Part 10
These are other powders:-Black hellebore, as finely levigated as possible,
is to be sprinkled on the sore while any humidity remains about it,
and while it continues to spread. The bandaging is the same as when
plasters are used. Another, in like manner:-The driest lumps of salt
are to be put into a copper, or earthen pot, of equal size, as much
as possible, and not large, and the finest honey, of double the size
of the salt, as far as can be guessed, is to be poured upon the lumps
of salt, then the vessel is to be put upon coals and allowed to sit
there until the whole is consumed. Then, having sponged the ulcer
and cleansed it, bandage it as before, and compress it a little more.
Next day, wherever the medicine has not been taken in, sprinkle it
on, press it down, and bandage. But when you wish to remove the medicine,
pour in hot vinegar until it separate, and again do the same things,
sponging it away, if necessary. Another corrosive powder:-Of the most
finely-levigated misy, sprinkle upon the moist and gangrenous parts,
and a little of the flower of copper, not altogether levigated. Another
powder equally corrosive:-Having sponged the ulcer, burn the most
greasy wool upon a shell
[p. 341]placed on the fire until the whole be consumed;
having reduced this to a fine powder, and sprinkled it on the sore,
apply the bandage in the same manner. Another powder for the same
ulcers:-The black chamaeleon, when prepared with the juice of the
fig. It is to be prepared roasted, and alkanet mixed with it. Or,
pimpernel, and Egyptian alum roasted, and sprinkle on them the Orchomenian
powder. For spreading ulcers:-Alum, both the Egyptian roasted, and
the Melian; but the part is to be first cleansed with roasted natron
and sponged; and the species of alum called chalcitis roasted. It
is to be roasted until it catch fire.