Commentary. It will be remarked that the milder applications mentioned in this section are all powerful desiccants and astringents. Most of them are mentioned by Dioscorides as possessing these properties.
Galen recommends the compound applications mentioned by our author, containing verdigris, squama æris, &c.
For these spreading and putrid sores Aëtius, among other prescriptions, gives one which would no doubt be applicable in the worst cases: “Of crude misy, of crude chalcitis, ā dr. viij; of ochre, dr. iij; of sandarach, dr. iv; of quicklime, dr. ij; of the scales of copper, of alum, ā dr. ij; of diphryges dr. iij; m.” These caustic and escharotic medicines enter into the composition of many of his applications. Some of them contain astringents and desiccants, such as sumach, galls, alum, fossil salts, frankincense, calamine, birthwort, pomegranate rind, &c. In short the ingredients in his applications correspond with Celsus’s list of corrosive substances: Rodunt, alumen liquidum, sed magis rotundum, ærugo, chalcitis, misy, squama æris, sed magis rubri, æs combustum, sandaracha, galla, thus, auripigmentum, calx, nitrum et spuma ejus, alcyonium, resina, squama ferri, atrumentum sutorium, veratrum, &c.
The other authorities give only combinations of these substances; for a full account of which preparations we refer the reader to Galen. (Med. sec. gen. iv.)
Octavius Horatianus recommends lentils boiled and mixed with honey; the leaves of cabbage, coriander, or ivy, all mixed with honey.
The Arabians, although they supply nothing new, add their authority in confirmation of the remedial virtues which the Greeks assigned to the substances mentioned above. Avicenna and Rhases recommend arsenic, copperas, misy, sori, chalcitis, flos æris, quicklime, alum, galls, ammoniac, the trochisk of Andron, &c. When a part becomes black and putrid, Haly Abbas directs us to open a vein leading to it, if the age and state of the patient permit, and afterwards to apply odoriferous things, such as camphor, &c.
SECT. XLV.—ON ULCERS REQUIRING CICATRIZATION.
By drying and constringing the flesh of ulcers requiring cicatrization to such a degree as not only to dissipate the preternatural superfluity, but also to touch upon that which is in its natural state, we may render the surface of the sore like skin, and make the ulcer cicatrize. This is promoted by immature galls, the moderately desiccant bark of pomegranate, and whatever else is desiccant without being possessed of pungent astringency. And such things as these promote cicatrization: myrrh, litharge, and oysters if burnt, for they must be sprinkled on the sore dry. And these things often produce cicatrization: pine bark with myrtle cerate, ivy flowers with cerate, the root of the lily with rose-oil, dried pine-rosin, burnt pumice stone, the flakes of copper; they are to be used in equal proportions dry. The following also repress: mix a small quantity of manna and of diphryges with levigated pumice, and use; or of litharge p. j; of diphryges p. ss, apply on a pledget with cerate. Birdlime with frankincense cicatrizes old ulcers, also verdigris with an equal portion of diphryges and with myrtle cerate, or the small centaury applied fresh. To the more humid apply the root of cypress. To those about the anus and pudendum, more particularly if inflamed, use levigated aloes, either in a dry state or with water, or squama æris; or soften chrysocolla in the sun with wax, and apply.
A dry application for producing cicatrization. Of oysters, dr. xij; of manna, dr. vj; of calamine, dr. iv. It applies also to spreading sores.—Another: Of birthwort, dr. vj; of pine bark, dr. vj; of manna, dr. vj; of pumice, dr. iv; of Colophonian rosin, dr. iv; of iris, dr. iv.—Another: Of hart’s horn burnt, dr. iv; of pine-bark, oz. vj: of ceruse, oz. iv; of scraped verdigris, oz. ix; of calamine, dr. xviij.—Another: Of the flowers of pomegranate, of copperas, of each, dr. xvj; of squama æris, of fissile alum, of each dr. viij; of galls, dr. j.—Another: Of ceruse, of litharge, of each, oz. viij; of the dross of lead, of galls, of dried myrrh, of each, dr. iv.