gross matter, or a thick juice, pituitous and melancholick: being the recrements of the Blood and Lympha, which Na∣ture not being able to digest, sends out in this slow manner for her relief.

VIII. The Cure. Purge the Body with Pil. Rudii, mixed with Mercurius dulcis: or with Pil. Catharticae, or an Iufusion of Sena and Rhubarb, in Water or Whey, especially in Whey of Goats-milk.

IX. Then touch the Warts three or four times with either Oil of Vitriol or Sulphur, or Butter of Antimony: or wash them with Water which comes out of the ends of Oak-sticks when burn∣ing: or wash them with Spurge∣milk, or apply to them an Onion beaten with Salt.

X. Fallopius commends the juice of the leaves of the Willow or Sallow tree; or, if the juice cannot be had, their Pouder, mixt with Vinegar of Squills.

XI. So also Figwort; or the roots of Water-dragon; or Aron and Sowbread; or the fresh roots of Celandine with the yellow juice thereof, to anoint with and apply: applying after a Cataplasm of Watercresses and Mustard.

XII. Or, rub them with Night∣shade and Ʋrine, washing them afterwards with juice of Mullein: or a Decoction of Mustard, Salt, and Sulphur with Vinegar.

XIII. The rubbing of them often also with a dead mans Hand, is said to be of great force. The leaves of Savin macerated twenty four hours in Wine, and applied, are good: so is a Cataplasm of Herb-robert, Rue and Yarrow, beaten together and applied.

XIV. And Cichorium Verru∣carium or Wartwort, is of singular use and benefit; as also the milky juice of Dandelion, and of all other Endive and Succory-like Plants: or the Water sweating out of Vine-branches while burning: or the standing-water on the stumps of felled Oaks: or the meal of Chick-pease.

XV. But above all is commended juice of Purslane: or rather a Cataplasm of Purslane, applied night and day upon the part for some time; it softens them, repercusses the Humor which feeds them, and causes them to wither insensibly away: nor inferior to this, are the leaves of the greater Housleek, applied whole, (their outward skin on that side which lyes next the Wart being taken off) and their use continued for some consi∣siderable time.

XVI. For Compound-medicines, the Emplast. de Ranis cum Mer∣curio, is very good: or this, commended by Sennertus: ℞ Ship-pitch ℥ j. Galbanum dis∣solved in Vinegar ℥ ss. Sal Armon. ʒ j. Diachylum magnum ℥ j ss. mix, and make an Emplaster.

XVII. If this will not do, you must apply your self to Causticks, such as those at Sect. 9. afore∣going: which yet notwithstand∣ing are not to be used without a great deal of caution, espe∣cially in nervous places, and only by touching the Wart with them; the part about being first well guarded with Wax, or some kind of Em∣plaster.

XVIII. For this purpose, the milk of the Fig-tree or Spurge, or Tithymale alone, are very effi∣cacious, and so found by Ex∣perience.

XIX. You may also use unslak∣ed Lime mixed with Soap, which will be yet more effectual, if a little calcined Vitriol or Verdi∣grise or a cautery of Soap Ashes be added.

XX. Or, ℞ The white of an Egg hardned, Verdigrise, Alum A. ʒ j. mix them: Or, make a Cataplasm of green Garlick, and apply it.

XXI. Or, ℞ Orpiment, mix it with Oxymel, or juice of Spurge, and put it upon the Wart, with a defensative. Andreas à Cruce much commends the Oil of Vi∣triol, nor is that of Sulphur be∣hind it.

XXII. But if you like not these Potential Cauteries, you must ap∣ply your selves to the Actual, or else to cutting. You may Actu∣ally burn them, either by a lit∣tle stick of the Beech Tree, lighted at one end; Or, by an Iron Bodkin heated red hot, and applyed through a silver or brass Pipe, that the adjacent parts may not be hurt.

XXIII. Or, apply a thin Plate of Iron, having a hole bored through it, so far as the Wart only may appear through the hole, and then burn it either with a red hot Iron, or the flame of a Candle.

XXIV. Lastly, The burning be∣ing ended, the Scar is then to be taken away; and the affect to be healed after the manner of other Ulcers.

XXV. Some have been cured by washing them with this water. ℞ Lime Water ℥vj. Roman Vi∣triol ʒj. Verdigrise ʒij. Roch A∣lum ʒiij. Nitre ʒiiij. mix and dissolve. This Water is only to be often dropt upon them.

XXVI. Others have been cured by anointing the Warts four or five times a day with the Milk of the Fig-Tree; and others by dropping upon them daily one drop at a time of Oil of Cloves, which will penetrate e∣ven to their Roots.