A cicatrizing application. Take of fissile alum, oz. j; and having levigated it, macerate in a sextarius of water: when dissolved in the water soak pledgets in it, and having dried them apply.
A plaster for cicatrizing the more simple ulcers. Of wax, dr. xl; of litharge, dr. xxxv; of diphryges, dr. viij; of myrtle-oil, half a hemina. The plaster called phœnicinum, that from calamine, the myrsinatum, and the like, are also applicable in such cases. For ulcers of difficult cicatrization: Of wax, of myrtle-oil, of each, dr. vj; of calamine, oz. vj; of lead, of frankincense, of each, dr. ij; of fissile alum, of burnt copper, of each, oz. j; of scraped verdigris, dr. ij; dissolve them singly. For chronic ulcers, and such as are of difficult cicatrization: Of calamine, dr. viij; of chrysocolla, dr. viij; of fissile alum, dr. viij; of verdigris, of the flakes of copper, of each, dr. j; of pine-rosin, dr. xl; of wax, dr. c; of myrtle-oil, q. s.—Another: Of wax, of pine-rosin, of each, oz. vj; of calamine, oz. vj; of crude chalcitis, oz. iij; of myrtle-oil, q. s. The calamine and the chalcitis are to be triturated with wine during the season of the dog-star; use it upon a broad compress, and apply above it a pledget and sponge out of wine.—Another: Of burnt copper, oz. ij; of fissile alum, oz. ij; of sal ammoniac, dr. ij; of wax, oz. vj; of Colophonian rosin, oz. vj; of myrtle-oil, oz. ij; the dry things are to be triturated in the vinegar in the sun for twenty days, and when it becomes of the consistence of honey, having melted the wax, mix it and soften. The medicine from pumice-stone, the isis, and the like, are also applicable in such cases.
Commentary. Celsus gives the following list of the more active articles of this class: Crustas ulceribus tanquam igne adustis inducunt, præcipue, chalcitis, utique si cocta est, flos æris, ærugo, auripigmentum, misy, et id quoque magis coctum.
For a variety of applications suitable to this class of ulcers, we refer the reader to Galen’s 4th book of ‘De Med. sec. gen.’ The ingredients of them are powerfully desiccative, astringent, and escharotic. Many of our author’s prescriptions will be recognized in it. For an account of the isis, and the other compound medicines mentioned towards the end of this section, we refer the reader to Galen (l. c.) and to the [Seventh Book] of this work. Galen, in another place, and after him Aëtius, give the following important directions for the use of these applications. The ulcers to which this mode of treatment is applicable, being very foul and filled with a vitiated discharge, are first to be wiped clean with a soft linen cloth, and then the cavity of them is to be filled with the medicine, and a splenium (oblong compress) applied externally. Then having put a piece of linen above the splenium and bound it on, we are to place over it a sponge squeezed out of cold water or wine, endeavouring to keep the sponge cold during the whole time of the treatment, which may easily be done by pouring cold water upon it without loosing the bandages. They are not be removed until the third day. Galen states that the articles which answer best in such applications are galls, pomegranate-rind, alum, chalcitis, misy, and the like.
A similar mode of treatment, without any material alteration, is described by the Arabians. Haly Abbas remarks, that cicatrizing medicines are powerfully desiccative with some astringency, such as galls, alum, and the like.
SECT. XLVI.—ON THE MALIGNANT ULCERS CALLED CHIRONIAN AND TELEPHIAN.
Old ulcers which are difficult to get cicatrized are called chironian, as if requiring Chiron himself to cure them; and telephian, from Telephus having long laboured under such a sore. We must attend then whether the whole body being in a state of cacochymy, sends such defluxions to the ulcer, and the prevailing humour is to be evacuated by appropriate remedies. Or if it is a varix which sends these humours to the legs, the ulcer being in it, it is to be cured as will be described in the Surgical part of this work; or the humours are to be evacuated by venesection, taking away blood frequently, and then using topical applications which have the property of extirpating the disease without being pungent. These therefore are simple applications; those from pumice and diphryges, and flakes of copper, verdigris, and lime moderately washed; sprinkle fissile alum levigated, or of unwashed wool, dr. iv; of dried grapes, dr. iv; of natron, dr. ij; having previously anointed with honey, sprinkle of flakes of copper, dr. x; of alum, dr. ij; and having softened in the sun with dr. x of wax, apply.
These are compound medicines. A plaster for chironia. Of ceruse, oz. viij; of fissile alum, oz. ij; of the flakes of copper, dr. ij; of sal ammoniac, of frankincense, of scraped verdigris, of pomegranate rind, of each, oz. ij; of quicklime, oz. j; of wax, lb. j; of myrtle-oil, lb. j. ss; triturate the dry things with wine. At first it removes callus; and it is laid by and kept, and at last when used, being softened with myrtle-oil, it cicatrizes.—Another: Of litharge, lb. j; of oil, lb. ij; of black chamæleon, of the roots of birthwort, of immature galls, of each, oz. j; of galbanum, of ammoniac perfume, of frankincense, of each, oz. ij; prepare, stirring with the roots of green reeds.
From Archigenes, for chironia, and malignant ulcers in the legs and breast, for struma, and parotis. Of the fat of an ox lb. iij; of turpentine, oz. v; of manna, oz. vij: of the earth called sarda which painters use, oz. v: having put the soluble and dry articles together and melted, use.—Another, of Archigenes: Of wax, oz. iv; of oil of unripe olives, of manna of frankincense, of diphryges, of the flakes of copper, of each, dr. iv; having triturated the powder with vinegar, and made of the thickness of honey, mix with the cerate, and use upon a pledget.—Another, for the malignant ulcers of women, and of other persons having a soft skin: Of Tuscan wax, dr. viij; of bulls’ fat, of turpentine, of burnt lead, and of pepper, of each, dr. j; use on a pledget with rose-oil or myrtle-oil.