Ulcers on the pudenda and about the anus, when free from inflammation, require very desiccative applications, such as that from burnt paper, dried burnt dill, and burnt gourd. For humid and recent ulcers, aloes is a good application, when sprinkled on them dry in a fine powder. But the medicine which gives least pain, and is as efficacious as any other, is pompholyx. If the ulcers are more humid, the bark of the pine by itself and bloodstone are proper; but if the ulcers are also deep, manna must be mixed with them; and if the ulcer be spreading, we must apply a cataplasm of dried lentil with pomegranate-rind, and use the plaster called Coracum from oxymel, the trochisk called Bithynus, and that from paper. Fissures in the privy parts and anus are remedied by roasted rosin (colophony?) rubbed with rose-oil, so as to become of the consistence of bath-sordes, and having the yelk of an egg and opium mixed; or the ashes of the dried leaves of ivy burnt, when pounded with rose-oil in a leaden mortar, may be applied. And the trochisk from wine and oil and that from Phrygian stone are excellent applications for fissures and foul ulcers about the corona glandis, more especially when the prepuce cannot be drawn back.—Another simple application, which also blunts acrimony: Of cadmia burnt and washed, oz. ij; of the rose-leaves stripped of their nails (i. e. the white parts of the leaves), oz. vj; sprinkle it dry, having first wiped the part with wine.—The following is an application for condylomata: Of chalcitis, of uncleansed wool, of cerate, of hart’s marrow, of bramble-leaves, equal parts, with cerate; and that from wine and oil in like manner. But if a concealed ulcer is found on the penis within its opening (the urethra), which is discovered from pus or blood being evacuated without urine, it may be cured by first washing it with honey diluted with much water, and then with milk, and then mixing with the milk the collyrium of aster; or the white trochisk, or that from lotus is to be put into a leaden mortar, and the parts anointed, by dipping a feather in it; and then a small twisted tent of scraped linen may be anointed with it and applied. A most excellent application is the one containing of galls, of pompholyx, of starch, and of aloes, equal parts, triturated with rose-oil and the juice of plantain.
For pains of the privy parts. Apply equal parts of butter and of rosin, both properly melted; or apply equal parts of myrrh and of roasted rosin (colophony or fiddlers’ rosin?) triturated with the juice of the plantain.
For swelling of the penis. Of tender vine-leaves, dr. j; of ceruse, dr. v; triturate and apply; bathe with cold sea-water; enjoin rest; and apply bandages to the penis. The lixivial ashes of vine-twigs applied with vinegar cure thymous tumours of the penis, and do not permit them to increase again; and so in like manner the ashes of the burnt bark of willows. In general the thymus, myrmecia, and acrochordon will be eradicated by strongly corrosive applications, and become dead when treated with septics. But, in particular, elaterium when applied with salts is useful, also unripe figs with vinegar, nitre, and flour, and the juice of the fig when rubbed in; the burnt head of an anchovy pickled, verdigris calcined with native sulphur, the juice of tithymallus (spurge?) when rubbed in, the leaves of basil with copperas, or the fruit of the large sunflower applied with wine.
For inflammation of the anus. Of ceruse, oz. iv; of pompholyx, oz. j; or of soft cadmia, of frankincense, oz. j; of the juice of endive, one hemina; mix, adding the juice by degrees until it be all consumed, and then having made a cerate of two ounces of wax, and one pound of rose-oil, mix; and having shaved the part, soften with this strongly. Inject by an instrument for extricating pus, and apply a bandage above. It is of use for inflammatory fissures, and ulcers of the anus attended with heat or pruritus.
For erysipelas about the anus. Of diachylon plaster, lb. j; of rose-oil, q. s; of pure bread, lb. j; of saffron, oz. j; of opium, oz. j. The saffron and opium are macerated in must, and the bread in water; then, when they are pounded, the diachylon and rose-oil are put into them and allowed to soften. It is also applicable to gout attended with the greatest heat.—Another, applicable also to inflammation of the anus: Triturate ceruse with wine and rose-oil in a leaden mortar with a leaden pestle, anoint with it; or, having triturated ceruse, the white of an egg, and rose-oil in the same mortar until it become of the consistence of bath-sordes, anoint with it.
