Platerus golden practice of physick: fully and plainly discovering, I. All the kinds. II. The several causes of every disease. III. Their most proper cures, in respect to the kinds, and several causes, from whence they come. After a new, easie, and plain method; of knowing, foretelling, preventing, and curing, all diseases incident to the body of man. Full of proper observations and remedies: both of ancient and modern physitians. In three books, and five tomes, or parts. Being the fruits of one and thirty years travel: and fifty years practice of physick. By Felix Plater, chief physitian and professor in ordinary at Basil. Abdiah Cole, doctor of physick, and the liberal arts. Nich. Culpeper, gent. student in physick, and astrology.

The Kinds of Deformity.

BY Deformity we here mean, the Destruction or Perver∣sion of the Naturall Form of the Parts of the Body; and this comes to pass, when the Parts of the Body are divided either in respect of Quantity, as number and magnitude, or of quality and uncomly Figure, and so be∣come deformed by these organick Diseases. As to disco∣louring we shall speak of that in the Chapter of disco∣loration. But if the parts swell any other way, or any thing groweth unto them, or if they be consumed, these shall be described in the proper Chapter of Extuberance and Con∣sumption; but if these be within the Body, as Galen writes of a double Porus cholidocus, others of one Kidney, of the want of a Liver or Spleen, or the like Diseases in Number Magnitude or Figure, by which the Body is over large or decayed, if they be within the Body, and not be seen they shall not be spoken of, in this Chapter of Deformi∣ties, but in the Chapter of Actions hurt, and though ex∣ternall Deformities do often hinder these Functions, yet because they appear more to the Eye we shall speak of them in this Chapter only.

Many Deformities are in the Body from number abounding, * 1.1 some come from the Birth which if they are great are called mon∣strous, as when two bodies are borne knit together in divers parts. I have seen a Man which carri∣ed with him another of the same bigness compleate in all his Members, except the Head which was as it were graf∣ted to the Neck into his Breast, and he lived so from his birth a long time in very good health. The like unto which Stumpifius in his Helvetian Histtory saith he saw. I also upon the fourteenth of August Anno 1645. saw na∣ked in mine own house, another, who had his Brother hanging a little below his left Pap, fastned unto him by his breast, he had a great Head, with much curled Hair, his Eye-brows moved, but never opened, his Mouth was open and alwayes full of stinking slimy Flegm, his hinder part of his Head fell down to his. Brothers belly, his Face being upwards his Breast was crooked and the Ribbs plain to be seen, and bent like the Keele of a Ship outward, his Shouders were very deformed, both his Arms trembled and were bent backwards his left Hand had the three last Fingers; his right, a great Thumb and two Fingers, that next to the Thumb was least and grew thereto, from his left side his left Thigh hung downwards bowed, with a short crooked Foot, and onely four Toes, his Heel being turned outwards, you might plainly have perceived his right Foot to be inclosed in his Brothers left Thigh, as if he had two thigh bones, between the Thighs were the But∣tocks and a cleft but not open, his brother cloathed him with a shirt doublet Breeches and Stockings. This Mon∣strous man, was very active, of good Habit of body, well coloured, witty, long winded, he told me he was Son to a noble Merchant of Genua, his Fathers Name was Baptista Collaredo and Mothers Belerina Fraginetta, of the Family of the Forum Julianum; and because his Parents and the Priests saw that he was a double Man, he was baptized by the Name of Lazarus and John Baptist he was then twenty eight years of Age, when I heard from him and saw these things.

Histories also witness that some are born with double Members, Heads, Arms, * 1.2 and Feet and other lesser parts, it is usuall to see six Fingers upon a Hand, * 1.3 two Thumbs one lesser growing to the greater; somtimes six Toes upon one Foot and seven upon a∣nother, some have three Stones one Cod, * 1.4 (these are called Triorcheis) and this is very probable to be as well as in other parts of the body: but this I have found by Experience, to be a hard excrescens growing to the se∣menaries being insensible, but like a stone.

The Teeth do not alwaies keep the same number, some have two ranks of Teeth beneath which doth not deform or hinder.

