Pharmaceutice rationalis: or, The operations of medicines in humane bodies. The second part. With copper plates describing the several parts treated of in this volume. By Tho. Willis, M.D. and Sedley Professor in the University of Oxford.

SECT. III. CHAP. V. Of the Diseases of the Skin, and of their Remedies.

AFter Attractive Remedies of the Cuticula and Skin, namely Issues and blister∣ing Medicines delivered before, by a certain Law of Method we are in∣duced to handle Diseases of those parts, and other kinds of Remedies of divers sorts; the true Aetiology of which will afford matter of most pleasant as well as profitable speculation.

As for the fabrick and uses of those parts, it needs not that I should here repeat all things already accurately described, and well known in Books of Anatomy. It may suffice us to note concerning the Cuticula, that this outward skin is thin and dense, without blood and without sense, as destitute of Vessels and Fibres, which cleaving to the inward skin, coners and defends it from outward injuries. This is every where full of pores, into whose orifices the Vessels discharging sweat do open, which Mal∣pighius viewing more accurately with a Microscope, a little before their gaping or opening, affirms to be endued with little Valves, for the retaining or free breating forth of sweat: but I consess they lye hid to me.

The Cuticula being taken away by Fire, or Phaenigmons, the skin appears naked, and looks red, by reason of the sanguiferous vessels. But this is a thicker membrane, as to its greatest parts, formed of filaments of Vessels bringing blood, of Nerves, and of nervous Fibres, variously interwoven and complicated among themselves, among which numerous Glandules and Lymphaducts, or Vessels discharging Sweat and Va∣pours, are thickly interposed. The substance hereof is related to be double by most Anatomists, the outer is nervous, the inner fleshy, or rather glandulous; for an ex∣ample of which, the Rind of an Orange is brought. If the skin be viewed naked by a Microscope, by the renowned Malpighius's observations, First there presents it self a body in form of a Net, in whose thick holes are contained not only passages of Sweat, but also very many Teats in form of a Pyramid, rising out of the skin in pa∣rallel ranks, and passing into the Cuticula, where being stretcht out in length, they are divided as it were into many little Fibres; which the same Author hath determin'd to be the sense of touching. Besides these, the substance of the skin contains very many Glandules, by which means the Lympha or watery matter is carryed by the Lym∣phaducts or excretory Vessels, out of the Arteries to the Pores. For indeed the most accurate Stenon hath observed, that its Glandules lye under every pore; which become either greater or lesser, according to the use of sweating: the sweat or vapours con∣tinually streaming out of these by the excretory vessels, avoiding the excrements, do moisten the nervous Teats in their passages, lest perchance they should grow dry.

As to the pores or passages of Sweat, they are discovered by a Microscope to be of two kinds, viz. The greater, in most of which the roots of the hairs are im∣planted, and by interspaces, on both sides of each wrinkle of the skin, are dispo∣sed in a parallel rank: Or secondly, they are the lesser Pores, which being num∣berless, do fill up all the spaces between the former in most thick Punctums or pricks. For indeed the whole skin with its wrinkles, appears like a Field furrowed by a Plow, and after wards harrowed with the ranks turned, or rather oblique; so that its ground

being eminent above the surrows of either kind, there remain in its plain, Figures very much of a Rhomboidal or a Diamond-fashion; and accordingly as those fur∣rows, with their banks or flattes, are either shorter and less, or deeper and greater, the texture of the skin appears either delicate and thin, or thick and course. This kind of Constitution although it be most owing to ones birth, and to the primogenial growing together of the humours, is however manifoldly altered by reason of the various accidents of the ensuing life. A more gross Diet, difficult labour, injury of Air, and chiefly excess either of heat or cold, render a skin more rough: also contra∣riwise a nice and delicate education renders its tone more fine and soft.

That the skin may become more neat, smoothe and equal, it avails much that all its pores be filled with a benign, mild and unctuous humour; for so, whilest all its pores become full, and extended, the level of the whole skin appears more smooth: Notwithstanding, if a vicious humour furnish those pores, or the benign humour that was in them be too much exhausted, for that cause the skin will become rough and full of wrinkles. Wherefore if any endowed with a most soft and even skin, shall wet their hands in a Soap Lather, Lie, or Lime-water, or also for some time in warm Blood, presently the furrows and wrinkles will grow greater and deeper, the saline humour being drawn out by the other Salts out of the pores; wherefore more delicate wo∣men scrupulously decline washing with Soap or any other things that furrow the skin.

