The causes and surgical treatment of protrusion of the navel will be
treated of in the Surgical part of the work. But, since some restore
the parts to their natural state by medicines, we must now mention that
method of treatment: Of fissile alum, dr. v; of lees of wine, dr. viij;
of rose-oil, dr. x; of unripe gall-nuts, dr. ij; dilute with wine; make
to the thickness of honey; and wash with it; and put on externally a
sponge soaked in oxycrate, and surround it with a bandage.—_Another_: Of
the outer skin of bruised beans, of galls, of pomegranate flowers, equal
parts; boil in water, and when dissolved pound carefully, and wash with
it; and apply the sponge, as formerly said.—_Another_: Of the parings
of lead, dr. xvj; of hemlock, of manna, of ceruse, of the juice of
hypocistis, of each dr. j; dissolve in wine, and use as above described.
* * * * *
COMMENTARY. See in particular Oribasius (Morb. Curat. iv, 117.) It is not
necessary to multiply authorities, as all entertain similar views upon
this head. The following is a simple receipt given by Celsus: “Cicutæ
et fuliginis, denar. j; cerussæ elotæ, denar. iv; plumbi eloti, denar.
viij; ovis duobus; quibus etiam solani succus adjicitur.”
Haly Abbas properly remarks that the umbilical hernia is a protrusion of
the omentum or intestine at the navel. He recommends various astringent
plasters, containing cypress, galls, alum, &c. (Theor. ix, 36; Pract.
vii, 51.)
SECT. LII.—HOW TO MAKE THE CHIN AND PUBES CONTINUE LONG FREE OF HAIRS;
ON THE PRESERVATION OF THE GENITAL ORGANS; AND, AMONG OTHER THINGS, OF
DEPILATORIES.
Mix equal parts of Cimolian earth and ceruse with the juice of henbane,
so as to have the thickness of the bath-sordes; then add of oil of
lentisk, q. s.; pound and use.—_Another_: Pound together the juices of
hemlock, of deadly nightshade, of henbane, and of the most tender leaves
of lupine, and an equal portion of fleawort, and use, having first
scrubbed the part and washed. But for some days previously the patient
must drink water.
_A depilatory for removing the hairs._ Of the slaters which live about
houses and roll themselves into balls, dr. ij; of sandarach, dr. iv; of
quicklime, dr. viij; of old vinegar, one cyathus; of the lixivial ashes
of figs, one cyathus; boil in a pot, and use in the bath.—_Another,
simple and devoid of smell_: Of quicklime, one sextarius; of sandarach,
oz. j; boil as aforesaid, and use. But the subject of depilatories is
treated of along with the Diseases of the Eye.
* * * * *
COMMENTARY. Depilatories have always been made of similar ingredients
to those which enter into our author’s prescriptions, that is to say,
arsenic and quicklime have generally entered into the composition of
them. The following is one from Baptista Porta: “Constat vivæ calcis
partibus quatuor, redactis in pulveris modum, auripigmenti singulari, et
decoque.” (Mag. Nat. ix, 4.)
It appears from many passages in the Roman Satirists that the practice of
applying depilatories to the obscene parts was common in ancient times.
Persius says:
“Tu cum maxillis balanatum gausape pectis,
Inguinibus quarè detonsus gurgulio extet?”
(Sat. iv, 37.)
See the learned note of Casaubon; also, Juvenal (Sat. viii, 114),
and the note of the Dauphin editor. The Fathers inveigh against this
immodest practice. See Tertullianus (de Pallio), and Clemens Alexandrinus
(Pædagog. ii, 3.) According to Athenæus, the Tuscans were anciently much
given to the use of depilatories. (Deipnos. xii, 14.) See also Apuleius
(Metamorph.)
As this subject possesses little interest now, we need not enlarge upon
it.