If there is also foul ulceration, it is better to wash out with honey wine, and then pour in some one of the compositions described above which contain honey. If there is a great discharge of pus the head is to be shaved, and hot water poured freely over it, also the patient should gargle with the same, walk until tired, and take food sparingly. If there is bleeding from the ulcerations, boxthorn juice should be poured in mixed with milk, or with water in which rose leaves have been boiled, with polygonum juice or that of acacia added. If flesh has formed over the ulcerations and there is a malodorous discharge, the ear should be washed out with tepid water, then that composition poured in which contains frankincense, verdigris, vinegar and honey; or honey boiled with verdigris. Copper scales also pounded up with sandarach may be instilled through a tube with advantage.
Quod si et sanies profluit et tumor est, non alienum est mixto uino per oricularium clysterem eluere, et tum infundere uinum austerum cum rosa mixtum, cui spodi paulum sit adiectum, aut Lucium cum lacte aut herbae sanguinalis sucum cum rosa aut mali Punici sucum cum exigua murrae parte. ⟨Si⟩ sordida quoque ulcera sunt, melius mulso eluuntur, et tum aliquid ex is, quae supra scripta sunt, quod mel habeat, infunditur. Si magis pus profluit, et caput utique tondendum est et multa calida aqua perfundendum, ⟨et gargarizandum,⟩ et usque ad lassitudinem ambulandum, et cibo modico utendum est. Si cruor quoque ex ulceribus apparuit, Lycium cum lacte debet infundi, uel aqua, in qua rosa decocta sit, suco aut herbae sanguinalis aut acaciae adiecto. Quod si super ulcera caro increuit, eaque mali odoris saniem fundit, aqua tepida elui debet, tum infundi id, quod ex ture et aerugine et ⟨aceto et⟩ melle fit, aut mel cum aerugine incoctum.
When maggots have appeared, if they are near the surface, they must be extracted by an ear scoop; if further in they must be killed by medicaments, and afterwards care taken that they do not breed. White veratrum pounded up in vinegar serves for both these purposes. The ear should also be washed out with a decoction of horehound in wine. By this procedure dead maggots will be driven forwards into the outer part of the ear, whence they can be readily withdrawn.
Squama quoque aeris cum sandaraca contrita per fistulam recte instillatur. Vbi uero uermes orti sunt, si iuxta sunt, protrahendi oriculario specillo sunt; si longius, medicamentis enecandi, cauendumque ne postea nascantur. Ad utrumque proficit album ueratrum cum aceto contritum. Elui quoque aurem oportet uino, in quo marrubium decoctum sit.
But if the ear-passage has been narrowed and thick matter collects within, honey of the best ought to be introduced. If this does not help, there must be added to 65 cc. of honey 8 grams of verdigris scrapings; they must be boiled together and so used. Iris root with honey has the same efficacy. So also has galbanum 8 grams, myrrh and ox bile 1.33 grams each, and of wine a sufficient quantity to dissolve the myrrh.
Emortu⟨i su⟩b his uermes in primam partem auris prouocabuntur, unde educi facillime possunt. Sin foramen auris conpressum est, et intus crassa sanies subest, mel quam optimum addendum est. Si id parum proficit, mellis cyatho et dimidio aeruginis rasae P. #1108 II adiciendum est incoquendumque, et eo utendum. Iris quoque cum melle idem proficit.
When a man is becoming dull of hearing, which happens most often after prolonged headaches, in the first place, the ear itself should be inspected: for there will be found either a crust such as comes upon the surface of ulcerations, or concretions of wax. If a crust, hot oil is poured in, or verdigris mixed with honey or leek juice or a little soda in honey wine. And when the crust has been separated from the ulceration, the ear is irrigated with tepid water, to make it easier for the crusts now disengaged to be withdrawn by the ear scoop. If it be wax, and if it be soft, it can be extracted in the same way by the ear scoop; but if hard, vinegar containing a little soda is introduced; and when the wax has softened, the ear is washed out and cleared as above. When the heaviness of the head persists it should be shaved; the head rubbed over gently and for some time with castoreum to which either iris or laurel oil has been added with either of which a little vinegar has been mixed; then the patient must take a long walk, and after the rubbing his head is to be fomented with hot water. And the food should be of the lightest and of the middle class, and the drinks especially diluted; he should occasionally gargle. Further, the ear should be syringed with castoreum mixed with vinegar and laurel oil and the juice of young radish rind, or with cucumber juice, mixed with crushed rose leaves. The dropping in of the juice of unripe grapes mixed with rose oil is also fairly efficacious against deafness.
Item galbani P. #1108 II, murrae et fellis taurini, singulorum P. #1108 #1109 #1109, uini quantum satis est ad murram diluendam. Vbi uero grauius aliquis audire coepit, quod maxime post longos capitis dolores euenire consueuit, in primis aurem ipsam considerare oportet: apparebit enim aut crusta, qualis super ulcera innascitur, aut sordium coitus. Si crusta est, infundendum est oleum calidum, aut cum melle aerugo uel porri sucus, aut cum mulso nitri paulum. Atque ubi crusta a corpore iam recedit, eluenda auris aqua tepida est, quo facilius ea per se diducta oriculario specillo protrahatur. Si sordes ⟨h⟩aeque molles sunt, eodem specillo eximendae sunt: at si durae sunt, acetum et cum eo nitri paulum coiciendum est; cumque emollitae sunt, eodem modo elui aurem purgarique oportet. Quod si capitis grauitas manet, attondendum; idem leniter * sed diu perfricandum est, adiecto uel irino uel laureo oleo, sic ⟨ut⟩ utrilibet paulum aceti misceatur; tum diu ambulandum, leniterque post unctionem aqua calida caput fouendum. Cibisque utendum ex inbecillissima et media materia, magisque adsumendae dilutae potiones; nonnumquam gargarizandum est. Infundendum autem in aurem ⟨castoreum⟩ cum aceto et laureo oleo ⟨et⟩ suco radic⟨ul⟩ae corticis, aut cucumeris agrestis sucus additis contritis rosae foliis.
