Whatever eruptions appear upon the skin of a child, are to be encouraged,
in the first place; but when the eruption is properly come out, it may be
cured by putting the child into baths of myrtle, or lentisk, or roses,
and then anointing with the oil of roses or lentisk, or with a cerate
containing ceruse. And its body may be gently rubbed with nitre; but it
will not bear hard friction. But a very good plan is for the nurse to be
fed upon sweetish things. And the child’s diet ought to be attended to,
so that it be neither too full nor too spare. If the child’s belly be
constipated, a little honey may be put into its food; and if even then it
do not obey, turpentine, to the size of a chick-pea, may be added. When
the bowels are loose, millet, in particular, ought to be administered.
* * * * *
COMMENTARY. This Section is taken from Oribasius (Synops. v, 6.) See also
Aëtius (iv, 21.) The Exanthemata here referred to would appear, properly
speaking, to be the _strophuli_ of Dr. Willan, but the ancients used the
term rather vaguely for several eruptive diseases. (See Book Fourth.)
The Exanthemata are the “pustulæ parvæ” of Eros (apud Gynæcia, p. 59.)
For the Arabians, see in particular Haly Abbas (Pract. i, 20); Avicenna
(i, 3, 1); Alsaharavius (Tr. xxvi, 7 and 8.) Alsaharavius describes two
cutaneous complaints of infancy by the names of _Alseafa_ and _Alkaba_.
The former he describes as consisting of pustules, which affect the
heads of infants, and sometimes the face. They are attended, he says,
with a constant itching, and occasion erosion. His treatment is to shave
the head, and to apply to it first a leaf of blite (_bletæ_ vel _betæ_?)
and afterwards an ointment composed of spuma argenti, ceruse, and lye,
with rose-oil and wax. The _Alkaba_ is said to be of the same nature,
only that the fluid which runs from the pustules resembles honey. This,
therefore, must be the _porrigo favosa_. His remedies are, to wash the
head frequently with a lotion made from marjoram, mint, or centaury; and
then to apply an ointment composed of spuma argenti, ceruse, Armenian
bole, sulphur, almonds, and quicksilver; and also liniments of rose-oil
and vinegar, with the free use of the bath. As Dr. Willan remarks, he
has described the _strophuli_ by the name of pustulæ, (_bothor_.) (Tr.
xxvi, 25.) He says of them: “Aliæ sunt albæ, aliæ rubeæ, aliæ nigræ, aliæ
magnæ, aliæ parvæ et multæ et paucæ, aliæ fortis et acuti doloris, et
mortiferæ,” &c. It appears, therefore, that he applies the term in a very
lax signification.
Rhases describes the Exanthemata by the name of _vesicæ_. He prescribes,
at the commencement, medicines for expelling the morbific superfluity
from the inner parts, such as the decoction of dates or figs, with
fennel water. When the eruption is fairly come out, he recommends baths
medicated with roses, myrtles, and the like; after which, the child is to
be rubbed with the oil of roses or of violets. (De Morbis Infant, c. 19.)
We may mention that Lanfrancus, and the other medical authorities of that
age, describe them by the name of _saphati_.