A condyloma is a tubercle, which commonly proceeds from some inflammation. When it appears, the directions must be observed, which were just now given, with regard to rest, meat, and drink. It is proper to foment this tubercle with eggs, as in the other case. But the patient should first sit down in a decoction of repellent vervains in water; then it is fit to apply lentils with a small proportion of honey, mellilot boiled with wine, and bramble leaves bruised with cerate made of rose oil; and with the same cerate either a quince bruised, or the inner part of pomegranate bark boiled in wine; and chalcitis burnt, and powdered, then mixed with œsypum and rose oil; and some of that composition, which contains of frankincense p. i. *. scissile alum p. ii. *. ceruss p. iii. *. litharge p. v. *. to these, while they are powdered, is instilled alternately oil of roses and wine. The bandage for that part is a square piece of linen or woollen cloth, which at two of its corners has two loops, and at the other as many fillets; and when it is put under the patient, the loops being turned toward the belly, the two fillets from behind are put through them, and when drawn tight, the right one must be extended to the left, and that on the left to the right, and lastly both being brought round are tied in a knot over the belly. But if the condyloma be inveterate, and is grown hard, and does not give way to these methods, it may be cauterized by a medicine, which consists of the following ingredients; of verdigrease p. ii. *. myrrh p. iv. *. gum p. viii. *. frankincense p. xii. *. antimony, poppy tears, acacia, each p. xvi. *. with which medicine some chuse to renew those ulcers of which I was lately treating. If this has no effect upon the condyloma, even stronger caustics may be used. When the tumour is consumed, we must change to the mild applications.
Of the hemorrhoids.
The third disease of the anus is when the orifices of the hemorrhoidal veins grow turgid, and shoot out something like small heads, which often discharge blood; the Greeks call them the hæmorrhoides[ GN ]. And this frequently happens to women in the mouth of the womb. And it is not safe to stop it in some people, who are not weakened by the discharge of blood: for this serves for a drain, and is not a disease. And therefore some that have been cured, as the blood had no exit, have been seized with sudden and very dangerous distempers, from the matter settling upon the præcordia and bowels. But a man that feels bad effects from this discharge, ought to sit down in a decoction of vervains; and to apply principally pomegranate bark powdered, with dry rose leaves; and some of those things, which stop blood. An inflammation sometimes comes on, especially when hard excrements hurt the part. Then the patient must sit down in pure water, and foment the part with eggs, and apply the yolks with rose leaves beat up with passum; and if the disorder be within, this must be put to it with the finger; if without, it must be applied spread upon a cloth. Those medicines too, which are calculated for recent fissures, are suitable here. And the same diet must be used in this, as in the former cases. If these methods give but little relief, it is usual by the application of caustic medicines to consume these small heads. But if they be inveterate, by the direction of Dionysius, sandarach is to be sprinkled upon them; after that the following composition must be applied: of copper scales, orpiment, each p. v. *. stone lime p. viii. *. the next day, they must be punctured with a needle. By cauterizing these small heads a cicatrix is formed[(19)], which prevents the effusion of blood. But whenever this is stopped, to avoid any dangerous consequence from the suppression, the matter must be dissipated by much exercise; and besides both men, and such women, whose menstrual discharge is stopped, ought sometimes to be bled in the arm.
Of a prolapsus of the anus or womb.
But if the anus itself, or the mouth of the womb fall down (for that sometimes happens) it ought to be considered whether the part, which is protruded, be clean, or covered with a mucous humour. If it be clean, the patient ought to sit down in salt water, or a decoction of vervains or of pomegranate bark in water: but if moist, it must be washed with a rough wine, and rubbed with burnt lees of wine. When it has been treated in either way, it must be replaced; and an application made of bruised plantain, or willow leaves boiled in vinegar; over that, linen and wool: these must be tied on, and the legs bound close together.
Of a fungous ulcer.
There sometimes appears an ulcer in the same part resembling a mushroom. This, if it be the winter-time, must be fomented with water just warm; if any other season, with cold; afterwards it must be sprinkled on copper scales, and over that cerate applied made of myrtle oil, with the addition of a little scales, soot, and lime. If it is not removed in this method, it must be consumed either by stronger medicines[(20)] or the actual cautery.
CHAP. XIX. OF ULCERS IN THE FINGERS.
The best cure for ulcers of long standing in the fingers is either lycium or lees of oil boiled; to either of which wine is added. A caruncle here also sometimes recedes from the nails with great pain; the Greeks call it pterygion[ GO ]. It is proper to dissolve as much round Melian alum in water, as to make it of the consistence of honey; then to pour into it the same quantity of honey as there was of alum, and to stir it with a spatula, till it becomes of a saffron colour, and rub that over it; some people for the same purpose chuse to mix equal quantities of dry alum and honey, and boil them together to the due consistence. If they are not extirpated by this method, they must be cut off; then the fingers must be fomented with a decoction of vervains, and a medicine applied over them compounded thus; chalcitis, pomegranate bark, and copper scales are incorporated with a mellow fig gently boiled, and honey; or equal quantities of burnt paper, orpiment, and crude sulphur are mixed with cerate made of myrtle oil; or of rasile verdigrease p. i. *. copper scales p. ii. *. are brought to a consistence with a cyathus of honey; or equal parts of stone lime, chalcitis, and orpiment are mixed together. Which ever of these is applied, it must be covered with a linen cloth dipped in water. On the third day, the finger must be opened, and what is dry, must be cut away as before, and the like dressing applied. If it does not yield to this method, it must be cleansed with a knife, and burnt with small irons, and cured like other burns.