_How to preserve the face free from wrinkles._ Of frankincense, dr. iv;
of fucus, dr. iij; of crashed litharge, dr. viij. Dissolve them all in a
decoction of bruised ichthyocolla, make trochisks, and use.—_Another_: Of
ivory shavings, dr. viij; of male frankincense, of ichthyocolla, the same
quantity. Use as aforesaid.
_For darkness of the face._ Of iris, of ptisan, of bruised beans, of each
a sextarius and a half; of sal ammoniac, of burnt hartshorn, of ammoniac
perfume, of each, oz. ij. Dissolve in water, and make trochisks, and
having again triturated with water, anoint before bathing.—_Another_: Of
ptisan, of tares, of frankincense, of bruised beans, of Illyrian iris,
of aphronitum, of costus, of each, the fourth part of a chœnix; bitter
almonds, xx in number; form with the white of an egg and the milk of an
ass, and use as aforesaid. The trochisk peponatus also answers well.
_For freckles and lentigo._ Of toasted Cimolian earth, half a hemina;
of toasted aphronitum, dr. viij; of the flour of tares, dr. iv; of the
refuse of bull’s gall, dr. viij. Triturate and use.—_Another_: Of the
lees of wine, dr. x; of the flour of tares, dr. x; of bruised beans, dr.
x; of white hellebore, dr. v; of aphronitrum, dr. x; of alcyonium, dr. x.
Triturate, and rub with it.
_For bruised spots, or hypopia._ First foment with the decoction of
fenugreek, and afterwards with that of melilot, mix the collyrium of
Nilus from roses with water, and anoint; then use the myrrh collyrium.
If these do not produce the effect, anoint with the collyrium of burnt
sandyx; or apply hyssop with water; or bind hyssop into a piece of rag,
dip it in warm water, and foment; or foment with strong salt water, and
rub down the skin of radish with honey, and apply. This answers also for
chronic cases. For chronic spots and lividity, take of Cretan hartwort,
two parts; of Samian earth, one part; apply with honey, taking care
that it do not produce an ulcer.—_Another abstergent application_: Of
hyssop, of thapsia, and of cassia, of each, dr. ij; of wax, dr. ij; of
turpentine, dr. j. Apply, taking care that it do not occasion an ulcer,
and on that account removing it frequently.
_For vari or warts._ They are small hard tumours about the face. Anoint,
by rubbing with oxymel; or triturate litharge with turpentine and some
white oil, and anoint by rubbing; or rub in fissile alum with turpentine;
or triturate bitter almonds in vinegar, and rub. _For callous vari_:
Of Gallic soap, dr. iv; of frankincense and ammoniac, of each, dr. j.
Dissolve in water, and anoint; after an hour, wash away.
_For vari, hairs, and roughness of the face._ Of wax, dr. x; of
turpentine, dr. j; of mistletoe, dr. ij; melt, adding a small quantity
of oil, and scrub the face with it, for it takes out the hairs by the
roots.—_Another_: Apply powdered poppy, or pennyroyal, with salt and
vinegar.
_The cerate of Thais, for rendering the face ruddy._ Of saffron, of
madder-root, of fucus, of frankincense, of myrrh, of each, dr. ij; mix
with calf’s fat and mastich oil, and then anoint, and after a little
interval wash away with a sponge out of hot water. These applications for
the face will also answer for other parts of the body.
* * * * *
COMMENTARY. Most of the authors referred to in the preceding Section may
be consulted on these complaints.
This Section is mostly copied from Oribasius (de Loc. Affect. iv), who,
however, is greatly indebted to Galen (De Med. sec. loc. v.) Aëtius gives
a long list of compositions for these complaints of the face, and to it
the lovers of personal appearance are particularly referred. Celsus seems
to have thought it necessary to make an apology for treating of these
trifling complaints: “Pæne ineptiæ sunt curare varos, et lenticulas,
et ephelidas; sed eripi tamen fæminis cura cultus sui non potest.” His
applications are like those of our author. For vari he recommends equal
parts of rosin, fissile alum, and some honey. Ephelis, he says, is
removed by rosin, with a third part of fossil salts, and a little honey.
The φάκος and ἐφηλίς are, we believe, the lentigo and maculæ of Haly
Abbas. (Theor. viii, 18; Pract. iv, 15.) His remedies consist of bitter
almonds, mercury killed (sublimed?), mustard, with the oil of figs.
The ἴονθος is his morum. For it he recommends the flos æris and other
stimulant applications. Alsaharavius speaks of the juice of the wild
cucumber, the root of iris, pine-gum, and if these are not sufficient,
venesection. He treats minutely of these affections of the face. (Pract.
vi.) The ἴονθος is the acne of Drs. Willan and Bateman. Galen says these
affections are to be removed by emollient and discutient applications in
general. He treats very fully of hypopion or ecchymosis of the face. For
it Alsaharavius recommends an application consisting of the infusion of
radish and red arsenic. (Pract. iv, 4.) This must have been a powerful
stimulant. Marcellus recommends to apply frequently a new sponge soaked
in hot salt water. (De Medic. xix.)
Rhases describes this affection by the name of _pannus faciei_. Among
the ingredients of his compositions we remark fenugreek, ammoniac,
frankincense, liquid pitch, &c. Some of them contain arsenic. He also
recommends scarifications.