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 ...

I. Of POLYPUS.

III. Definition. Polypus is a pre∣ternatural Tumor, being a fleshy Excrescence, long, and hanging in the Nostril, hindering respira∣tion, and threatning suffoca∣tion in time of sleep.

IV. Celsus, lib. 6. cap. 8. Est Caruncula, inquit, modò alba, modò subrubra, quae Narium Ossi inhaeret; & modo ad Labra pen∣dens Narem implet, mod•• retrò per id foramen, quo Spiritus à Naribus ad Fauces descendit, adeò increscit, ut post Ʋvam conspici possit. — Feréque mollis est, rarò dura; eaque magis Spiritum impedit, & Nares dilatat, quae ferè 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 est, itaque at∣tingi non debet. It is a Caruncle (says he) sometimes white, some∣times reddish, which sticks close to the Bone of the Nostrils, and sometimes hangs down to to the Lips, filling the Nostril; sometimes it grows upwards, thro' the same passage of the Nostril by which the Breath is drawn inwards, increasing so much, as that it may be seen beyond the Uvula. — It is mostly soft, seldom hard; and by so much the more as it fills the Nostril, it hinders the Breathing; which is almost of a Cancerous nature, and there∣fore not to be touched.

V. The Causes. It is caused of a thick and viscous Humor, or flegmatick matter mixed with the Blood, falling down from the Brain; which not being acrid, seldom comes to exulceration.

VI. Sometimes it arises from a Melancholy Humor mixed with an acrid Salt; and then it is

painful, and is apt to degenerate into Cancer.

VII. The Signs. It is known by sight, and the Description afore∣given by Celsus; being purely a piece of Flesh growing in the Nostril, and hanging down.

VIII. The Prognosticks. If it soft, white, and void of pain, it is is easily cured: but if it is red∣dish, with more difficulty.

IX. If it is of a brown, or livid colour, it is scarcely curable; more especially if it be livid and stinking, being of a Cancerous nature.

X. The more deeply it is rooted, the more dangerous it is; because nearer the Brain, and the more difficult to have Medicines ap∣plied to it: but the more external and visible, the less difficult of cure.

XI. If it proceeds from an acrid Salt, and melancholy Hu∣mor, it is apt to degenerate into Cancer; and this is that which Celsus thinks not fit to be touched, lest it becomes a Can∣cer, and overspreads the whole Face.

XII. But that which has no∣thing of a Cancerous humor in it, tho' inveterate, yet it admits of Cure by Chirurgery, viz. with the Knife, and drying Medicines.

XIII. The Cure. The Body is to be universally purged, as is usual in all Diseases of the Head, with such things as have a general tendency; of which we need say no more in this place.

XIV. The Humor may be de∣rived by application of Vesicato∣ries, Seton, Fontanels, &c. and the Head strengthned with pro∣per Cataplasms, Cerates, and Emplasters; which may be applied to the Forehead, or fore-part of the Head, to inter∣cept the Fluxion.

XV. The piece of Flesh then hanging in the Nostrils, is to be eradicated and taken away; which is to be done, either with the Knife, or other proper In∣strument, or with Medicines.

XVI. If the Polypus has a slender root, it is to be taken away either with a Thread, or the Knife: if it can be easily come at, let it be cut off by the roots, with an Incision-knife; some nip them off with a pair of Pincers.

XVII. After extirpation, the Wound is to be healed with things drying and styptick: and the outward parts are to be de∣fended with things strengthning and astringent applied to the Forehead.

XVIII. ℞ Pomgranate-peels, Balaustians, A. ʒi. Cadmia fossi∣lis ʒii. Crocus Martis, crude Antimony, A.ʒss. Litharge, Load∣stone, Mastich, Myrrh, A.ʒi. make a fine pouder; which apply to the Wound, mixed with Mel Rosarum, &c.

XIX. If this does nothing, for that some part of the roots of it remain, you must then come to Exedents. ℞ Alum burnt, Ba∣laustians, fine Bole, ana; make them into a pouder.

XX. Or this, which is stronger. ℞ Vitriol ʒiv. Alum, Galls, Pom∣granate-peels, A. ʒii. red Myrrh, Birthwort-root burnt, A.ʒi. make them into a pouder.

XXI. This is yet stronger.

℞ Vitriol ℥iv. Alum, Verdigrise, A.℥ss. Vinegar ℥vi. mix, and cal∣cine in a luted Retort: mix this or the former with Mel Rosarum, and apply them.

XXII. This is said to be most effectual. ℞ Arsenick red and yellow, Alum, Galls, A. ℥ss. Galls, A. ℥ss. make them into a fine pouder. And some have been perfectly cured with the Pulvis Cathereticus Clossaei, as also the Pulvis Causticus Bar∣betti; which last see in Our Doron Med. lib. 2. cap. 21. sect. 28.

XXIII. Others have had them eradicated with the Liquor Mer∣curii sublimati, (in Our Pharm. Lond. lib. 4. cap. 11. sect. 24.) but it may be fit to make it with double or treble quantity of Mercury: this is only Corrosive-sublimate dissolved in fair Wa∣ter, about ʒi. to a pint.

XXIV. Aquapendens and Sen∣nertus commend a pair of For∣ceps, with which they are to be laid hold of, pull'd forth, and then cut off; after which, some of the former astringent and drying Medicines are to be applied; or else the afore de∣scribed Escaroticks, to eat in, and take it away by the roots.

XXV. Or these following. Butter of Antimony, Spirit and Oil of Vitriol, or Sulphur, Lapis Medicamentosus Crollii, Oleum Mercurii, Menstruum duplica∣tum, &c. which last see in Out Seplasium, lib. 2. cap. 6. sect. 22.

XXVI. But in the use of these things, you ought to defend the Nose with some cooling Ointment; and they are to be conveyed to the Part in Pipes fitted for this purpose.

XXVII. If you use the actual Cautery, you must beware of the adjacent Parts and apply it to the Part thro' a Pipe.

XXVIII. If it is Cancerous, viz. livid, or black and blew, or pain∣ful, it is not then to be touched; for if you meddle with it, it soon degenerates into Cancer, and becomes incurable.

XXIX. In this case, ℞ Ung. è Plumbo, juice of Nightshade, Rose-water, A. ℥i. grind them a long time in a leaden Mortar, till the Mixture is sufficiently blew, and anoint therewith.

XXX. Or, ℞ Two yolks of new laid Eggs, grind them in a leaden Mortar even to blackness: to which add, Aethiops Mineralis. Oil of Ben, A. ʒii Camphir ʒss. mix, and anoint therewith. Or, ℞ Ung. è Plumbo ℥i. Aethiops Mineralis ʒii. Extract of Opium ʒi. mix them in a leaden Mor∣tar as aforesaid, with which anoint.