There are also some resembling warts, which have different names, as they are different disorders. The Greeks call that an acrochordon[ FF ], where a substance pretty hard is collected within the skin, which sometimes is rough, and of the same colour with the adjacent parts; near the skin it is narrow, and broader above. This is small, rarely exceeding the size of a bean. They are hardly found to grow single; generally a number together, and chiefly in children. They sometimes suddenly disappear, sometimes they excite a moderate inflammation. Some are also converted into pus.
That is called acrothymium[ FG ], which rises like a small wart above the flesh, broader at the skin, smaller above, hardish and very rough upon the top, where in colour it resembles thyme, whence it has its name; and it is easily divided there, and made bloody; sometimes it discharges some blood; and is generally about the bigness of an Egyptian bean, seldom larger, sometimes very small. Sometimes only one, at other times more grow in the palms of the hands, and soles of the feet; they are worst in the private parts, and aptest to bleed there.
Those called myrmecia[ FH ] are lower and harder than an acrothymium, fix their roots deeper, and occasion a greater pain; below they are broad, and above small, and less blood comes from them: in size they scarce ever exceed a lupine. These likewise grow either in the palms of the hands, or lower parts of the feet.
The clavus grows elsewhere sometimes, but chiefly in the feet, and principally form a contusion, though sometimes from other causes; and it gives pain, if not at other times, at least when one is walking.
Of these the acrochordon, and the acrothymium often terminate of themselves, and the more readily, the less they are. Myrmecia and clavi are scarce ever removed without medicine. If the acrochordon be cut off, it leaves no root, and for reason does not grow again. When the acrothymium and clavus are cut off, a small roundish root grows, which descends deep into the flesh, and that being left, they sprout up again. The myrmecia adhere by very broad roots, and therefore cannot be taken off without a great ulceration. It is very proper to pare the clavus now and then: for thus without any violence it grows soft: but if a little blood be let out, it often dies away. It is also removed, if one cleans it round, and then applies to it resin mixed with a little of the powder of a milstone. But the other kinds are to be eaten away by medicines. For the two first, that which is made from the lees of wine; for the myrmecia the most proper is that, which consists of alum and sandarach. But the contiguous parts ought to be covered with leaves, lest they also be corroded; and after that a lentil must be applied. A fig also boiled in water destroys an acrothymium.
Of pustules.
Pustules break out chiefly in the spring season. Of these there are several kinds. For sometimes there is a certain asperity over the whole body, or a part, resembling those pustules, which are occasioned by a nettle, or from sweat; the Greeks call them exanthemata[ FI ]. And they are sometimes red, at other times of the same colour with the skin. Sometimes a great many grow resembling vari, sometimes larger. The pustules are livid or pale, or black, or otherwise different from the natural colour; and there is a humour contained in them. When they are broke, the flesh below appears as it were ulcerated. By the Greeks they are called phlyctænæ helcodes[ FJ ]. They arise either from cold, or from fire, or from medicines.
The phlyzacium[ FK ] is a pustule somewhat harder, of a whitish colour, and sharp pointed. What is squeezed from it is moist. The pustules sometimes turn to small ulcers, either dry or moist; and sometimes attended only with an itching, at other times with an inflammation and pain: pus or sanies issues from them, or both. And this occurs in children chiefly; seldom in the trunk of the body; often in the extremities.
The worst kind of pustule is that, which is called epinyctis[ FL ]. Its colour either inclines to livid, or is a dark brown, or white. There is a violent inflammation round it; and when it is opened, a mucous ulceration is found within, in colour resembling its humour. The pain of this is greater than in proportion to its bulk; for it is not larger than a bean. And this likewise grows in the extremities, and generally in the night-time: whence the Greeks have given it the name of epinyctis.