Another class of lesion is that in which the ears produce a ringing noise within themselves: and this also prevents them from perceiving sounds from without. This is least serious when due to cold in the head; worse when occasioned by diseases or prolonged pains of the head; worst of all when it precedes the onset of serious maladies, and especially epilepsy.
Inmaturae quoque uuae sucus cum rosa instillatus aduersus surditatem satis proficit. Aliud uiti genus est, ubi aures intra se ipsas sonant; atque hoc quoque fit, ne externum sonum accipiant. Leuissimum est, ubi id ex grauidine est; peius, ubi ex morbis capitisue longis doloribus incidit;
If it is due to a cold, the ear should be cleaned and the breath held until some humour froths out from it. If it arises from disease and pain in the head, the prescriptions as to exercise, rubbing, affusion and gargling should be carried out. Only foods that make thin are to be used. Into the ear radish juice should be dropped with oil of roses or with the juice of wild cucumber root; or castoreum with vinegar and laurel oil. Also veratrum is pounded up for this purpose in vinegar, then mixed with boiled honey, and a slave made of it and introduced into the ear.
pessimum, ubi magnis morbis uenientibus maximeque comitiali praeuenit. Si ex grauidine est, purgare aurem oportet et spiritum continere, donec inde umor aliquis ex⟨spu⟩met. Si ex morbo uel capitis dolore, quod ad exercitationem, frictionem, perfusionem gargarizationemque pertinet, eadem facienda sunt. Cibis non utendum nisi extenuantibus. In aurem dandus radiculae sucus cum rosa uel cum suco radicis ex cucumere agresti; uel castoreum cum aceto et laureo oleo;
If the noise begins without these reasons and so causes dread of some new danger, there should be inserted into the ear castoreum in vinegar or with either iris oil or laurel oil; or castoreum is mixed with this together with the juice of bitter almonds; or myrrh and soda with rose oil and vinegar But in this case also, there is more benefit from regulation of the diet, and the same is to be done as was prescribed above, with even greater care. And, besides, until the noise has ceased the patient must abstain from wine. But if there is at the same time both ringing and inflammation, laurel oil should be freely inserted, or the oil expressed from bitter almonds with which some mix myrrh or castoreum.
ueratrum quoque ⟨ad⟩ id ex aceto conteritur, deinde melle cocto excipitur, et inde collyrium factum in aurem demittitur. Si sine his coepit ideoque nouo metu terret, in aurem dare⟨i⟩ debet castoreum cum aceto uel irino aut laureo oleo; aut huic mixtum castoreum cum suco nucum amararum; aut murra et nitrum cum rosa et aceto. Plus tamen in hoc quoque proficit uictus ratio, eademque facienda sunt, quae supra conprehendi, cum maiore quoque diligentia; et praeterea, donec is sonus finiatur, a uino abstinendum. Quod si simul et sonus est et inflammatio, laureum oleum coniecisse abunde est, aut id, quod ex amaris nucibus exprimitur, quibus ⟨qui⟩dam uel castoreum uel murram miscent.
It happens also occasionally that something slips into the ear, such as a small stone, or some living thing. If a flea has got in, a little wool is introduced in which it becomes engaged and so is extracted. If it does not come out, or if it is some other creature, a probe is wrapped round with a little wool, soaked in very sticky resin, especially turpentine resin, which after being passed in the ear is there twisted round; for that will certainly catch it. If it is some inanimate object, it is to be withdrawn by an ear scoop or by a small blunt hook slightly bent. If these are ineffectual it is possible to extract it by means of resin as above. Also if a sneezing fit is induced, this easily moves it away or a forcible injection of water through an ear syringe. Again, a plank may be arranged, having its middle supported and the ends unsupported. Upon this the patient is tied down, with the affected ear downwards, so that the ear projects beyond the end of the plank. Then the end of the plank at the patient's feet is struck with a mallet, and the ear being so jarred what is within drops out.
Solet etiam interdum in aurem aliquid incidere, ut calculus aliquodue animal. Si pulex intus est, conpellendum eo lanae paulum est, quo ipse is subit et simul extrahitur. Si non est secutus aliudue animal est, specillum lana inuolutum in resina quam glutinosissim⟨a⟩ maximeque terebenthina demittendum, idque in aurem coiciendum ibique uertendum est: utique enim conprehendit [eximet]. Sin aliquid exanime est, specillo oriculario protrahendum est aut hamulo retuso paulum recuruato. Si ista nihil proficiunt, potest eodem modo resina protrahi. Sternumenta quoque admota id commode elidunt, aut oriculario clystere aqua uehementer intus conpulsa. Tabula quoque conlocatur, media inhaerens, capitibus utr⟨im⟩que pendentibus; superque eam homo deligatur in id latus uersus, cuius auris eo modo laborat, sic ut extra tabulam emineat. Tum malleo caput tabulae, quod a pedibus est, feritur; atque ita concussa aure id quod inest excidit.
