CHAPTER IX. CURE OF THE PESTILENTIAL AFFECTIONS ABOUT THE
PHARYNX.
IN some respects, the treatment of these is the same as that of
the
other affections in the tonsils, and in some peculiar. In inflammation
and suffocation, the remedies are clysters, venesection,
liquid applications, cataplasms, fomentation, ligatures, cupping;
and all these are applicable here. But anointing with more potent
medicines is proper; for the ulcers do not stop, nor do eschars
form on the surface. But if a sanies from them run inwardly,
the parts, even if before in a healthy state, very soon become
ulcerated, and very soon the ulcers spread inwardly, and prove
fatal. It might be beneficial to burn the affection with fire,
but it is unsuitable owing to the isthmus. But we must use
medicines resembling fire to stop the spreading and also for
the falling off of the eschars: these are alum, gall, the flowers
of the wild pomegranate, either in a dried state or with
honeyed-water. And the same medicines may be blown in
by means of a reed, or quill, or a thick and long tube, so that
the medicines may touch the sores. The best of these medicines
is calcined chalcitis,
1 with cadmia
2 triturated in vinegar.
Let there be a double proportion of the cadmia, and of the
root of rhubarb, with some fluid. It is necessary, however, to
guard against their pressure, for the ulcers thus get moist and
spread farther. We must, therefore, sprinkle them in a dry
state with a quill. But the liquid medicines, having been
much diluted, are to be injected upon the columella. But if
the eschars be already loosened, and the ulcers become red,
there is then most danger of convulsion; for generally the
ulcers are dried up, and thereby tonic contractions of the
nerves are induced. It is necessary then to soften and moisten
by means of milk, with starch, and the juice of ptisan, or of
tragus, or linseed, or the seed of fenugreek. In certain cases
also the uvula has been eaten down to the bone of the
palate and the tonsils to their base and epiglottis; and in
consequence of the sore, the patient could neither swallow
anything solid nor liquid; but the drink regurgitating has cut him off by starvation.
