For darkness of the face. Of iris, of ptisan, of bruised beans, of each a sextarius and a half; of sal ammoniac, of burnt hartshorn, of ammoniac perfume, of each, oz. ij. Dissolve in water, and make trochisks, and having again triturated with water, anoint before bathing.—Another: Of ptisan, of tares, of frankincense, of bruised beans, of Illyrian iris, of aphronitum, of costus, of each, the fourth part of a chœnix; bitter almonds, xx in number; form with the white of an egg and the milk of an ass, and use as aforesaid. The trochisk peponatus also answers well.
For freckles and lentigo. Of toasted Cimolian earth, half a hemina; of toasted aphronitum, dr. viij; of the flour of tares, dr. iv; of the refuse of bull’s gall, dr. viij. Triturate and use.—Another: Of the lees of wine, dr. x; of the flour of tares, dr. x; of bruised beans, dr. x; of white hellebore, dr. v; of aphronitrum, dr. x; of alcyonium, dr. x. Triturate, and rub with it.
For bruised spots, or hypopia. First foment with the decoction of fenugreek, and afterwards with that of melilot, mix the collyrium of Nilus from roses with water, and anoint; then use the myrrh collyrium. If these do not produce the effect, anoint with the collyrium of burnt sandyx; or apply hyssop with water; or bind hyssop into a piece of rag, dip it in warm water, and foment; or foment with strong salt water, and rub down the skin of radish with honey, and apply. This answers also for chronic cases. For chronic spots and lividity, take of Cretan hartwort, two parts; of Samian earth, one part; apply with honey, taking care that it do not produce an ulcer.—Another abstergent application: Of hyssop, of thapsia, and of cassia, of each, dr. ij; of wax, dr. ij; of turpentine, dr. j. Apply, taking care that it do not occasion an ulcer, and on that account removing it frequently.
For vari or warts. They are small hard tumours about the face. Anoint, by rubbing with oxymel; or triturate litharge with turpentine and some white oil, and anoint by rubbing; or rub in fissile alum with turpentine; or triturate bitter almonds in vinegar, and rub. For callous vari: Of Gallic soap, dr. iv; of frankincense and ammoniac, of each, dr. j. Dissolve in water, and anoint; after an hour, wash away.
For vari, hairs, and roughness of the face. Of wax, dr. x; of turpentine, dr. j; of mistletoe, dr. ij; melt, adding a small quantity of oil, and scrub the face with it, for it takes out the hairs by the roots.—Another: Apply powdered poppy, or pennyroyal, with salt and vinegar.
The cerate of Thais, for rendering the face ruddy. Of saffron, of madder-root, of fucus, of frankincense, of myrrh, of each, dr. ij; mix with calf’s fat and mastich oil, and then anoint, and after a little interval wash away with a sponge out of hot water. These applications for the face will also answer for other parts of the body.
Commentary. Most of the authors referred to in [the preceding Section] may be consulted on these complaints.
This Section is mostly copied from Oribasius (de Loc. Affect. iv), who, however, is greatly indebted to Galen (De Med. sec. loc. v.) Aëtius gives a long list of compositions for these complaints of the face, and to it the lovers of personal appearance are particularly referred. Celsus seems to have thought it necessary to make an apology for treating of these trifling complaints: “Pæne ineptiæ sunt curare varos, et lenticulas, et ephelidas; sed eripi tamen fæminis cura cultus sui non potest.” His applications are like those of our author. For vari he recommends equal parts of rosin, fissile alum, and some honey. Ephelis, he says, is removed by rosin, with a third part of fossil salts, and a little honey.
The φάκος and ἐφηλίς are, we believe, the lentigo and maculæ of Haly Abbas. (Theor. viii, 18; Pract. iv, 15.) His remedies consist of bitter almonds, mercury killed (sublimed?), mustard, with the oil of figs. The ἴονθος is his morum. For it he recommends the flos æris and other stimulant applications. Alsaharavius speaks of the juice of the wild cucumber, the root of iris, pine-gum, and if these are not sufficient, venesection. He treats minutely of these affections of the face. (Pract. vi.) The ἴονθος is the acne of Drs. Willan and Bateman. Galen says these affections are to be removed by emollient and discutient applications in general. He treats very fully of hypopion or ecchymosis of the face. For it Alsaharavius recommends an application consisting of the infusion of radish and red arsenic. (Pract. iv, 4.) This must have been a powerful stimulant. Marcellus recommends to apply frequently a new sponge soaked in hot salt water. (De Medic. xix.)
Rhases describes this affection by the name of pannus faciei. Among the ingredients of his compositions we remark fenugreek, ammoniac, frankincense, liquid pitch, &c. Some of them contain arsenic. He also recommends scarifications.