Celsus describes the exanthemata under the generic term pustulæ. His words are: “Earum plura genera sunt. Nam modo circa totum corpus partemve asperitudo quædam fit, similis iis pustulis, quæ ex urticâ, vel ex sudore nascuntur: ἐξανθήματα Græci vocant. Eæque modo rubent, modo colorem cutis non excedunt.” For pustules of all kinds he recommends exercise, restricted diet, and abstinence from all things of an acrid and attenuant nature, which regimen is likewise to be enforced upon the nurse, if the child be at the breast. If the patient be strong, he is also to be put into the hot bath, and rubbed with natron and a mixture of wine and oil. If this treatment does not succeed lentils are to be applied, especially if the pustules be large; and after the outer skin has been removed they are to be treated with gentle applications. Such is the plan of cure recommended by the great Roman authority. His directions respecting the diet are particularly important, and appear to be quite in accordance with the practice of the modern physicians, who recommend the half-starving system in all such complaints.
For red exanthemata the Pseudo-Dioscorides recommends ceruse with oil of bays and sulphur, pure bark with wax, &c.
The exanthemata are described by the name of pustulæ parvæ in most of the translations of the Arabians. The exanthemata is, we think, the first species of Serie described by Haly Abbas.
For the opinions of Alsaharavius and Haly Abbas about the exanthemata of infancy, see [Book i, 6].
Dr. Willan thinks that the nettle-rash was comprehended under the term exanthemata. He is also of opinion that the benat noctis of Avicenna is the nettle-rash. It would appear, however, that the benat noctis was the same as the sera or epinyctis. See Rhases (Cont. xxxvi, 2). The symptoms of it are said to be itching, roughness of the skin, and small eruptions attacking the patient during the night.
Thucydides, Hippocrates, and Galen mention exanthemata as a common symptom of the plague.
We may take the present occasion to mention that none of the Greek or Latin authorities has given any distinct account of purpura. Avicenna has briefly described it in its chronic form. (iv, 3, 1, 8).
SECT. IX.—ON EPINYCTIDES.
Epinyctides are small ulcers breaking out spontaneously on the skin, in the form of bullæ, reddish, and when broken, discharging a bloody ichor. These are not very troublesome during the day, but at night, they are more painful than the smallness of the ulcer would bespeak. Wherefore, having dissolved the juice of laserwort in water, apply it; for it is desiccative without being pungent; or, having levigated hemlock, apply it; or crude cabbage with water, or triturate parsley with polenta, and apply; or, triturate the leaves of henbane with honey, and apply; or, strychnos by itself, and with the green coriander; or, use the leaves of olives boiled with water; or, having triturated raisins deprived of their stones, and spread them upon a splenium or oblong pledget, apply; or triturate maiden-hair with honey. They must avoid all acrid, acid, and saltish things, also fomentations, baths, and insolation.
Commentary. Celsus (v, 28); Aëtius (xiv, 61); Oribasius (Morb. Curat. iii, 54); Actuarius (Meth. Med. ii, 11; vi, 8); Pollux (Onomasticon iv, 24); Avicenna (iv, 3, 1, 13); Serapion (v, 8); Haly Abbas (Theor. viii, 17); Pract. (iv, 8); Rhases (Divis. i, 122.)