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I. THEY are called in Greek, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. in Latin, Fissura & Casus Ʋnguium; and in English, the Cleaving, and Falling-off of the Nails.
II. The Cleaving of the Nails, (which is a solution of their unity) is either from external causes, as Wounds; or from internal, as Vitiousness of Humors, which sometimes hap∣pens in the French Disease and Leprosy.
III. If it arises from Vitious Humors, they are to be evacuated with proper Purges: if from some other Diseases, then that Dis∣ease is to be cured, and such Topicks are to be applied as we have directed in Chap. 47. Sect. 10, 11, 12. aforegoing.
IV. If the Cleft is from a Wound, and the Wound is yet to be healed, yet will not the cloven Nail be any ways united, but by its growing off, a whole and found Nail succeeding.
V. And herein, care is to be taken, that the Nail, in that part where it is cloven, may not grow together with the skin which lies under it: for then the Nail will never be whole as it ought to be, but always grow forth cloven, and as it were in two parts.
VI. Sometimes also the Nails fall quite off, leaving the ends of the Fingers or Toes quite naked and bare; which is truly a Disease in number.
VII. The Cause. It is caused principally from fault of the Nou∣rishment, being not only vitiated, (as in the aforegoing Diseases of the Nails) but also made sharp and corrosive withal; so that it corrodes the roots of the Nails, almost in the same manner, as in an Alopecia, Ophiasis, or Ti∣nea; wherein the roots of the Hair are gnawn asunder, and so made to fall off.
VIII. And so very often, after Wounds and Ʋlcers about the roots of the Nails, a corrosive Pus, or acrid filthy Matter being gene∣rated, it gnaws asunder their roots, and so the Nails fall off.
IX. Yet this is to be under∣stood, that it is not an immediate falling off, as is that of Hair; but a falling off by degrees, to wit, as by growing forth, they are thrust off.
X. And this has come to pass many times from the French Dis∣ease, as also after the Plague, pestilential and malign Fevers; and from the taking of Poison.
XI. Sometimes it is caused from want of their accustomed nutriment; either from a con∣stipation of the pores of the Hands that carry their nutri∣ment; or from extinguishing their native heat.