8. 8 Now ulcerated nostrils should be fomented with steam from hot water; that is done either by applying a sponge after squeezing it ou, or by holding the nose over a narrow-mouthed vessel filled with hot water. After this fomentation the ulcerations should be smeared with lead slag, white lad or litharge; with any of these a kind of poultice is compounded, and to this, while it is being pounded up, wine and myrtle oil are added alternately, until it becomes of the consistency of honey. But if these ulcerations involve bone, and have numerous crusts with a foul odour, which kind the Greeks call ozaena, it ought to be understood that it is scarcely possible to afford relief in that disease. The following measures, none the less, can be tried: the head may be shaved to the scalp, rubbed frequently and vigorously, and sluiced with quantities of hot water; then the patient is to take a great deal of exercise, and a moderate amount of food, neither sour nor very nutritious. Further, into the nostril itself may be inserted honey to which a very small quantity of turpentine resin has been added (this is done on a probe wrapped round with wool), and this juice is drawn inwards by the breath until it can be tasted in the mouth. For in this way the crusts are loosened, and they should then be blown out by sneezing. The ulcerations having been cleaned are steamed over hot water; then there should be applied either boxthorn-juice diluted with wine or wine lees or omphacium or the juice of mint or horehound or blacking made glowing hot and then pounded, or the interior part of a squill crushed; provided that to any of these honey is added. The honey should be a very small part in all these mixtures, except with the blacking, when there should be just enough to make the mixture liquid, whilst with the squill certainly the honey should form the larger part; a probe should be wrapped round with wool, and dipped into this medicament, and with it the ulcers are filled. And further, a strip of linen is folded into a long roll, smeared with the same medicament, and inserted into the nostril, and is lightly bandaged on below. This should be done in winter and spring twice a day, in summer and autumn three times a day. Again, inside the nostrils there are sometimes formed little lumps like women's nipples, and these are fixed by their deepest and most fleshy parts. These should be treated by caustics, under which they are completely eaten away. A polypus, in fact, is a lump of this sort, sometimes white, sometimes reddish, which is attached to the bone of the nose, and fills the nostril, being directed sometimes towards the lips, sometimes backwards through that passage by which the breath goes from the nose to the throat. In this direction it may grow until it can be seen behind the uvula; it chokes the patient, especially when the south or east wind blows; generally it is soft, rarely hard, and the latter sort hinders breathing more and dilates the nose; it is then generally cancerous, and so should not be touched. But the other kind can generally be removed by the knife; sometimes, however, it dries up, if the following composition is inserted into the nostril on lint or on a feather: minium from Sinope, copper ore, lime, and sandarach 4 grams each, blacking 4 grams.
8. Nares uero exculceratas fouere oportet uapore aquae calidae. Id et spongia expressa atque admota fit et subiecto uase oris angusti calida aqua repleto. Post id fomentum inlinenda ulcera sunt ⟨a⟩ut plumbi recremento aut cerussa aut argenti spuma: cum quolibet horum * * aliquod conteri[t,] eique, dum teritur, in uicem uinum et oleum murteum adici[t,] donec †mellis crassitudinem fecerit. Sin autem ea ulcera circa os sunt pluresque crustas et odorem foedum habent, quod genus Graeci ozenam appellant, sciri quidem debet uix ei malo posse succurri. Nihilo minus tamen haec temptari possunt, ut caput ad cutem tondeatur adsidueque uehementer perfricetur, multa calida aqua perfundatur, multa ⟨dein⟩ ambulatio sit, cibus modicus, neque acer neque ualentissimus. Tum in narem ipsam mel cum exiguo modo resinae terebenthinae coiciatur (quod specillo quoque inuoluto lana fit) adtrahaturque spiritu ⟨i⟩s sucus, donec in ore gustus eius sentiatur. Sub his enim crustae resoluuntur, quae tum per sternumenta elidi debent. Puris ulceribus uapor aquae calidae subiciendus est; ⟨deinde adhibendum⟩ aut Lycium ex uino dilutum, aut amurca aut omphacium aut mentae aut marrubii sucus aut atramentum sutorium, ⟨quod⟩ concand⟨e⟩factum, deinde contritum sit; aut interior scillae pars contrita, sic ut horum cuilibet mel adiciatur. Cuius in ceteris admodum exigua pars esse debet; in atramento sutorio tanta, ut ea mixtura liquida fiat; cum scilla utique pars maior; inuoluendumque lana specillum est, et in eo medicamento tinguendum, eoque ulcera inplenda sunt. Rursusque lin⟨a⟩mentum inuolutum et oblongum eodem medicamento inlinendum demittendumque in narem est et ab inferiore parte leniter deligandum. Idque per hiemem et uer ⟨b⟩is die, per aestatem ⟨et⟩ autumnum ter die fieri debet. Interdum uero in naribus etiam carunculae quaedam similes muliebribus mammis nascuntur, eaeque imis partibus, quae carnosissimae sunt, inhaerent. Has curare oportet medicamentis adurentibus, sub quibus ex toto consumuntur. Polypus uero est caruncula, modo alba ⟨modo⟩ subrubra, quae narium ossi inhaeret, ac modo ad labra tendens narem implet, modo retro per id foramen, quo spiritus a naribus ad fauces descendit, adeo increscit, uti post uuam conspici possit; strangulatque hominem, maxime austro aut euro flante; fereque mollis est, raro dura, eaque magis spiritum impedit et nares dilatat; quae fere carcinodes est; itaque attingi non debet. Illud aliud genus fere quidem ferro curatur, interdum tamen inarescit, si addita in narem per lin⟨a⟩mentum aut penicillum ea compositio est, quae habet: mini Sinopici, chalcitidis, calcis, sandaracae, singulorum P. #1108 I; atramenti sutori P. #1108 II.