Hairs because numberless, are disorderly when they are in places improper for them and so are a Disease in num∣ber increased; but when they abound they are a Disease in magnitude increased, where we shall treat of them, be cause then hairs do not grow anew, but they which were before in the Pores, (for there is no Pore but hath a hair in it) hidden and concealed, do then grow manifest.

The greatest and most usuall Desormities are in the deficiency of number, * 1.5 as when some Instruments are wanting in the birth: as we have seen some monsters wanting both Arms, who have written and done other things with their Feet instead thereof, as I saw Anno 1652. Nov. 29. a Woman born without Arms, which gave her Child such and car-, ried it like a Nurse, making also divers things with her Feet and with more dexterity then many could do with their hands. Her Name was Maudlin Rudolphs of Thuinbut, in the chief City of Sweedland being above sorty years of age, and the year after February 20. I saw one that way a crooked Dwarf born without Arms, that exercised all things with his feet which were to be done with hands with dexterity to the admiration of the Beholders, his Name was Theo∣dorick Stieb of Vienna an Austrian. These are rare, but the number of the parts is more usually by chance then by birth, as by imputation which happens to parts that are most extended, as have Feet, Fingers, Nose, and Ears, or when the Eyes are put out or flesh is lost from them, which is called Rhyas. Hither may be referred gelding, * 1.6 which though it be not in an apparent part and brings no Desormity apparent, yet because when both Stones are cut out, other Deformities follow, especially if it be done in Youth, which will declare them to be Eunuches, as a womanlike voice, want of a beard, so it causeth Deformity apparent.

The Teeth are often defective in number, not only in age which is common to all, * 1.7 but many loose their fore teeth, which is an un∣comely sight when the Mouth is open, but this is no defect in Children for they will have others suc∣ceed. The grinding teeth are also often taken out for Rottenness by which their number is fewer.

We have observed that the whol Nailes both of Toes and Fingers have fallen off of their own accord, * 1.8 and sometimes others have grown up and sometimes not, these are difficultly ta∣ken of by force.

The loss of Hair is usuall, especially in the Head, * 1.9 where being longest they cause the grea∣test Deformity being wanting, as when there is Baldness all over, this is ordinary to old and sometimes it befalls young People.

The Disease called Alopecia, is a falling of the hair from some long and violent dis∣ease aforegoing, * 1.10 leaving the head bald in divers parts or equally about the hinder part of the Head and the Temples when it comes from the Pox, * 1.11 or when two bald places reach on both sides from the hinder part of the head to the fore-head as in Ophiasis.

The same happens to the Beard, the hair falls off inor∣dinately and leave it thin or the Chin bare, and this is when the hair of the Head falls most usuall, and it is so with the Eye-brows and Eye-lids: and especially in an E∣lephantiasis or Leprosie, the same sometimes befalls all o∣ther hairy Parts.

The Deformity which is from magni∣tude increased hath two kinds, * 1.12 first the in∣crease of parts beyond their prescribed bounds which is commonly originall and this sometimes happens to the whol bo∣dy, not when one Man is bigger then any in that Coun∣try with Proportion and strength agreable without impe∣diment, this is not I say preternaturall, but when the body is so excessive long or big as the party is burdened there∣with and cannot exercise his functions, deforming rather than setting forth the structure. Such monsters are somtimes seen and I saw a wench in Durner in Basil, not five years old bigger then any ordinary fat Woman.

The parts also of the Body are often bigger then ordinary and so bring De∣formity and hinder action; * 1.13 some are born with too big a Head, some where∣of we find to be fools, some have Necks, Feet, Fingers disproportionable, a long Nose, broad Ears, great Eyes, long and large Teeth, especially when one Tooth groweth into the cavity of the opposite Tooth whith is lost, hitherto belong the over large Orifices a wide Mouth, Nostrils, and other parts too large, these are Deformities but not Diseases except they hinder actions, as when the Tongue is so big they cannot speak, and Nayles so thick that they cannot take up small things; be∣sides which fault if they grow too long they are inservicea∣ble, this is rather from neglect of cutting then any other thing. The like may be said of Hair if it grow too long for want of trimming, * 1.14 either in parts where it usually or not usually groweth, as when it covers the Forehead which is vulgarly counted more comely when bare; especially it is counted very unseemly for a Woman to have a beard, in which places if the hair be shaved yet the roots remaining it will grow a∣gain and shew the Deformity, sometimes one are more hairs growing in a Wart, deform the Face, if they grow where hair should not be, as upon a womans Chin resem∣bling a beard.

