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. XLVII. Of ROƲGH and DEFORMED NAILS.

I. THey are called in Greek, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. in Latin, Sca∣brities, vel Lepra Ʋnguium: and in English, Roughness, Thickness and deformity of the Nails.

II. In this not only the magni∣tude, but also the Figure and Con∣formation of them are vitiated.

III. The Cause. It arises from vitious and excrementitious Hu∣mours, mixing with the nourish∣ment of the Nails; chiefly from a Melancholick Property, joined with a Tartarous Juice, from whence the Roughness and Hard∣ness comes.

IV. The Prognosticks. This Vice is evident to the Sight, and is more of a Deformity, than any thing of Danger; yet it is some∣times prejudicial to the person, because it may make them less apt to lay hold of any small or flat thing.

V. It shews also, that there is some vitious Humor lying hid in the Bo∣dy, which Nature striving to ex∣clude, does protrude the same un∣to the Roots of the Nails: And those who are affected with Plica Polonica, are generally af∣fected with this Evil: But it also many times befalls such as have not, nor ever had a Plica.

VI. The Cure. If it be joined with a Plica, you must endeavor the curing thereof, and by that means you will meet with a cure of this, but without the one the other will not be remedied.

VII. If it is without any other Disease, you must attempt the Cure alone; First, by purging out the

excrementitious Humors, with preparations of Sena and Rhu∣barb.

VIII. Secondly, Altering the Tone of the Bowels, sweetning the Lympha and other Juices, and strengthning the Blood in its Cra∣sis, which is done with a Ni∣trated Tincture of Steel.

IX. Thirdly, By application of Topicks. If it is recent, or but newly begun; soak them often in a very hot Decoction of Oro∣bus and Lentills, and afterwards apply a Cataplasm of their Meal.

X. Or you may make a Cata∣plasm with Pouder of Colocynthis ℥ ss. Sulphur ℥ jss. making it up with Oil and Vinegar. Pliny, lib. 20. cap. 20. commends Arach as an excellent thing; others Pile∣wort Roots beaten up with Tar to a Pultise.

XI. This is stronger. ℞ Pitch ʒ xij. Wax ʒ viij. Burgundy Pitch ʒ v. Rosin ʒ iij. Mastich ʒ ij. Oil of Colocynthis, q.s. mix and make a soft Emplaster.

XII. Others lay on Raisons sto∣ned, and made into a Cataplasm with Opoponax, Linseed and Cresses; and yet more powerful are the Roots and Leaves of Crowfoot. ℞ Sheeps Suet, Wax, A. ʒ vj. Rosm ʒ jv. Tar ʒ iij. Turpentine, Frankincense, A. ʒ ij. Mastich ʒ jss. Red Praecipitate ʒ iij. mix, and with Oil of Colocynthis, q.s. make a soft Emplaster.

XIII. If they be thick, rough, rugged, and unequal, which is from the too great abundance of the nutritive Juice flowing to their Roots, occasioned thro' much, strong and hard Labor, which causes an attraction of the said Juice to their Roots; in this case, the cure is endeavoured, by making the external cause to cease, and then cutting and pairing the Nails, till by degrees, the whole thick and rough Matter is pared off.

XIV. In some there is a Crook∣ing of the Nails, wherein they are hooked, not much unlike the Claws of Birds, which proceeds from too great a Driness, which over∣much contracts the Substance of the Nails, or rather from a vi∣tious Matter protruded to their Roots.

XV. It is an affect rarely seen, and happening chiefly to such as are affected with a Plica, and there∣fore is to be cured by curing that Disease; and outwardly you may apply the Medicines prescribed at Sect. 10. 11, and 12. afore∣going.

XVI. If the Nails in the great Toes grow into their Sides, can∣sing much pain; you must with an Incision Knife, split the Nail near the Corner where it grows in, after which pulling it gently down backwards (as it were by degrees) you may then cut it forth.