9. 9 Now in the case of pain in the teeth, which by itself also can be counted among the greatest of torments, wine must be entirely cut off. At first the patient must fast, then take sparingly of soft food, so as not to irritate the teeth when masticating; then externally steam from hot water is to be applied by a sponge, and an ointment put on made from cyprus or iris oil, with a woollen bandage over it, and the head must be wrapped up. For more severe pain a clyster is useful, with a hot poultice upon the cheeks, and hot water containing certain medicaments held in the mouth and frequently changed. For this purpose cinquefoil root may be boiled in diluted wine, and hyoscyamus root either in vinegar and water, or in wine, with the addition of a little salt, also poppy-head skins not too dry and mandragora root in the same condition. But with these three remedies, the patient should carefully avoid swallowing the fluid in the mouth. The bark of white poplar roots boiled in diluted wine may be appropriately used for the same purpose, and stag's horn shavings boiled in vinegar, and catmint together with a torch rich in resin and a fig equally rich boiled either in honey wine or in vinegar and honey. When the fig has been boiled down with these, this fluid is strained. Also a prove wrapped round with wool is dipped in hot oil, and the tooth itself fomented with this. Moreover, some applications, like poultices, are smeared on the tooth itself, and for this purpose the inside rind of an unripe dry pomegranate is pounded up with equal parts of oak-galls and pine bark, with which minium is mixed; and these when pounded together are made up with rain-water. Or equal quantities of all-heal, poppy-tears, sulphur wort, and black bryony berries without the seeds are pounded together. Or three parts of galbanum to one of poppy juice. Whatever is applied to the teeth directly, none the less the ointment mentioned above must also be put on the jaws and covered over with wool. Some rub up together myrrh and cardamoms, 4 grams each; saffron chamomile figs and broom 16 grams each; and mustard 32 grams; spread it on lint and apply to the shoulder on the side of the painful tooth; over the shoulder-blade, if it is an upper tooth; on the chest if a lower one; and this relieves the pain, and as soon as it has relieved it, must be at once taken off. When a tooth decays, there is no hurry to extract it, unless it cannot be helped, but rather to the various applications described above, we must add more active compositions for the relief of pain, such as that of heras. This has poppy juice 4 grams; pepper 8 grams; sory 40 grams, pounded, taken up in galbanum, and applied round the tooth; or that of Menemachus, especially for molar teeth, containing saffron 0.66 gram, cardamons, frankincense root, figs, broom and pellitory 16 grams each; mustard 32 grams. Again, some mix chamomile, pepper, elaterium and broom 4 grams each; shredded alum, poppy juice, black bryony berries, crude sulphur, bitumen, laurel berries and mustard 8 grams each. But if pain compels its removal, a peppercorn without the tegument, or an ivy berry without the tegument is inserted into the cavity of the tooth, which it splits, and the tooth falls out in bits. Also the tail spine of the flat fish which we call pastinaca, and the Greeks trygon, is roasted, pounded and taken up in resin, and this, when applied around the tooth, loosens it. Also shredded alum and... put into the cavity loosens the tooth. However, it is better to insert this wrapped up in a flake of wool, for it thus relieves the pain whilst preserving the tooth. These are the remedies recognized by medical practitioners, but country people have found out by experience that if a tooth aches, catmint should be pulled up with its roots, and put into a pot, and water poured over it, and placed beside the patient as he sits all covered by clothes; then red-hot stones are thrown in so as to be covered by the water; the patient inhales the steam with his mouth open, whilst, as stated above, he is completely covered over. For profuse sweating follows, and also a steady stream of phlegm flows from the mouth, and this ensures good health always for a year, and often for longer.