The other kind of Deformity from magni∣tude increased, * 1.15 eomprehends Carnosity and Fatness, and this is when from the aboundance of flesh or fat, the Body or any parts thereof are so increased, that it lookes not onely unseemly but is slow, heavy and unwildy to perform duties, these are for the most part idle sloathfull and drowsy, and if they be so when yong they live not to be old, as Hippocrates saith fle∣shy Men are shorter lived then lean: this may be in some parts so that a Deformity and an impediment may arise, as when the belly is so fat that it extends it self without mea∣sure, * 1.16 or when the Papps are too large, and cover the whole Breast and would go far∣ther if not restrained, and hinder brea∣thing by their weight: such are those fat Men who have great breasts; and which is more preternaturall, those which have breasts grow very large as well as Toats being men not grown or other wise dispto portioned.

Hitherto may be referred the Sarcomata which are not other but the same Flesh over grown as rank Gums, the Caruncles of the Eyes too large which is called Encanthis. But because these are like the other Sarcomata, they are described in the Chapter of Extuberances.

A Deformity arising from magnitude diminished hath two kinds, as that of magnitude increased. The first whereof if when the wholl body is little from the birth and they continue all their lives like pigmyes, are main∣tained in Princes Courts for admiration being unfit for any imployment by reason of the weakness of body.

The second is when the parts are di∣minished as when the Head is too little as is seen in fools often: * 1.17 when the breast is too straight, by which means they are short winded; and other parts which from their originall have not a due pro∣portion with the rest, if they bring any Deformity or im∣pediment.

Hitherto is referred the straightness of Ori∣fices, * 1.18 as of the Womb the Skin of the Yard (in that Disease which is called Phimosis) when it is too straight so that the Glans cannot be uncovered by reason of the straightness of the praepuce or foreskin.

The greatness of parts is often made less, when some is taken off, * 1.19 and the Members are partly lamed, which brings the more Deformi∣ty, by how much it is more visible as in the Nose and Ears; and the action is most hindered when it happens in a necessary part as the Fingers, which being quite taken off there is a hurt which belongs to those that are in number defective.

Hitherto belongs the want of Papps in Wo∣mens breasts, which is not only unseemly, * 1.20 but hindereth their giving suck.

The consuming of the Gums is under this Head, when the Teeth are bare at the Root, * 1.21 causing them to be loose and fall out.

Hitherto may be referred those Teeth which are shorter then the rest in the same rank, * 1.22 and Nayles when shorter then the flesh, for then they cannot take up small things.

Hairs also when they are so thin and short, * 1.23 as happens when they grow again after fallen off; so that they look rather like wool then Hair. * 1.24 Or if in those parts where they ought to be thicker and longer in due time, as the chin where mans beard should grow hair come forth slowly and make them who are men seem still Children, this is a kind of Deformity: * 1.25 es∣pecially if by reason of Gelding before the beard grew, it never come forth; and they re∣main beardless, it is uncomely and makes them wrinkled in the face as years increase, and as the Comae∣dian saith look like old Women.

The second kind of diminished magnitude is Slenderness, * 1.26 which is opposite to Fatness and Fleshiness, and this is seen in those parts which should be fleshy and are not; and it happens some times to the whol Body, not when it decayeth of which we shall speak in the Chapter of Consumption nor when it is naturally small, for then it is not out of order since lean folks as we shewed from Hippocrates are longest lived: but when it is so lean, that it is ugly to be beheld, and causeth weakness, especially when the Thighs and Arms are withered, * 1.27 the Cheeks fal∣len, the Shouders blades stick out, and the Belly shrunk in. Hitherro is referred the thin∣ness

of Womens breasts which is a Dosormity, not when they are little, * 1.28 for that is accounted an ornament, but when they are lank and hang down this in young Women especially is ac∣counted unseemly.

