SECT. XXIII.—ON FURUNCULUS.
Furunculus is an apostematous swelling, formed of thick humours in the fleshy parts of the body most especially; being mild when it is formed in the skin only, but of a malignant character when it rises up from a deep-seated part. Furunculus may be discussed and concocted by wheat, chewed and applied; by Egyptian mastic; by raisins, deprived of their stones, and triturated with salts, and applied—(this either discusses or breaks the swelling); or apply dried figs boiled in hydromel; or rosin may be mixed with the figs and applied; or the figs themselves, when they are fat, may be split open and applied; or leaven with nitre; or linseed with honey; or the leaves of henbane, triturated with butter: of compound applications, that which is prepared from leaven and fine flour, and that which is particularly named Dothienicon, are very applicable. Foment with soft sponges frequently dipped in hot water, and then apply the medicines.
Commentary. In this and the two following Sections, see the authorities on phlegmon.
The furunculus, according to Galen, is an inflammatory affection which is of a malignant nature when deep-seated, and differs from phyma only in hardness. (De Tumoribus.)
Furunculus, says Celsus, is an acute tubercle, attended with inflammation and pain, more especially when converted into pus. After it has been opened, and the pus discharged, there appears part of the flesh below converted into pus and part corrupted, of a whitish or reddish colour, which they call the ventricle or belly of the furunculus. He says that the disease is not attended with danger, and that medicines are necessary solely for removing it the more expeditiously. For this purpose he particularly commends galbanum. If repellent applications do not succeed, suppurative ones may be used; and, failing these, rosin or leaven. When pus is formed, no further treatment is required. According to Rayer, Celsus’ description of furunculus applies to the malignant pustule and not to the boil. (Malad. de la Peau, 233.)
The simple remedies recommended by our author are borrowed from Oribasius.
It is to be remarked that Galen, Celsus, Pliny (Nat. Hist. xxiii, 7), Octavius Horatianus, and Avicenna concur in recommending figs for furunculus or the boil. It was with a lump of figs that the prophet Isaiah cured Hezekiah’s boil.
Avicenna and Rhases treat furunculus judiciously by bleeding and purging, which prevent the formation of a large abscess. When there is throbbing in the tumour, they direct us to use maturative applications. When it is ripe, and does not break readily, they recommend us to open it. Haly Abbas says, that boils arise from gross and depraved humours. (Theor. viii, 11.) Alsaharavius also ascribes them to a full and unwholesome diet. He mentions that he often succeeded in stopping the formation of the furunculus by cauterizing it with a piece of myrtle or any other wood. When the pain is violent, he recommends an application of the leaves of henbane and poppies with the yelk of an egg. When the boil is indolent, he approves of a stimulant plaster. (Pract. xxix, 4.)