9. In dentium autem dolore, qui ipse quoque maximis tormentis adnumerari potest, uinum ex toto circumcidendum est. Cibo quoque primo abstinendum, deinde eo modico mollique utendum, ne mandentis dentes inritet; tum extrinsecus admouendus per spongiam uapor aquae calidae, inponendumque ceratum ex cyprino ex⟨ue⟩ irino factum, lanaque id conprehendendum, caputque uelandum est. Quod si grauior dolor est, utiliter et aluus ducitur, et calida cataplasmata super maxillas inponuntur, et ore umor calidus cum medicamentis aliquibus continetur, saepiusque mutatur. Cuius rei causa et quinquefolii radix in uino mixto coquitur, et hyoscyami radix uel in posca uel in uino, sic ut paulum his salis adiciatur et papaueris non nimium aridi cortices et mandragorae radix eodem modo. Sed in his tribus utique uitandum est, ne, quod haustum erit, deuoretur. Ex populo quoque alba cortex radicis in hunc ⟨u⟩sum in uino mixto recte coquitur, et in aceto cornus ceruini ramentum, et nepeta cum taeda pingui ac ficu item pingui uel in mulso uel in aceto et melle; ex quibus cum ficus decocta est, is umor percolatur. Specillum quoque lana inuolutum in calidum oleum demittitur, eoque ipse dens fouetur. Quin etiam quaedam quasi cataplasmata in dentem ipsum inlinuntur; ad quem usum ex malo Punico acido arido mal⟨i⟩corii pars interior cum pari portione et gallae et pinei corticis conteritur, misceturque his minium; eaque contrita aqua pluuia[ti]li coguntur. Aut panacis, papaueris lacrimae, peucedani, uuae t⟨a⟩miniae sine seminibus pares portiones conteruntur. Aut galbani partes tres, papaueris lacrimae pars quarta. Quicquid dentibus admotum est, nihilo minus supra maxillas ceratum, quale supra posui, ⟨e⟩sse debet lana optentum. Quidam etiam murrae, cardamomi, singulorum P. #1108 I; croci, pyrethri, ficorum, ⟨s⟩partes, singulorum P. #1108 IIII; sinapis P. #1108 VIII contrita linteolo inlinunt, inponuntque in umero partis eius, qua dens dolet: si is superior est, a scapulis; si inferior, a pectore; idque dolorem leuat, et cum leuauit, protinus summouendum est. Si uero exesus est dens, festinare ad eximendum eum, nisi res coegit, non est necesse: sed ⟨t⟩um omnibus fomentis, quae supra posita sunt, adiciendae quaedam ualentiores conpositiones sunt quae dolorem leuant; qualis Herae est. Habet autem papaueris lacrimae P. #1108 I; piperis P. #1108 II; soreos P. #1108 X; quae contrita galbano excipiuntur, idque circumdatur; aut Menemachi, maxime ad maxillares dentes, in qua sunt croci P. #1108 #1109; cardamomi, turis fuliginis, ficorum, ⟨s⟩partes, pyrethri, singulorum P. #1108 IIII; sinapis P. #1108 VIII. Quidam autem miscent pyrethri, piperis, elateri, ⟨s⟩partes, singulorum P. #1108 I; aluminis scissilis, papaueris lacrimae, uuae t⟨a⟩miniae, sulpuris ignem non experti, bituminis, lauri bacarum, sinapis, ⟨singulorum P.⟩ #1108 II. Quod si dolor eximi eum cogit, et piperis semen cortice liberatum, et eodem modo baca hederae coniecta in [id] foramen dentem findit, isque per testas excidet. Et plani piscis, quam pastinacam nostri, trygona Graeci uocant, aculeus torretur, deinde conteritur resinaque excipitur, quae denti circumdata hunc soluit. Et alumen scissile et * * in foramen coniectum dentem citat. Sed id tamen inuolutum in lanula demitti commodius est, quia sic dente seruato dolorem leuat. Haec medicis accepta sunt. Sed agrestium experimento cognitum est, cum dens dolet, herbam mentastrum cum suis radicibus euelli debere, et in peluem coici, supraque aquam infundi, collocarique iuxta sedentem hominem undique ueste contectum; tum in peluem candentes silices d⟨e⟩mitti, sic ut aqua tegantur; hominemque eum hiante ore uaporem excipere, ut supra dictum est, undique inclusum. Nam et sudor plurimus sequitur, et per os continens pituita defluit, idque saepe longiorem, semper annuam ualetudinem bonam praestat.
10. 10 Again, if the tonsils owing to the inflammation are swollen but not ulcerated, the head is to be kept covered; externally the painful part should be fomented by steam; the patient is to take walking exercise freely; when in bed his head should be raised repressive gargles should be used. Also that root which they call sweet, crushed and boiled in raisin wine or honey wine, has the same beneficial effect. It is useful to anoint them gently with certain medicaments prepared as follows: the juice is squeezed out of sweet pomegranates, and of this half a litre is boiled over a slow fire until of the consistency of honey; then saffron, myrrh, and shredded alum 8 grams each are pounded together, and to this is added a little at a time 85 cc. of mild wine and 42 cc. of honey; next these latter are mixed with the pomegranate juice aforesaid, and all gently boiled again. Or half a litre of the pomegranate juice is boiled in the same way, and the following after being pounded in like manner are added: nard 0.33 gram; omphacium 4 grams; cinnamon, myrrh and casia 0.33 gram each; these same compositions are also appropriate both for purulent ears and nostrils. Food too in this affection should be bland that it may not irritate. If the inflammation is so severe that breathing is hindered, the patient should keep in bed, abstaining from food, and take nothing else except hot water; the bowels should be moved by a clyster, and the gargle of fig and honey wine used; the tonsils are to be smeared with honey and omphacium; internally steam is to be inhaled somewhat longer until the tonsils suppurate and spontaneously open. If after pus has formed these swellings do not burst, they are to be cut into; then the patient must gargle with warm honeyed wine. But if with only moderate swelling there is ulceration as well, the throat is to be gargled with bran gruel to which a little honey should be added; and the ulcers smeared with the following composition: 750 cc. of the sweetest raisin wine are boiled down to one-third, then are added: frankincense 4 grams; garlic 4 grams; saffron and myrrh 0.66 gram each; and all are then gently heated together. When the ulcers have cleaned, the throat is gargled with bran gruel or milk. And here also bland food is necessary, and in addition sweet wine can be taken.
