Infants are liable to an ulcer of the mouth called aphtha. It is either
whitish, reddish, or black, like an eschar. That which is black is of
the worst kind and most fatal. The iris mixed with honey is of use, or
you may blow in the dry powder if you please; also, the pounded leaves
of roses, or the flowers of roses, and crocus—a small quantity of myrrh,
galls, frankincense, or the bark of the frankincense tree: all these
together, or separately, may be mixed with honey; and, in addition to
these, may be joined honied water and the juice of the sweet pomegranate.
* * * * *
COMMENTARY. Hippocrates mentions aphthæ among the diseases of dentition.
(De Dent.) Theophilus, the commentator on Hippocrates, says, that
aphthæ are occasioned by the tenderness of the parts, which cannot
bear the bad qualities of the milk. According to Aretæus, the land of
Egypt is particularly prolific of these ulcers, which are engendered
by the impurities of the water and the quality of the vegetables that
grow there. (Morb. Acut. i, 9.) The aphthæ appear to be the _oscedo_ of
Isidorus. (Orig. iv, 8.)
Our author copies from Oribasius. (Synops. v, 10.) See also Aëtius,
(viii, 39.) Aëtius borrows his account from Galen, who is very full upon
the treatment of aphthæ. He remarks that recent superficial ulcers are
easily cured, but that such as spread and are of a gangrenous nature are
very dangerous. He gives, at great length, directions for the composition
of applications, suited to every modification of the complaint. When the
pustules are red, he prescribes washes of a moderately astringent and
cooling nature; if yellowish, the same, but somewhat more refrigerant; if
whitish and pituitous, detergents are to be used; and, if black, the most
powerful discutients. For simple cases of the aphthæ infantium, he merely
recommends the flowers of roses with honied water. Most of his remedies
are astringents. (De Med. sec. Loc. lib. vi.) In another work, he says
that aphthæ are occasioned by the acrimony of the milk, and are to be
cured by astringents. (Comment. in III Epidem.)
Pliny mentions that the _lapis melititis_ was used as an application in
cases of ulceration of the fauces. (Hist. Nat., xxxvi.) There is reason
to believe that it was Borax, or borate of soda.
Avicenna recommends at first washes prepared from the vegetable acids,
and afterwards astringents, such as galls, sumach, balaustine, &c. (i, 3,
1.) See also Haly Abbas (Pract. i, 20.)
Alsaharavius states that aphthæ commonly arise from the sharpness of the
milk. His general treatment consists in regulating the diet of the nurse,
and using washes principally of an astringent nature for the child’s
mouth. When they are very painful, he adds to the washes the juice of
lettuce, endive, and the like. When they are whitish, he recommends a
powder consisting of myrtle, saffron, and sugar. (Tr. xxvi, 20.) Rhases’
treatment is quite similar. (De Morbis Infantium, c. 14.)
The author of the following work, which has been falsely ascribed to
Dioscorides, recommends certain applications of a strongly escharotic
nature, such as this: Of arsenic, p. i; of burnt paper, p. iii; or this,
of sandarach and rose-oil equal parts. (Euporist. i, 82.)
Psellus enumerates two kinds of aphthæ, namely, the white and the red;
the former, he says, is mild, the latter very dangerous. (Poëma Medicum.)