SECT. XLVII.—FOR BLACK CICATRICES.
Let the root of the white and black bryony be boiled in oil until they are reduced to the state of juice, and the oil applied will take away black scars; and so in like manner calamint boiled in wine, and litharge washed with white rose-oil. But the scars from lichen, and all other kinds are made like the other skin by anointing them with the fat of asses; or the seed of rocket triturated with the gall of a goat, of an ox, and of a sheep may be rubbed in with litharge; or a lamb’s foot burnt may be triturated with austere wine for the same purpose; or, ammoniac perfume may be rubbed in with swines’ gall. These are compound applications: Of litharge, of mint, of frankincense, equal parts with honey.—Another: of natron, of ammoniac perfume, of sulphur vivum, of myrrh, equal parts; having triturated with vinegar, white wine, or water, rub in but a very little, so as not to produce an ulcer.—Another: Of Cimolian earth, of pigeons’ dung, of soap, of frankincense, equal parts with vinegar. A detergent ointment for black scars: Of Cimolian earth, dr. xiij; of aphronitrum, dr. v; of white hellebore, dr. v; of the greasy dregs of nut-ben, dr. iv; scrub with it while in the bath.
Commentary. Avicenna condenses all the information contained in the authors who preceded him. He sets out with stating that the class of medicines which are applicable in such cases are the abstergents; of which he enumerates verdigris, stavesacre, the scales of copper, and even arsenic. Among the less active ingredients he mentions, like our author, the fat of asses. We need not give extracts from the other authorities, as no one has treated of this case so fully as Avicenna.