10. Si uero tonsillae sine exulceratione per inflammationem intumuerunt, caput uelandum est; extrinsecus is locus uapore calido fouendus; multa ambulatione utendum; caput in lecto sublime habendum; gargarizandumque reprimentibus. Radix quoque ea, quam dulcem appellant, contusa et in passo mulsoue decocta idem praestat. Leniterque quibusdam medicamentis eas inlini non alienum est, quae hoc modo fiunt: ex malo Punico dulci sucus exprimitur, et eius sextarius in leni igne coquitur, donec ei mellis crassitudo est; tum croci, murrae, aluminis scissilis, ⟨singulorum⟩ P. #1108 II per se conteruntur, paulatimque his adiciuntur uini lenis cyathi duo, mellis unus; deinde priori suco ista miscentur, et rursus leniter incocuntur. Aut eiusdem suci sextarius eodem modo coquitur, atque eadem ratione trita haec adiciuntur: nardi P. #1108 #1110; omphaci P. #1108 I; cinnamomi, murrae, casiae, singulorum P. #1108 #1110; eadem autem haec et auribus et naribus purulentis adcommodata sunt. Cibus in hac quoque ualetudine lenis esse debet, ne exasperet. Quod si tanta inflammatio est, ut spiritum impediat, in lecto conquiescendum, cibo abstinendum, neque adsumendum quicquam praeter aquam calidam est; aluus quoque ducenda est; gargarizandum ex fico et mulso; inlinendum mel cum omphacio; intrinsecus admouendus sed aliquanto diutius uapor calidus, donec ea suppurent et per se aperiantur. Si pure substante non rumpuntur hi tumores, incidendi sunt; deinde ex mulso calido gargarizandum. At si modicus quidem tumor ⟨sed⟩ exulceratio est, furfurum cremori ad gargarizandum paulum mellis adiciendum est; inlinendaque ulcera hoc medicamento: passi quam dulcissimi tres heminae ad unam cocuntur; tum adicitur t⟨u⟩ris P. #1108 I; ⟨ali P. #1108 I;⟩ croci, murrae, singulorum P. #1108 #1109; leuiterque omnia rursus feruescunt. Vbi pura ulcera sunt, eodem furfurum cremore uel lacte gargarizandum est. Atque hic quoque cibis lenibus opus est, quibus adici dulce uinum potest.
11. 11 Now ulcerations of the mouth if accompanied by inflammation, and if they are foul and reddish, are best treated by the medicaments made from pomegranates mentioned above. And, as a repressant, pearl barley gruel to which a little honey has been added is to be often held in the mouth; the patient must walk and not take acrid food. As soon as the ulcerations begin to clean, a bland liquid, at times even the purest water, is held in the mouth. It is then beneficial to eat a pear of the softer sort, and more food along with sharp vinegar; then the ulcers should be dusted over with split alum, to which about half as much again of unripe oak-galls has been added. If the ulcers are alar encrusted, as happens after cauterization, those compositions are to be applied which the Greeks call antherae: equal portions of galingale, myrrh, sandarach, and alum. Or saffron and myrrh 4 grams each; iris, split alum and sandarach 16 grams each; galingale 32 grams. Or oak-galls and myrrh 4 grams each; split alum 8 grams; rose leaves 16 grams. But some mix saffron 0.66 gram; split alum and myrrh 4 grams each; sandarach 8 grams; galingale 16 grams. The first compositions are dried and then dusted on; the last one is smeared on with honey added, and used not only for ulcerations of the mouth, but also of the tonsils. But by far the most dangerous are those ulcers which the Greeks call aphtae, certainly in children; in them they often cause death, but there is not the same danger for men and women. These ulcers begin from the gums: next they invade the palate and the whole mouth; then they pass downwards to the uvula and throat, and if these are involved, it is not easy for the child to recover. But the disease is even worse in a suckling, for there is then less possibility of its conquest by any remedy. But it is most important that the nurse should be made to take exercise both by walking and by doing work which moves her arms; she should be sent to the bath, and ordered when there to have hot water poured over her breasts; moreover, she should have bland, easily digestible food; and for drink, if the infant is feverish, water; if free from fever, diluted wine. And if the nurse is constipated, her bowels are to be moved by a clyster. If there is clotted phlegm in her mouth, she must vomit. Then the child's ulcers are to be anointed with honey, to which is added sumach, which they call Syrian, or bitter almonds; or a mixture of dried rose leaves, pinecone seeds, mint, young stalks, and honey, or that medicament which is made of mulberries, the juice of which is concentrated in the same way as pomegranate juice to the consistency of honey; similarly too there is mixed with it saffron, myrrh, alum, wine and honey; nothing should be given which can provoke spittle. If it is an older child he should generally gargle as described above. If the milder medicaments do little good, the caustic materials which induce crusts upon the ulcers should be applied, such as split alum or copper ore or blacking. Even hunger is beneficial and the greatest possible abstinence is to be ordered. The food ought to be bland; for cleansing the ulcers, however, sometimes cheese with honey is appropriately given.
