SECT. XXXV.—OF FAVI.
The favus is a swelling on the skin, having perforations through which a honey-like fluid is discharged. Wherefore dried grapes with rue are to be applied to it; or, the tender leaves of the fig tree with honey; or, cresses with linseed in honey; or, the root of the garden cucumber with honey; or, sulphur vivum with cerate or turpentine. You may vary the treatment of favi by transferring hither what is said in the [Third Book] regarding achores.
Commentary. Alexander states that the favus resembles the achores, differing from them solely in magnitude: for the openings of the pores by which the fluid escapes resemble the combs of bees, whence it takes it appellation; but in achores we cannot see the pores by which the fluid issues.
Aëtius gives a similar description of the complaint, which, he says, mostly attacks muscular parts, as the limbs, soles of the feet, over the sixth vertebra of the neck, and the sides. When it attacks the head, he says, it sometimes spreads to the skull. In this case he directs us to treat it with acrid applications, and even the actual cautery. For incipient favus he recommends an application consisting of sulphur, barley flour and meal.
Nonnus recommends the following application: of litharge, dr. ij; of alum, dr. iij; of the leaves of rue, dr. ij; of wine and rose-oil, q. s.
Celsus’s description is so important, that we shall give a considerable part of it in his own language. He mentions two species of the favus, or κήριον. “Alterum est subalbidum, furunculo simile; sed majus, et cum dolore majore: quod ubi maturescit, habet foramina, per quæ fertur humor glutinosus et purulentus; nec tamen ad justam maturitatem pervenit. Si divisum est, multo plus intus corrupti, quam in furunculo, apparet, altiusque descendit. Raro fit nisi in capillis. Alterum est minus, super corpus eminens, durum, latum, subviride, subpallidum, magis exulceratum; siquidem ad singulorum pilorum radices foramina sunt, per quæ fertur humor glutinosus, subpallidus, crassitudinem mellis, aut visci referens, interdum olei: si inciditur, viridis intra caro apparet. Dolor autem, et inflammatio ingens est, adeo ut acutam quoque febrem movere consuerint.” For the second species he recommends as external applications a dried fig, linseed boiled in mulse, and emollient plasters. To the other he also directs us to make applications containing figs, turpentine, rosin, &c. But when these have not the effect, he recommends us to cut the fungous excrescences down to the sound flesh, and then to dress the sore upon general principles. (v. 28.) The above account of an affection of the scalp, which we have often met with in practice, is the most accurate to be found in any author ancient or modern. We are even in doubt whether the complaint be at all noticed in modern works on surgery. It is not to be confounded with the Porrigo favosa, or Porrigo scutulata, of Dr. Bateman.
Avicenna’s description of the achor and favus is far from distinct. (iv, 7, 3, 1.) The favi appear to be the pustulæ capitis quæ dicuntur alsahafa of Alsaharavius. (Pract. i, 11.) His description, however, is by no means distinct. He approves of general evacuants, and local applications of a stimulant nature, such as sulphur, mercury, birthwort, &c. Serapion has not described the favus very accurately, but he has given a full account of the treatment. He properly forbids strong applications at first. (i, 3.) Rhases recommends much the same applications as Serapion. (Ad Mansor. v, 16.)