A Translation of the Eight Books of Aul. Corn. Celsus on Medicine (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1831 edition. Excerpt: ... BOOK VI. I. I HAvE discoursed (in the preceding book) upon those affections which, occurring over the entire body, require the aid of medicinal applications: I shall now proceed to such as are merely local, beginning with the head. The most effectual remedy for a falling-off of the hair, is frequent shaving: although a mixture of ladanum and oil, in some degree conduces to its preservation. I am now speaking of loss of hair after illness, since for that baldness which in some persons is the effect of age, we have no remedy. II. In Porrigo, scales forming between the hairs, become detached from the skin; and are sometimes moist, much oftener dry. This affection exists now without and now with ulceration; is sometimes preceded by a fetid odour, and sometimes not so. It generally occurs in the hair of the head, more rarely in the beard, now and then in the eyebrows. And neither does it take place except there be some disorder in the system, nor is it altogether without its beneficial effects, for it never appears during a perfectly healthy condition of the head; and when disease is existing there, it is advantageous; for it is better that the surface be occasionally corrupted, than that the nocent matter be translated to another part more essential to life. The better plan therefore is to clear it away by repeated combing, and not to suppress it entirely. Should this, however, be noisome, (and a humid discharge, especially if fetid, may be so, ) the head should be frequently shaved, and treated with any of the mildly repressing applications; such as nitre with vinegar, or ladanum with myrtle-oil and wine, or myrobalanum with wine. If these be not efficacious, those of a stronger nature may be employed, bearing in mind, that in a recent..