Aëtius remarks that, in prolonged fevers, the fleshy parts of the body
being wasted, ulceration takes place in those parts upon which the
patient lies. These sores, he adds, spread deep, and have hard thick
edges. When the back becomes red and painful, he directs us to surround
the adjoining parts with a circle of wool, so as to relieve the affected
part from the effects of pressure; and then a cerate of rose or myrtle
oil, containing litharge, ceruse, and burnt barley is to be applied. He
particularly commends a composition consisting of litharge, oil, wax, and
honey, mixed with rose-oil. In short, his plan of treatment, like our
author’s, is borrowed from Oribasius. He concludes with directing the
use of milder applications when the ulceration has stopped spreading. (v,
127.)
Alsaharavius directs us to treat the redness of the back occasioned by
lying long in bed with the flower of millet, barley, or lentils. When
pustules form and break, he recommends an ointment containing ceruse to
be applied. (Pract. xxix, 1, 26.)
_Appendix to the Commentary on Book Second._