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 ...

VIII. Vices of HANDS, FINGERS and NAILS.

CHAP. XLVI. Of CLEFTS of the HANDS.

I. THey are called in Greek, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. in Latin, Fissurae Manuum; and in English, Clefts of the Hands.

II. It is a cleaving and crack∣ing of the Skin of the Hands in cold weather, or winter time, more especially in such are for∣ced to expose them to the cold of the Ambient Air.

III. They are caused from a sharp and dry Matter, which over drying the Skin beyond what Na∣ture intends, makes it when it meets with an external Dryness, as cold and dry weather, and sharp Winds, to crack and chap up and down in several places, and sometimes so vehemently as to cause Blood to appear.

IV. The Prognosticks. They are without danger, and easily cu∣red, but whilst present are very troublesome, and withal shew a scorbutick or cachectick habit of Body.

V. The Places. They happen mostly to the Hands and Arms, and places exposed to the sharp Air; much upon the backs of the Hands, and Knuckles next to the backs; and sometimes these Clefts are found about other Joints; some also are troubled with them in their Feet in like manner.

VI. The Cure. It is perform∣ed chiefly by Topicks: This is of good use. ℞ Oil of Ben ℥ iv. Sheeps Suet ℥ iij. melt and mix, to which add pure white Spermae Ceti ℥ jss. mix them well toge∣ther, and anoint therewith eve∣ry night going to bed; and if business will permit, every mor∣ning also.

VII. Sennertus, Med. Pract. Lib. 5. Part 3. Sect. 2. Cap. 10. has this: ℞ Litharge of Silver, Myrrh, Ginger, Ana; bruise and pouder them very small; and ad∣ding to them Oil Olive, Virgin Wax, and Honey, a sufficient quan∣tity, make an Ointment; which if you please, you may perfume

with Musk and Ambergrise. With this (says he) they will be very speedily cured.

VIII. This is inferior to none. ℞ Oil Olive ℥ iv. Sheeps Suet ℥ ii. Virgin Wax, White Sperma Ceti, A. ℥ j. Saccharum Satur∣ni ʒ vj. Strasburgh Turpentine ʒ iij. mix, melt, and make an Ointment, with which anoint as before directed.

IX. Or this. ℞ Oil of Ben ℥ vj. Sperma Ceti ℥ iij. Beef Suet, Virgin Wax, A. ℥ ij. Flo∣wers of Benjamin ʒ ij. mix and make an Ointment, with which anoint every night, an hour and half before Bed-time; and at going to Bed, lay on the following Emplaster spread up∣on new Cloth.

X. ℞ Virgin Wax ℥ jv. Oil of Ben, Sheeps Suet, A. ℥ j. Chio Turpentine ℥ ss. mix them over a gentle Heat to a due consistency. Those who like not this, may apply the Emplastrum Album, or an equal part of both may be mixed together.

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.

CHAP. XLVIII. Of DISCOLORED NAILS.

I. IT is called in Greek, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. in Latin, Ʋnguium Discolor: and in English, Evil Color of the Nails, or Nails Evil Colored.

II. This Discolor, or Evil Color of the Nails is known by Sight, for that they are vitiated with a Leaden Color, sometimes they are yellow, and sometimes they are black.

III. The Cause. In Curriers and Dyers it happens, by reason of their handling of Lime and Lye, and other Dying Stuff; which is no detriment to them, but as it is matter of Deformity.

IV. In other persons, it happens (not from the change of the Co∣lor of the Flesh underneath, as some think, but) from a viti∣ous Aliment of the Nails, im∣pregnated with such a Color.

V. The Prognosticks. It is without danger, being only matter of Deformity, and not easily cu∣red, without removing the ori∣ginal or internal Cause.

VI. The Cure. The vitious Hu∣mors are first to be evacuated with Our Family Pills, or with Our Pilulae Catharticae, afterwards with the Tinctura Purgans, twice or thrice repeated.

VII. And upon the Nails them∣selves may be applyed the Em∣plaster at Sect. 12. of the for∣mer Chapter, renewing it once every second or third day.

VIII. And the Nails themselves are often to be pared and cut, untill all that part which is vi∣tiated (by a gradual growing forth) is cut off.

IX. If the Discolor happens by reason of a Contusion from Blood being broke forth, and spread un∣der the Nail, which shining thro' the Nail, gives a darkish Red; or Blackish Color, as sometime hap∣pens in Suffusions: In this case Avicen advises to open the Nail by making a hole thro' it, to let out the Blood that lyes under∣neath.

X. But this is not the best Advice, nor yet good, for that in time, and by degrees, this will wholly grow off of it self with∣out any other trouble, whereas the other must be Trouble and Pain too, especially if the ner∣vous Skin lying underneath is hurt.

