The causes and surgical treatment of protrusion of the navel will be treated of in the Surgical part of the work. But, since some restore the parts to their natural state by medicines, we must now mention that method of treatment: Of fissile alum, dr. v; of lees of wine, dr. viij; of rose-oil, dr. x; of unripe gall-nuts, dr. ij; dilute with wine; make to the thickness of honey; and wash with it; and put on externally a sponge soaked in oxycrate, and surround it with a bandage.—Another: Of the outer skin of bruised beans, of galls, of pomegranate flowers, equal parts; boil in water, and when dissolved pound carefully, and wash with it; and apply the sponge, as formerly said.—Another: Of the parings of lead, dr. xvj; of hemlock, of manna, of ceruse, of the juice of hypocistis, of each dr. j; dissolve in wine, and use as above described.
Commentary. See in particular Oribasius (Morb. Curat. iv, 117.) It is not necessary to multiply authorities, as all entertain similar views upon this head. The following is a simple receipt given by Celsus: “Cicutæ et fuliginis, denar. j; cerussæ elotæ, denar. iv; plumbi eloti, denar. viij; ovis duobus; quibus etiam solani succus adjicitur.”
Haly Abbas properly remarks that the umbilical hernia is a protrusion of the omentum or intestine at the navel. He recommends various astringent plasters, containing cypress, galls, alum, &c. (Theor. ix, 36; Pract. vii, 51.)
SECT. LII.—HOW TO MAKE THE CHIN AND PUBES CONTINUE LONG FREE OF HAIRS; ON THE PRESERVATION OF THE GENITAL ORGANS; AND, AMONG OTHER THINGS, OF DEPILATORIES.
Mix equal parts of Cimolian earth and ceruse with the juice of henbane, so as to have the thickness of the bath-sordes; then add of oil of lentisk, q. s.; pound and use.—Another: Pound together the juices of hemlock, of deadly nightshade, of henbane, and of the most tender leaves of lupine, and an equal portion of fleawort, and use, having first scrubbed the part and washed. But for some days previously the patient must drink water.
A depilatory for removing the hairs. Of the slaters which live about houses and roll themselves into balls, dr. ij; of sandarach, dr. iv; of quicklime, dr. viij; of old vinegar, one cyathus; of the lixivial ashes of figs, one cyathus; boil in a pot, and use in the bath.—Another, simple and devoid of smell: Of quicklime, one sextarius; of sandarach, oz. j; boil as aforesaid, and use. But the subject of depilatories is treated of along with the Diseases of the Eye.
Commentary. Depilatories have always been made of similar ingredients to those which enter into our author’s prescriptions, that is to say, arsenic and quicklime have generally entered into the composition of them. The following is one from Baptista Porta: “Constat vivæ calcis partibus quatuor, redactis in pulveris modum, auripigmenti singulari, et decoque.” (Mag. Nat. ix, 4.)
It appears from many passages in the Roman Satirists that the practice of applying depilatories to the obscene parts was common in ancient times. Persius says:
“Tu cum maxillis balanatum gausape pectis,
Inguinibus quarè detonsus gurgulio extet?”