SECT. XVI.—ON GANGLION.
Ganglion is a round tumour of a nerve (tendon?) arising from a blow or pressure, in many parts of the body, but particularly in those parts which are moved, such as the extremities of the hands and feet. In this case, says Archigenes, apply quick lime with the grease of geese and turpentine. But Poles uses the medicine from agate stone, and Oribasius the following: of ceruse, of pine rosin, of old oil, of each, oz. j; of ammoniac perfume, of galbanum, of each, oz. j; of wax, oz. iv; or, he says, apply a thick plate of lead, like the vertebræ, and larger than the ganglion, and bind it on; for by its weight this dissolves it in process of time. This we have used.
Commentary. See Hippocrates (De Artic. xxvi); Galen (Comment., de Med. Simpl. ix); Celsus (vii, 6); Oribasius (De Virt. simpl. ii, in voce Plumbum); Aëtius (xv, 9); Actuarius (Meth. Med. ii, 11); Avicenna (iv, 3, 2, 6); Albucasis (Chirurg. ii, 50); Rhases (ad Mansor. vii, 15: Contin. xxviii.)
Hippocrates points out the danger of opening these tumours indiscriminately. They consist, as Galen remarks, of a viscid and mucous fluid. Galen and Oribasius agree with our author in directing a piece of lead to be bound upon the ganglion. Nearly the same plan of treatment is recommended by Aëtius, who directs us to bind a piece of lead upon the tumour, and after some days to remove it, when the ganglion will be found much softened; it is then to be squeezed firmly between the thumb and the fingers, by which means it will be speedily dissolved. Albucasis approves of extirpating the tumour, unless it be seated near a joint. Rhases as usual collects the opinions of all preceding authorities. Antyllus, he says, directed the surgeon to break the sack, or to bind a heavy plate over it, or to extract it by the knife. When an operation is attempted, he recommends that the surgeon be sure that he has removed the whole sac. He relates a case in which the swelling was dissolved by an application containing mustard.