11. Vlcera autem oris si cum inflammatione sunt et parum pura ac rubicunda sunt, optume is medicamentis curantur, quae [supra posita] ex malis Punicis fiunt. Continendusque saepe ore reprimens cremor est, cui paulum mellis sit adiectum: utendum ambulationibus et non acri cibo. Simul atque uero pura ulcera esse coeperunt, lenis umor, interdum etiam quam optima aqua ore continenda est. Prodestque adsumptum pirum mitiu⟨s⟩ pleniorque cibus cum acri acet⟨o⟩ inspergique ulcera debent alumine scissili, cui dimidio plus gallae inmaturae sit adiectum. Si iam crustas habent, quales in adustis esse consuerunt, adhibendae sunt hae conpositiones, quas Graeci antheras nominant: iunci quadrati, murrae, sandaracae, aluminis pares portiones. Aut croci, murrae, singulorum P. #1108 I; ⟨i⟩ridis, aluminis scissilis, sandaracae, singulorum P. ⟨#1108⟩ IIII; iunci quadrati P. #1108 VIII. Aut gallae, murrae, singulorum P. #1108 I; aluminis scissilis P. #1108 II; rosae foliorum P. #1108 IIII. Quidam autem croci P. #1108 #1109; aluminis scissilis, murrae, singulorum P. ⟨#1108⟩ I; sandaracae P. #1108 II; iunci quadrati P. #1108 IIII miscent. Priora arida insperguntur: hoc cum melle inlinitur, neque ulceribus tantum sed etiam tonsillis. Verum ea longe periculosissima sunt ulcera, quas apthas Graeci appellant, sed in pueris: hos enim saepe consumunt, in uiris et mulieribus idem periculum non est. Haec ulcera a gingiuis incipiunt; deinde palatum totumque os occupant; tum ad uuam faucesque descendunt, quibus obsessis non facile fit, ut puer conualescat. Ac miserius etiam est, si lact⟨e⟩ns adhuc infans est, quo minus imperari remedium aliquod potest. Sed inprimis nutrix cogenda est exerceri et ambulationibus et is operibus, quae superiores partes mouent; mittenda in balineum iubendaque ibi calida aqua mammas perfundere; tum alenda cibis lenibus et is, qui non facile corrumpuntur: potione, si febricitat puer, aquae; si sine febre est, uini diluti. Ac si aluus nutricis substitit, ducenda est. Si pituita eius in os coit, uomere debet. Tum ipsa ulcera perunguenda sunt melle, cui rhus, quem Syriacum uocant, aut amarae nuces adiectae sunt; uel mixtis inter se rosae foliis ⟨aridis,⟩ pineis nucleis, menta, coliculo, melle, uel eo medicamento, quod ex moris fit, quorum sucus eodem modo quo Punici mali ad mellis crassitudinem coquitur; eademque ratione ei crocum, murra, alumen, uinum, mel, miscetur: neque quicquam dandum, a qu⟨o⟩ umor euocari possit. Si uero iam firmior puer est, gargarizare debet is fere, quae supra conprehensa sunt. Ac si lenia medicamenta in eo parum proficiunt, adhibenda sunt ea, quae adurendo crustas ulceribus inducant. Quale est scissile alumen uel chalcitis uel atramentum sutorium. Prodest etiam fames et abstinentia quanta maxime inperari potest. Cibus esse debet lenis: ad purganda tamen ulcera interdum caseus ex melle recte datur.
12. 12 Ulcerations of the tongue need no other treatment than that noted in the first part of the previous chapter. But those which arise at the side of the tongue last the longest; and it should be looked to, whether some tooth opposite the ulcer is too pointed, which often keeps an ulceration in that position from healing, in which case the tooth must be smoothed down.
12. Linguae quoque ulcera non aliis medicamentis egent, quam quae prima parte superioris capitis exposita sunt. Sed quae in latere eius nascuntur, diutissime durant; uidendumque est, num contra dens aliquis acutior sit, qui sanescere saepe ulcus eo loco non sinit, ideoque leuandus est.
13. 13 There often occur on the gums adjacent to the teeth certain painful swellings: the Greeks call them parulides. These at first should be gently rubbed over with powdered slat; or with a mixture of powdered rock-salt, cyprus oil and catmint; then the mouth is washed out with lentil gruel, and the mouth is held open at intervals until there has been a sufficient flow of phlegm. When there is still more severe inflammation, the same medicaments are to be used as noted above for ulcerations of the mouth: and between the tooth and gum should be inserted a little roll of soft lint soaked in one of the compositions which I said are called antherae. If the hardness of the gum prevents this, then hot steam by means of a sponge is to be applied outside, followed by a cerate. If suppuration shows itself, the steaming is continued longer, and hot honey wine in which a fig has been boiled down is held in the mouth; and before the abscess is quite mature it should be cut into, for fear that the bone may suffer if the pus should be retained longer. But if there is greater swelling, it is better to cut all away so as to free the tooth on both sides. When the pus is let out, if the incision is small it will suffice to hold hot water in the mouth and to foment externally with its steam; if it is larger, lentil gruel should be used, and the same medicaments as for the treatment of ulcerations of the mouth in general. There are also other ulcerations, mostly arising in the gums, for which the same remedies are beneficial; in particular, however, privet should be chewed and the juice held in the mouth. It happens now and then, whether following a gumboil or not, that a discharge of pus persists from an ulcer on the gum; this is due to either a decayed tooth or to bone that is broken or injured and diseased in some other way, and it most commonly occurs through a fissure in the bone. When this is the case, the place must be laid open, the tooth extracted; any projecting scale of bone is to be removed; and any carious bone scraped away. What ought to be done after this has been included in the treatment of other ulcerations. If the gums have retracted from the teeth, the same antherae are of service. It is also useful to chew pears and apples which are not too ripe, and to hold their juice in the mouth. Vinegar that is not too sharp can also be held in the mouth with similar advantage.