That Deformity which comes from the undecent figure and proportion of parts is manifold. The first is when the Figure is altered in number and magnitude, chiefly from inequality: sometimes from the Birth sometimes by acci∣dent. As when the Head is too sharp poin∣ted or otherwise deformed, * 1.29 the Forehead wrinkled, the Nose crooked the Mouth and Lipps awry, or any other part is dispropor∣tioned. To describe all these punctually would be very superfluous, and ask much labour.

Hitherto may be referred the over curling of Hair like black Moors, * 1.30 which if a little cur∣led is an ornament, and hair hanging straight down is unseemly; also Nayles if wrinkled and standing forth are ugly. * 1.31

The second kind of the Figure of parts de∣formed, is when that continuity by which they ought to be united is divided, * 1.32 or the connexion dissolved. This we spake of con∣cerning wounds and ulcers, but if after Cure the same Division and separation remain which spoils the Figure and Proportion, that may be referred to this Head.

As also the which comes from the birth. * 1.33 A∣mong which is the hair Lip when the upper Lip is divided originally called in dutch Ha∣senscharten from the hare, whose Lip seems na∣turally divided as if cut, this deformeth the Mouth by making the Teeth alwaies appear.

Hitherto may be referred the inequality of Teeth when they are broken and rotten, * 1.34 by which Women seem uncomely. To this the Poet alludes in his Remedy against love.

If Teeth shee want then cause her often to laugh.

This is worst when the teeth are black, and when there are only stumps remaining.

The Nayles having continuity divided bring Desormity, * 1.35 especially in the hands be∣cause most visible, and this is worst if it go not away as the Nayles grow and are cast off; Roughness and corrosion is worst when the Nayles are black and blew or too thick; to this head may be referred, the cleaving or clifts of the Nayles when they are divided long wayes or transverse, these are the signs of Elephan∣tiafis French Pox and the like.

Also the fissure or cleaving of hair in the head or beard is uncomely, * 1.36 because it causeth ine∣quality and folding, especially if many be so cloven.

To these are added those deformities which proceed from the scarse Skin separated from the Skin, * 1.37 not as they cause pain but uncomli∣ness, of which we speak concerning excoriation and gal∣ling: they are called Furfures because they fall off as dan∣drow from the Head scratched or combed. This if usuall, and falling thick upon the cloaths, is a Deformity especial∣ly if it fal from the beard or Eye-brows, or from other pla∣ces where hair groweth not.

Hitherto, is referred the Disease in French called Pelatella, * 1.38 as when the skin is unequally divided in the Palm of the Hand, and full of Scales, which though it itch not they are alwaies pic∣king which is noysome.

Those Deformities which come from the dissolved connexion of * 1.39 parts, if thereby the part be wholly taken off, they belong to the Diseases of number deficient: but if they still stick to the Body, they belong to this kind, as when the Teeth are loose and bare at the Root and will not be sastned to the Gums.

The third kind in which the Figure and proportion of parts deformed, * 1.40 is when parts that should be divided, con∣tinue and grow together as comes to pass by birth as well as by accidents di∣vers waies, by which the Functions are hindered, as when any Orifices are clo∣sed as the Nostrils, Lipps, Eye-brows, Fundament. Womb, the hole of the prepuce, when either by birth or other ac∣cident, breathing, eating, seeing, evacuation or generati∣on is hindered. As also the glewing together of some parts, though it be not hurtfull, it is ugly, as when two Toes grow together, which often is from the birth, but it is less offensive then the growing together of the Fingers.

To this preternatural continuation of parts, * 1.41 may be referred that by which the parts are conjoyned, so that they cannot be separated. As when from a Convulsion the Mouth continueth clo∣sed, which because it rather hinders and takes away acti∣on then deformeth, shall be mentioned in hurt Action. Hitherto belongs the mutuall and close intrication of hair which cannot be separated, but is like a love-lock which the Germans cal Scherletin Sopf because it is supposed to be done by the fayries and the incubi.