For acute pain of the anus. Of the tender leaves of henbane, of the tender leaves of purslain, of crumbs of bread soaked in wine, of the yelks of roasted eggs, equal parts; of rose-oil, q. s. After fomenting the part with the decoction of roses and melilots, apply this cataplasm.
An excellent application for inflammation of the anus, and, excrescences thereof. Of ceruse, of litharge, of ammoniac perfume, of bdellium, of each, scr. vj; of turpentine, oz. j; of wax, oz. ss; triturate the powders with the juice of nightshade, of henbane, or of purslain; and having mixed the soluble articles, take, and having softened them with rose-oil, use. And the composition called Phicotyche, and that from plumbago, are excellent applications for inflammations of the fundament. And the trochisks from lotus, from winter-cherry, and that from roses are esteemed applications for the anus and privy parts.
For excrescences of the anus. When these excrescences are inflamed, we must use the general applications already mentioned, and in particular the following trochisk: Of ceruse, oz. iij; of pompholyx, oz. j; of litharge, oz. ij; of mastich, scr. iij, add to the juice of henbane. When they are free from inflammation, sprinkle the ashes of burnt cypress balls, having first washed the parts with wine, or the ashes of the burnt peel of dried gourd, or of the bones of dates in like manner, or the ashes of eggshells and of fennel; or having mixed the juice of pomegranate leaves with an equal portion of white wine, wash with it for seven days. For callous excrescences: Triturate quicklime and arsenic with strong vinegar. It will answer well if you anoint with it in the sun.
On hemorrhoids or piles. When piles discharge more than is proper, the consequence is, that the system is reduced to a watery state, and they lose their appetite. There is risk both from the hemorrhage becoming too profuse, and from its being altogether suppressed; and therefore the treatment is attended with difficulty. Wherefore, when the piles are numerous, one ought always to be left for the sake of purging the system. Some also are seated high up and do not make their appearance, which renders them difficult to be cured. Blind piles discharge nothing, but are on that account more painful than the others. On them, therefore, rub the juice of sow-bread, which will open them. For immoderate discharges, take of the Egyptian thorn, of the leaves of the elder, of mugwort, of each, oz. v; boil in eight heminæ of water to one-half, and add of ironwort oz. iv. The herbs are then to be thrown away, and to the decoction the following things are to be added in powder: Of melanteria, of round alum, of each, dr. viij; of litharge, dr. iv; of galls, oz. iij; of misy, dr. ij; of endive, dr. ij. Dissolve this powder in the decoction, and bathe with it seven times in the day; but on the following day bathe with an equal quantity of another preparation of the same kind, and on the third in like manner. If any part of them remain on the fourth day, pierce it with a needle, and if it has any feeling, or bleeds, prepare a decoction like the former, but add only one-half of the powder; but when you have washed until it touch with the powder, that they may be properly burnt. For the inflammation apply a bread-poultice.—Another: Having soaked pure bread in primary sauce, and haring burnt it in a new pot, triturate, and apply it, having first bathed with wine. It is applicable also to excrescences.—Another: Of endive, dr. ij; of chalcitis, dr. j; of misy, dr. j; of copperas, dr. iij; of fissile alum, dr. ix; of burnt copper, dr. j; of melanteria, dr. j; use in a powder. The food for those who have immoderate discharges should be such as forms but little blood, and is not excrementitious, of a desiccant and astringent nature, such as chondrus soaked in oxycrate, rice, and halica, and of pot-herbs, intybus, succory, and purslain, and of wines such as are astringent. For blind piles, food of an opposite description is proper, but particularly the fish called calamary, the cuttle-fish, polypus, the torpedo, and the cartilaginous fishes; for these things raise a tumult in the blood. Emmenagogues are also proper remedies in this case.