13. Solent etiam interdum iuxta dentes in gingiuis tubercula quaedam oriri dolentia: parulidas Graeci appellant. Haec initio leniter sale contrito perfricare oportet; aut inter se mixtis sale fossili combusto, cupresso, nepeta; deinde eluere os cremore lenticulae, inter haec hiare, donec pituita satis profluat. In maiore uero inflammatione isdem medicamentis utendum est, quae ad ulcera oris supra posita sunt: et mollis lin⟨amenti⟩ paulum inuoluendum ex is aliqua compositione, quas antheras uocari dixi, demittendumque id inter dentem et gingiuam. Quod si †duriore id prohibebit, extrinsecus admouendus erit spongia uapor calidus, inponendumque ceratum. Si suppuratio se ostendet, diutius eo uapore utendum erit, et continendum ore calidum mulsum, in quo ficus decocta sit; idque subcrudum incidendum, ne, si diutius ibi pus remanserit, os laedat. Quod si maior is tumor est, commodius totum exciditur, sic ut ex utraque parte dens liberetur. Pure exempto si leuis plaga est, satis est ore calidam aquam continere, extrinsecus fouere eodem uapore; si maior est, lenticulae cremore uti isdemque medicamentis, quibus cetera ulcera oris curantur. Alia quoque ulcera in gingiuis plerumque oriuntur, quibus eadem quae in reliquo ore succurrunt; maxime tamen mandere ligustrum oportet, sucumque eum ore continere. Fit etiam interdum, ut gingiuae ulcere, siue parulis fuit siue non fuit, diutius pus feratur; quod aut dente corrupto, aut fracto uel * * aliterque uitiato osse; maximeque id per fissum ⟨e⟩uenire consueuit. Vbi incidit, locus aperiendus, dens eximendus; testa ossis, si qua excessit, recipienda est; si quid uitiosi est, radendum. Post quae quid fieri debeat, supra in aliorum ulcerum curatione conprehensum est. Si uero a dentibus gingiuae recedunt, eaedem antherae succurrunt. Vtile est etiam pira aut mala non permatura mandere, et ore eum umorem continere. Idemque praestare non acre acetum in ore retentum potest.
14. 14 Inflammation of the uvula should also cause anxiety when severe. In this case, as before, abstinence is necessary, and it is right to let blood; and if anything prevents this, it is useful to clyster the bowel; and also the head must be kept covered and raised; and the patient must gargle with a decoction of blackberries and lentils. But the uvula its is to be smeared either with omphacium or oak-galls or split alum to any one of which honey has been added; it is also good to smear the uvula with chelidonium juice by means of a spoon, and especially with honey. For this purpose also the composition called Andronium is suitable; it consists of: split alum, red copper scales, blacking, oak-galls, myrrh and antimony sulphide; these are pounded separately and again pounded when mixed together, a dry wine being gradually added till the ingredients have the consistency of honey. After the uvula has been smeared with one of these compounds there is, as a rule, a free flow of phlegm; when this has subsided, hot wine should be gargled. But if there is less severe inflammation, it is sufficient to pound up assafoetida and add cold water to it, and to put the fluid into a spoon and apply it under the uvula itself. When there is only moderate swelling, even cold water held in the same way under the uvula subdues it. Also the same cold water is to be used as a gargle which, with or without the addition of assafoetida, has been applied in this manner to the uvula.
14. Vuae uehemens inflammatio terrere quoque debet. Itaque in hac et abstinentia necessaria est, et sanguis recte mittitur; et si id aliqua res prohibet, aluus utiliter ducitur; caputque super haec uelandum et sublimius habendum est: tum aqua gargarizandum, in qua simul rubus et lenticula decocta sit. Inlinenda autem ipsa uua uel omphacio uel galla uel alumine scissili, sic ut cuilibet eorum mel adiciatur; ⟨chelidoniae quoque suco per coclear inlita uua maximeque * * prodest.⟩ Est etiam medicamentum hu⟨c⟩ aptum, quod Andronium appellatur. Constat ex his: alumine scissili, squama aeris rubri, atramento sutorio, galla, murra, misy; quae per se contrita mixtaque rursus paulatim adiecto uino austero teruntur, donec his mellis crassitudo sit. Vbi horum aliquo inlita uua est, fere multa pituita decurrit; cumque ea quieuit, ex uino calido gargarizandum est. Quod si minor ea inflammatio est, laser terere, eique adicere frigidam aquam satis est, eam⟨que⟩ aquam cocleario exceptam ipsi uuae subicere. Ac mediocriter eam tumentem aqua quoque frigida eodem modo subiecta reprimit. Ex eadem autem aqua gargarizandum quoque est, quae uel cum lasere uel sine eo hac ratione uuae subiecta est.