Neither only the humour being too much exhausted out of the pores, but also re∣tained in the same either unduely or above measure, doth render the skin rough and unequal. The hairy pores (which though they are not the only, yet are much the passages of Sweat) do constantly send out more plentiful Effluvia's for the sake of transpiration, wherefore they ever seem greater and more open; but if it shall hap∣pen that these are suddenly obstructed by any outward cold, the Vapours being re∣strained within, they do every where swell up the skin about the places where they break out, and lift it up into little heaps: from hence of at any time our bodies are exposed naked to the Northern wind, or are plunged in a River, the exterior Superficies before smooth and soft, will become rough and rugge, like the skin of a a Goose new pull'd. Without doubt those greater pores, being, according to the fur∣rows of the skin, planted parallel and as it were in a rank after the manner of a Quincunx or exact Square, are made as so many pitts for the planting of hairs as it were trees; for so they appear in four-footed Beasts, and in some hairy parts of men.

These things being thus briefly declared concerning the Cuticula and Skin, as touch∣ing their frame and uses, there is way enough made to search and unfold the Diseases of the same parts, and the reasons of healing them.

Wherefore first scarce any Diseases properly belong to the Cuticula, it being devoid of life and sense. This sometimes being too thick hinders Transpiration, and also sometimes by reason of accidents in some places it grows too thick and callous: but it self being clearly unsensible it is never sick, notwithstanding this is a cause that some distempers which might be blown off by Transpiration, do cleave to the super∣ficies of the skin, inasmuch as the dregs of the blood, and humours, and recrements being thrust forward outwards, having passed through the whole skin, when they cannot evaporate wholly by reason of the thickness of the Scarf-skin, being fastened in the outed skin, produce various discolourations, and stains thereof; of which fort are those spots called Heat spots, Freckles, or Ephelides, as also scorbutical and ma∣lignant spots, also Pimples and whatsoever other stains without any swellings or roughness do seem to besprinkle the skin or outward Scarf-skin, with marks, or some little disfigurings.

But truly as to what belongs to the distempers of the Skin it self in general, since they are various and manifold, they are wont to be distinguished under a various respect, and chiefly that they are either with or without a Tumour; we have but now taken notice of these latter ones.

Distempers of the Skin with a Tumour, are either universal, dispersed throughout the whole body; or are particular, being raised in these or those members, disper∣sed or as it were by chance.

The former either happen upon a Feaver, as chiefly the Small-pox, Measles, or other malignant wheals, whereto also may be added the fleeting pushes of In∣fants; or happening without a feaver, as the Itch, Tetters, and leprous distem∣pers.

The outward particular Tumours, or dispersed ones, for the most part do not seize upon the skin only, but also upon the parts subjected, viz. now the carne∣ous, another while the tendinous, or membranous or glandulous, and for that cause do exist of a sundry disposition, and of a diverse form. To discourse particularly concerning all these, and to assign the reasons of their Causes, and Cure of every one, would be a matter not only of an entire Tract, but of a great Volume: Wherefore, for the present we will only briefly speak of the Distempers merely or for the most part Cutaneous (of which sort are all spots and Pimples, as also the Scab, or Itch, Tetters, or leprous Maladies): perhaps, an opportunity may happen, when I may treat more specially of Tumours of every kind.

First then (that we may begin with Spots as Affections of lesser moment) those offer themselves called Ephelides, because they are chiefly caused from the Suns heat; for that cause frequent in the Spring, and increase most in Summer, again in Winter they soon vanish. Moreover, whereas they happen in the more beautifull persons, and of a thinner skin, they break out chiefly in those places where the Cuticula is most thick, and is exposed to the Sun and Air, viz. the face and hands, of a colour yellowish or brown, in magnitude of a Flea-bite, but they exist unequal and irregular as to their Figure. These differ little or nothing from those brownish or yellowish spots which some call Lentigines or Freckles, which consisting of the bigness of a Lentil, mark the parts of the face as it were with many drops.

The matter of these seems to be a more thin portion of the cholerick humour, allured outwards by the force of the Sun attenuating it, and opening the pores of the skin; which beginning to be evaporated, is fixt to the inside of the outmost skin or Cuticula, which it cannot pass through. Surely it is a sign these spots proceed from Choler, or other yellow scums of the blood, because they are chiefly familiar to them whose hair is yellow. Moreover, the reason is manifest enough, because they arise more often in a fair Complexion, and in those parts exposed to the Sun and Air; for their more thin skin transmits the humour rarified by the solar heat so far untill it is retained by the thicker Scarf-skin, near the places of issuing out. This affection presages or indicates no evil, as to the state of health; and although in appearance it represents something of deformity, notwithstanding that is made good again, in∣somuch that it signisies them so spotted, to be endued with a more pure Consti∣tution.

