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 ...

Of PTERYGIUM.

XXI. Pterygium of the Eye, we have treated of already in the third Edition of our Synopsis Medicinae, lib. 3. cap. 30. to which we refer you: that which remains to be spoken of here, is the Pterygium of the Nails of Fingers or Toes.

XXII. It is an Excrescence of Flesh, growing out of the sides of the Nails, chiefly in the Toes by reason of the Nails growing into the Flesh.

XXIII. The Signs. It is known by the Tumor, or Excrescence on the side or root of the Nail, redness, inflammation, and troublesom pain; (yet, not but what the Patient may endure) being chiefly pain∣ful in going.

XXIV. The Causes. In the Fingers it may be caused by a Whitloe going before, or some Pustule preceding it.

XXV. But in the Toes it may be caused from some pressure of the Nail, or bruise, especially where the Nail is thick and hard, as some thick and overgrown Nails are; which causes pain and in∣flammation, and afterwards an eruption of Matter; which being exasperated by a conti∣nual pricking or pressing of the Nail, causes an Ulcer and cor∣ruption, from whence Excre∣scencies and loose Flesh are thrust forth round about; so that many times the Matter corrupts the Tendons and Bones.

XXVI. The Differences. They arise from the Cause and the Part affected: some rise superficially in the sides of the Nails, with erosion; others arise from the Tendons, and corrupt the Bones.

XXVII. If the Tendons or Membrane under the Nail are affected, the pain is more vehe∣ment: if the Bone is corrupted, it is known by the stinking smell.

XXVIII. The Prognosticks. If it affects only the Skin, the cure will be easy; and if the Nail is pared away, the Ulcer will soon heal.

XXIX. If it arises from the Tendons or Membranes at the root of the Nail, the cure will be more difficult; and in cacochy∣mick, and old people, it may endanger a Gangrene.

XXX. The Cure. Ʋniversals being premised, cut away your Nail, so that you may apply the Medicaments which may consume or dry the loose Flesh, and cica∣trize it: in which case you may use dry Lint, or Lint dipt in Aqua Calcis and dried, or pou∣ders of Zedoary, round Birthwort root, Orrice root, Balaustians,

Pomgranate-peels, fine Bole, Tutty, &c.

XXXI. But in stronger habits, you may dress it up with red Precipitate; avoiding the appli∣cation of moist or greasy Me∣dicines, for they rot the Nails, and increase the Ulcera∣tion.

XXXII. The Excrescencies a∣rising from the Tendons, or Mem∣branes at the roots of the Nails, are to be drest with more powerful dryers; as Aes ustum, Squamma Aeris, Calx viva, Tro∣chisci Polyidae, Andronis, Musae, red Precipitate, and the Cau∣stick Stone it self, being care∣fully used; and lastly, with the Vitriol or Alum Stones, or some proper Styptick Liquor, you may produce the Cicatrice.

XXXIII. Scultetus, Observ. 82. says, fleshy Excrescencies of the Fingers and Toes are soon consumed with this Pouder. ℞ Caput mor∣tuum of Vitriol, burnt Sponge, A. ℥i. mix them for a pouder: and being taken away, they may be cicatriz'd with Ceratum Di∣vinum.