Of the Scirrhus of the Breasts.

THe Scirrhus of the breasts is a hard swelling without pain: Of this there are two kinds, the one ingendred of a Melancholy, and produced by a feculent and grosse blood, or else from a thick flegme; now this exquisite Scirrhus is with∣out paine, in which it differs from the other; The other is not so exquisite an hardnes, perhaps be∣cause it is not yet come to its ful maturity, or else because it hath certain other humours mixt with it. This exquisite kinde of Scirrhus is in∣gendred, either because the spleen is obstructed, and cannot purge away the melancholy blood, which for that reason abounding in the body discharges and empties it self upon the breasts; or by reason of the suppression of the courses, which causes the feculent and grosse humor to disgorge it self upon Page  10 the breasts, gathering together in the Veins and flesh of the same. Many times the ignorance of the Chirurgion is the cause of it, when they apply an unreasonable company of refrigerating medicines to the inflammations of the breast, or too many re∣solving and heating medicines to it in case the breasts be over hard. This Scirrhus is known by its hardnesse without pain, from the unevennesse of the body, and the colour of the part either in∣clining to black or brown. Now though the cure of these hardnesses be something difficult, yet is there great hopes that they may be overcome; which is to be done two wayes, by mollifying di∣ligently that which is hard, and by taking that a∣way which remains hard and knotty in the breast. And first of all care is to be had to keep good or∣der of diet; to which purpose she must use whea∣ten bread, reare egges, pullets, capons, partridge, veale and mutton, which must be boyled with Spi∣nage, Bugloss and Borage; she must abstain from Beefe, Venison, Hares flesh and Brawn, from Pease and Beans, and unleavened bread, from all salt and smoked meats; as also from all things that have a sharp biting quality; also she must abstain from all care & sadness, immoderate exercise and going in the winds. If the monthly courses be stopt, you must seek to provoke them gently, which may be done by letting blood in the foot, or to let blood with hors-leeches; in the next place, it will not be amisse to purge well with Sene and Rheubarb, to which you may adde Catholicon, or Triphera Persica, if you find that the disease needs a more Page  11 strong purgation. Between every purge it will not be amisse to take good cordiall and comfortable things, as confection of Alkermes, Triasantalon, Electuarium de gemmis, conserve of the roots of Borage, conserve of Orange flowers. You may af∣ter all this use Topicks, that is to say, such medi∣cines as heat and dry moderatly, being hot in the second degree, and dry in the first; such are sheeps grease, especially that greasie substance that grows upon the flank of a sheep, wax, oyle of sweet Almonds, oyle of Camomil, oyle of Dill, Capons grease, Goose grease, Hogs grease, Bears grease, &c. Veale marrow, Dears marrow, emulsi∣ons of Mallows, Lillies, and other things of more force, as liquid pitch, liquid Storax, Galbanum, Cumin seed, Rue seed, Broom flowers, and Dill seed. If this swelling come of a hard flegme, which is known because it yeelds not so much to the touch as the other; you must use the same topicks to this, as to the watry tumour before rehearsed. If melancholy be the cause of it, you may use a fo∣mentation of the leaves of Mallows, and Marsh∣mallows, of each a handful and a halfe, of Fenu∣greek and Lineseed of each two drams, Cucumbers, Bears foot, of each two ounces; boyle them in as much water as is sufficient, and foment the breast with this twice or thrice a day. After that take this ointment: take of the root of Mallows one ounce, when it is boyled and bruised, take it out, and add to it sheeps grease, and Capons grease, of each two ounces, and with a little Wax make an ointment. This you may use for some few dayes, after which Page  12 you may, if need require, use this ointment: Take Hysop leaves, Dill leaves, and thyme leaves, of each half a handful, roots of Mallows, and Fenu∣greek seed, of each half an ounce, boyl them in as much wine and vinegar as is sufficient, til halfe be boyld away; then take of the aforesaid vinegar, Goose grease, Ducks grease, and the marrow of the leg of a Hart, of each two ounces, boyl it to the consumption of half the vinegar; you may add to this two drams of Diachylon, and make it into the form of a plaister: You may also use for this purpose plaisters of Melilot, or Oxycroceum. At length if all remedies faile, the operation of the hand must be the last succour, which we leave to the Chirurgion.