The fourth kind of Deformity in Figure, * 1.42 is when the scituation of a part is perverted or transmu∣ted, and one part inclined or translated into an other, by which the continued Figure of the Member is destroyed.

Such is that which happens to the Feet, * 1.43 when they bend inward or outward. And that in the Toes, which are continually used to straight Shoes, and so in time are bent awry, and some∣times laid upon the Foot. As also abreviation, elongation and crookedness of Members from luxations and breaking of Bones in divers parts belong hereunto: these spoil the Figure of the part as well as hinder the Functions.

But chiefly Crookedness of back which destroys not only the shape of breast and back, * 1.44 but makes the whol bo∣dy short, crooked and unhansome, brings Deformity to Mankind.

Hitherto may be referred the Rupture or Falling of En∣trals into the Cod, or other parts, causing Deformity. But because then the tumour and falling forth is rather to be thought upon then the desormity, it shall be spoken of in Diseases of Excretion, in Extuberances, Tumors, or things thrust forth of the Body.

Also to this Deformity which comes from the perversion or altering of the scituation of parts; belongs, Eyes sticking forth, * 1.45 or prominency so called, when the Eyes are too much outward; and yet without offence or hurt, but yet uncomely whether it be from birth or accident. Also here we may comprehend the looseness of Teeth especial∣ly those before. * 1.46 We have seen some who could bend the whol row of Teeth before, foreward.

Also Teeth hanging forth, though fix∣ed, are unseemly, * 1.47 and when they are not placed even, and Nayles also when out of place or moveable, though they presen∣tly fall not, yet are a Deformity. * 1.48

Notes

• * 1.1

  A double Body.
• * 1.2

  Double and treble Parts.
• * 1.3

  Six Fingers.
• * 1.4

  Three Stones.
• * 1.5

  The Want of Parts.
• * 1.6

  Rhyat.
• * 1.7

  Want of Teeth.
• * 1.8

  Fall of Nailes.
• * 1.9

  Want of Hair.
• * 1.10

  Alopceia.
• * 1.11

  Ophiasis.
• * 1.12

  The over larg∣ness of the whole Body.
• * 1.13

  Over great parts and over large Orifices.
• * 1.14

  The too great increase of Nayles and Hair.
• * 1.15

  Too much Flesh.
• * 1.16

  Great Breasts.
• * 1.17

  Smalness of Be∣dy and its pens with narrow O∣rifices.
• * 1.18

  Phimosit
• * 1.19

  Lent Parts.
• * 1.20

  Breasts consumed.
• * 1.21

  Gums rotten.
• * 1.22

  Short Teeth and Hair.
• * 1.23

  Wool∣like Hair.
• * 1.24

  Beard long grow∣ing.
• * 1.25

  Want of beard in Eunuchs.
• * 1.26

  Slender∣ness of Bo∣dy.
• * 1.27

  Senderness of Limbs.
• * 1.28

  Soft and lank Breasts.
• * 1.29

  The indecent Figure and shape of Parts.
• * 1.30

  Hairs too curled.
• * 1.31

  Nayles un∣even.
• * 1.32

  Division of parts which ought to be ••nited.
• * 1.33

  The divisi∣on of the upper Lip or hair lip by nature.
• * 1.34

  The Rot∣ienness and breaking of Teeth.
• * 1.35

  The Rot∣tenness, roughness clifes and dividing of Nayles.
• * 1.36

  Fissures of the Hair.
• * 1.37

  Dand∣rough.
• * 1.38

  The Scalos in the palm of the hand called in French Paelatalla.
• * 1.39

  The separation of the Jaws from the Teeth.
• * 1.40

  The continuation or growing toge∣ther of parts that should be divi∣ded.
• * 1.41

  An indecent and firme conjunction of parts.
• * 1.42

  The Deformity of scitua∣ation from luxations and fractures.
• * 1.43

  Vari crooked Leggs.
• * 1.44

  Gib bout or croo∣ked Backs.
• * 1.45

  Gogle Eyes.
• * 1.46

  Loose Teeth.
• * 1.47

  Teeth hang∣ing forth.
• * 1.48

  Loose Nayles.