XI. Authors advise to lay up∣on it Dittany of Crete, with Fish Gelly, or Emplastrum Basilicon, or root of Solomon's Seal well bruised; Or Sagapenum made in∣to an Emplaster with oil of Nuts.

XII. But nothing is better than this. ℞ Emplastrum Album, Ar∣canum Corallinum, A. ʒ j. mix them with a drop or two of Oil of Ben, and apply it. It softens the Nail, takes away the Discolor, and makes it grow white, neat and handsom.

CHAP. XLIX. Of CLEAVING and FALLING of the NAILS.

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.

XII. The Prognosticks. If the roots of the Nails are eaten asunder by a vitious and corro∣sive Humor, and that it has continued long; or if they be lost by reason of the want of nutri∣ment, they are not to be restored again.

XIII. But if the Malady be but in beginning, and the roots not wholly eaten asunder, there is then some hopes of a Cure.

XIV. The Cure. The evil Humors are to be purged off with Tinctura Cathartica, six, eight, or ten times to be repeated; and the Juices to be sweetned, by a continual taking of Tin∣ctura Antimonii, à ʒ j, ad ʒ ij. in some proper Vehicle, morning and evening every day.

XV. And for Topicks, you may apply this Emplaster: ℞ Labdanum ʒ ix. Ammoniacum ʒ vj. Wax ʒ iv. Bdellium ʒ ij. mix, and with a little Oil of Ben, make a soft Emplaster. Spread this upon leather, of which make caps to put upon the fingers ends, renewing it every fourth or fifth day.

CHAP. L. Of a WHITLOE.

I. IT is called in Greek, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. (and this is the Paronychia of the Greeks;) in Latin, Reduvia; and in English, a Whitloe.

II. The Description. This is a Vice not so much of the Nails, as of the Skin which is next to the Nails: it first begins with the cleaving, or rising up of the Skin at the roots of the Nails, (by some called a Hang-nail;) which being unhappily pull'd up, or off, many times grows very sore, and painful; at length there is heat, inflam∣mation, redness, and intolera∣ble pain about the root of the Nail, night and day, with a small tumor.

III. The Cause. It is gene∣rally external, from the rising up of the Skin at the root of the Nail, as aforesaid; which by the protrusion of ill Humors to the Part, and an ill habit of Body, becomes a very painful and troublesom Tumor.

IV. The Differences. It dif∣fers from Paronychia Arabum, or Panaritium, a Felon; because that never begins at the root of the Nail, but generally at the Fingers-ends; and commonly be∣gins from within, (as from the Bone) and comes outward∣ly afterwards: whereas the Reduvia begins outwardly, and then goes more inward∣ly: affecting not so much

the Bone, as the root of the Nail.

V. The Prognosticks. It is generally without danger, but in Cacochymical Bodies it is often∣times with much pain and trou∣ble: if it tumifies not, it is accounted one of the lightest Affects; and Galen (de Na∣tur. Human. sub finem, Com∣ment. 2.) saith, it scarcely deserves the care and pains of a Physician: but if it tumifies, and comes to suppuration, it is cured with trouble, and requires some time: and many times it is so malign, as either to destroy the root of the Nail; or so to hurt it, as to cause the Nail to grow thick, rough, and very de∣formed.

VI. The Cure. At the begin∣ning, before it Apostemates, it is many times cured by anointing with Oil of Roses, or applying Housleek-leaves to the same; taking away the skin of that side of the leaf which you lay next the Affect: for by this means, heat, and in∣flammation is prevented, and consequently, the Apostema∣tion.

VII. Others apply Purslane, and some the roots and seeds of Mallows: but to hinder the Part from taking cold, by ap∣plication of Emplastrum Album, or Hogs-lard mixt with pou∣dred Rosin, prevents any farther danger, and heals the Affect.

VIII. If it Apostemates, it is very painful, till it comes to ripeness; which to perform, you may apply this: Take Sheeps-suet, Oil-olive, A. ℥ j. Rosin in pouder ℥ j ss. Turpentine ℥ ss. Oil of Aniseeds ʒ iij. mix, and apply it: it will give ease upon application, and quickly bring is to ripeness.

IX. When it is ripe, you must open it with a Needle, and let out the matter: the sooner it is brought to ripeness, the safer it is, and the less it endangers the root of the Nail, which if that be hurt by the Affect, it is impossible but the Nail must grow deformed.

X. The Tumor being quickly made ripe, and the Pus or Mat∣ter let out, (which you must do when it grows white) you may heal it with Our Balsamum Amicum, or Balsamum Gummi Elemi; applying over all Ce∣ratum Gummi Elemi, or Empla∣strum Album.