Besides these small freckly spots there are others much larger, above a hands breadth in magnitude, which deform the skin in divers places, especially about the breast and back, one while with brown, another while with pale or blackish spots. These at certain times, as I have observed in many, being wont to arise in certain parts and vanish again, are commonly called Liver-spots, and those most markt with them are thought to have a Liver less sound, or at least not well sanguifying; which not withstanding is not true on this account, but only inasmuch as the cholerick humours, when they are not enough separated from the mass of blood within the Liver, being thrust for ward to the skin do so discolour it: which fault also is imputed to the Spleen; for truly this deformity arises, because that the feculencies and excrements of the blood, when not enough received by the Vessels of separation, are together dl∣luted with the Serum, with which they are conveyed to the skin, and in the same place being cast off by the blood, and deserted by the serous Juice while it is evapora∣ting, they are fastened about the outer little holes or pores, even as a mossie down cleaving to the strait places of a River.

These spots chiefly appear in Summer, and most upon the Breast and Back, viz. at which time and in those places men are most apt to sweat: for that serous Juice which brought out those dregs from the mass of blood, into the strait places of the skin, leaves them there, altogether unable to evaporate. This indisposition hath no∣thing of evil joyned to it, nor is it a symptom of any present disease, nor doth it pre∣fage any suddenly approaching; Moreover, when for the most part it happens to places that are covered, and brings no deformity or trouble, there seems little or no need of Cure: but because an opinion is frequent with the Vulgar, that the Liver is eminently endangered by these spots, and necessarily requires Medicine, for this cause to satisfie the importunate, craving Medicines, we are wont to prescribe, besides extern Cosmeticks, even inward hepatical Remedies; whose use although not very necessary, yet because from thence the depuration of blood, and opening obstructi∣ons of the bowels are dispatcht, they are not altogether in vain. The inward Medi∣cines

profitable to this design, are described before among the hepatical Remedies: The Topical or outward are altogether the same in these as in any other kind of spots; some select forms of which we will annex.

Concerning Pestilential, as also Scorbutical spots, of which we have purposely in another place spoken, there is no need here to repeat the same; especially because for these another method is required, than for those but now described; inasmuch that in one kind of spots, Medicines for the most part outward are wont to be admi∣nistred, without Splanchnic or Cordial medicines, but in the other kinds only in∣ward medicines, without any that have reference to the Skin.

Wherefore, as to the spots called Freckles, Lentigines, and those commonly called Hepatical, they properly belong to the Art of Beautifying; and for the taking away these Deformities of the Skin, only Cosmetick Remedies are prescribed, with∣out any method of healing. There is every where a plentiful harvest of these with curious Ladies, and others, that are solicitous of cleansing their skins; yet all these, forasmuch as they only respect two Intentions of healing, may be reduced to these two heads; viz. either by opening the pores of the skin and Scarf-skin, and sometimes by excoriating this, they do endeavour to have the humour drawn outward, and also to be evaporated; or on the other side, and not with less success, those things are administred that may drive back the spotty matter, and force it inwards. We will annex here in order some usual Forms of the Topicks of either sort, being rationally found out, and frequently made use of happily enough; because it is not lawful with∣out offence of the Great Ones to detect the more secret mysteries of the Cosmetick Art, and to profane it among the Vulgar.

First therefore for cleansing the skin, and drawing forth the matter of Spots:

Take of a small ly of Salt of Tartar four ounces, Oyl of bitter Almonds made by expression, as much as suffices, in such a proportion let it be mingled, that the liquor turn presently white, and so remain; with this mixture let the parts be anointed morning and evening, and gently chased.

Take of Aron-roots, Bryony, Solomons-Seal, of each one ounce, Powder of Fenugreek: seeds one dram, of Camphir half a dram, these being beat together, pour on them three ounces of Oyl of Tartar per deliquium, let it be pressed and applyed with a rag twice a day.

Take of quick Brimstone in powder one ounce, black Soap two ounces, tye them in a rag, and hang them in a pinte of Vinegar for nine dayes; after let it be used by washing the part twice a day, and chafing it.

