Commentary. The Arabians mention various things which were supposed to be possessed of the property of making hairs grow; such as turpentine, spikenard, thapsia, &c.
SECT. XIV.—FOR EXCORIATIONS.
For excoriated surfaces and superficial ulcers, at first use astringents, such as wine, or vinegar and brine, and afterwards such plasters as contain fat and promote cicatrization, and the most delicate of the white plasters. This is particularly applicable: of ceruse, p. j; of ammoniac, p. ss; of myrtle-oil, q. s; having triturated the ammoniac in water, mix the ceruse, adding the myrtle-oil, and use in an oily state: or, mix the squama æris with gypsum, and having triturated with myrtle-oil, use: or, having triturated Cimolian earth and litharge with wine, and the oleum ricini, or myrtle-oil, use.
For excoriations, intertrigo, chronic ulcers, and old and tender skin. Of golden-coloured litharge, dr. lx; of wax, dr. xx; of dried pitch rosin, dr. xij; of oil, iss cyathus: having boiled the litharge and the oil, add the other things, and having agitated it with a spatula, or softened it in a mortar, use. Skin which has been torn away, ought not to be cut from the sores, but it ought to be laid on, and the medicine applied; for thus they coalesce, even if it is black. When stripped of the skin, the cicatrization is difficult, the ulcer being irritated and rendered foul. Excoriated parts are preserved from inflammation by the application of red sumach, triturated with honey, or with the hair of sweet flag burnt and applied with honey.
An anodyne for excoriations, sores from stripes, and contusions of the joints. Of litharge, of ceruse, of each, oz. j; of wax, oz. vj; of pure oil or rose-oil, lb. iss; of starch, oz. ij. The composition called pelarium, from the dross of silver, produces the same effects, and that from eggs in like manner.
Commentary. See Oribasius (Morb. Curat. iii, 18); Aëtius (xiv, 66, 67); Scribonius Largus (88); Marcellus (De Med.); Avicenna (iv, 4, 2, 9); Haly Abbas (Pract. iv, 10); Rhases (ad Mansor. vi, 18.)
Our author copies closely from Oribasius.
Aëtius recommends as a good application for intertrigo occasioned by the friction of shoes, the warm liver of a pig or lamb, or unwashed wool. Here he follows Dioscorides (ii, 37.) He also makes mention of several cooling applications, containing ceruse, litharge, the dross of lead, &c.
Scribonius Largus recommends an ointment containing litharge, ceruse, the flour of frankincense, alum, axunge, old austere wine, roses, and sour oil.
Marcellus also recommends litharge for intertrigo.