Secondly, For the other intention of discussing the spots from the skin, and re∣pelling their matter inwards, Lac Virginis was a renowned Remedy among the An∣cients, and is as yet commended and made use of by many: The Preparations are well enough known, Viz. A Solution of Litharge made in distilled Vinegar, by pouring of Oyl of Tartar per deliquium, it is precipitated into a white liquor like milk, with which let the face and hands be washed twice a day, and gently chaf'd. A remedy like this or of the same vertue is prepared out of the solution of red Lead or Ceruse made in the same Menstruum, and precipitated with Alum Water, or a Solution of Sal Gem. Or,

Take of Camphir sliced two drams bruised in a glass Mortar, pour thereon leisurely the juice of one Lemmon, then adde one pint of White-wine, strain it, and let the remain∣ing Camphir tyed in a rag be hung in the Glass.

Take Verdigriese four Ounces, pour thereon two pints of White-wine Vinegar, being put into a Cucurbite-glass, let them be distilled in Sand, let the Phlegme be kept for use, with which let the face be anointed twice a day.

For this purpose also the Phlegme of Vitriol doth notably conduce. It suffices some to use the distilled simple water of Bean-flowers, or of Fumitory, or the liquor of a Vine distilling from the Boughs cut in the Spring-time. Notwithstanding the more nice, and those who chiefly boast to understand this Art, are scarce content with any Remedies but Mercurial, wherefore the following water is commended and sold by Empiricks at a great rate against all foulness of the face whatsoever.

Take of Mercury sublimate one ounce powdered, put it in a Tin Vessel with three pints of Spring-water, let them stand twenty four hours space, ever and anon stirring it with a wooden Spatula untill the whole liquor grows black, which notwithstanding being phil∣ter'd through brown Paper, becomes clear; with a rag or a feather dipt in this, let the face be gently done over once or twice in a day.

This Remedy doth most notably help against all cutaneous Deformities, viz. inas∣much as it drives away the humours within the little pores, and those impacted with∣in the little holes howsoever small, dissolves the inveterate and stubborn combinati∣on of Salts or Sulphurs, and restores the whole skin, (where it is applyed) though evilly framed as to its pores, and makes it well coloured. Wherefore it is usefull not only to cleanse the spots of the face, but also to take away wheals and its redness, as also the Disease of the Erisypelas. Moreover, sometimes it happens that many parts of the face, especially the Nose and Forehead, are markt with most thick Specks looking black, as if burnt by Gunpowder, which proceeds from hence, because the sudatory pores are sometimes fill'd with a more thick black humour, another while with little worms with black heads (which little Insects being squeezed out of the pores, and exposed to the Sun, are easily seen to live, and to move themselves) and in such a malady of the skin, no Lotion or Oyntments are wont to profit, but what are Mercurial; notwithstanding to this Hony there is a Thorn at hand more than enough malignant. For the particles of the Mercury together with its Salts (by which they are divided and sharpened into small bits) being applyed to the face, do shake off the peccant and uncleanly matter out of the Pores, and expell it thence, but having driven it back, they pursue it in, and readily insinuate with the Blood and nervous Liquor, whose temperaments they prejudice. Yea by meeting with these they imprint very often on the Brain and sometimes on the Praecordia and other parts, their virulency that can never be wiped out. From hence it is frequently ob∣served, that women or men that have long used Mercurial Cosmeticks, are troubled with a Vertigo, and convulsive Distempers, or are obnoxious to paralytical, and their Teeth grow black, and sometimes fall out.

Notes

• A Description of the Cuticula.
• Of the Skin.
• The pyramidal Papillae the Or∣gan of feeling.
• The Pores and Glandules of the Skin.
• The Pores two∣fold, greater and lesser.
• The wrinkles and furrows of the Skin.
• From whence the Roughness or Fineness of the skin.
• Depends much on the Humours filling the pores.
• From the sudden shutting up of the pores.
• In the larger pores are the roots of the hairs.
• No Diseases of the Scars-skin.
• The cause of some.
• The Cutaneous distempers rec∣koned up.
• Distempers in the skin with or without a tumour.
• 1. Spots call'd Ephelides.
• The description of the Ephelides.
• The matter and cause thereof.
• Lenticular Spots.
• Liver Spots falsly so called.
• The Description and Cause of them.
• Pestilential and scorbutick spots.
• The Cure of the Spots.
• Forms of Cos∣meticks.
• 1. Which cleanse the skin.
• 2. Which repell the spotty mat∣ter.
• Lac Virginis.
• A Mercurial Cosmetick wa∣ter.
• Its Vertue.
• Its familiar use is not safe.