Abhomeron Abynzohar & Colliget Auerroys (Medical Compendium)

causes and the root of the disease is a universal matter for the whole body. And I shall address this when I treat the purgation of the whole body in the case of the diminution of sense and the universal relaxation of all the members, if God wills it, and if it becomes necessary for us to arrive at that.

Chap. VI. Concerning the corrosion of the lips.

The lips also become corroded, just as other members are accustomed to being corroded. Wherefore I postpone the treatment of them until I treat the universal cure of all corrosions of the whole body and all the cares pertaining to them. Thus far, therefore, we have briefly and sufficiently outlined the diseases and their cures for all the members of the head; it remains for us only to determine the affections of the eyes, and with these completed, the discourse on all the chapters of the affections will be finished.

The eighth treatise concerning the diseases of the eyes, which are many, and it contains thirty chapters.

Chap. I. Concerning halabol, where one thing is seen as two.

You should know that many diseases occur in the eyes, or many can occur; one of which is halabol. There are two species of it: one is in the fleshy nerve of the eye, which is generated on account of a gross obstruction in the patient, and it can also occur on account of gross matter fixed and aggregated therein. The cure for this, after purgation, if the affection has not become inveterate, is to inject into the eye rose oil. Or, you may take two parts of the same, namely rose oil, and a third of dill oil, and mix them together, and distill into the eye time after time until it is cleared.

Chap. II. Concerning the inversion of the eyelids.

It also happens to the eyes that the lower eyelids are inverted, so much so that redness may be seen in that place not moderately. And this disease is generated from the grossness of the matter, if any should arise within the eyelids. And it also happens on account of a dryness exuberant in the place; but it is found to occur very rarely. And the cure for that which is generated from the grossness of the matter is the cure which we have written concerning halabol, namely the distillation into the eye of rose oil, or oil of roses and dill oil together, as we have said. But that which arises from dryness can scarcely or never be cured.

Chap. III. Concerning the pustules and eruptions of the eyes.

Alpebiz (pustules of the eyes) also occur sometimes, and they are from a very bad humor. There are four species of them: one is from a humor that is likened to honey; another is from a humor that exists similar to milk; the third is from a humor that seems to be similar to barley porridge; and the fourth is from a humor that is likened to coagulated milk. The upper eyelids are also thickened beyond nature. And it happens from a viscous humor, coagulated like coagulated milk. And there arises also sometimes in the eyelids a disease which in Arabic is called balbarda, namely, they are grains that are likened to hail. And scabies can supervene upon them, and a gluing of the eyelids together, and a stony hardness. And the cure for the pustules is to feed the patient subtly, and to purge him many times with hierapigra, and place upon the pustule a piece of fresh carob, changing it once every day; and thus he will be freed, God granting. And this cure seems to be more convenient than that which is done with an incision by iron or a bristle or some hair. But to rub this pustule with the feather of some bird, as other pustules have shown to me, is an unsuitable indication. And these pustules are generated in the eyes just as they are accustomed to arise in other members. But when they happen to the eyes, we indicate them to be grave and full of dangers, since it is a subtle and delicate member compared to the other members. And the cure for these is to purge the body assiduously with laxatives suitable to each species, and to anoint the place with rose oil made with sweet almond oil. And if it is not cleared in this way, it requires surgery, which, if the surgeon is skilled, he will be able to remove them perfectly. And the cure for the thickening of the eyelids beyond nature is to apply epithema to them with subtle and strengthening styptic things, such as fresh roses, because of the nobility of the eye. And also to anoint them with rose oil made with sweet almond oil. But if the aforementioned thickening should be from an acute choleric humor, you must not anoint them with any oil at all, for it is forbidden in every member where choler dominates. But apply epithema to them with crushed fresh rose leaves. And if you cannot have fresh ones, do it with dried roses mixed with rose water. And the separation of the upper eyelids is accustomed to be called scarnabe by physicians; and the cure for it is to purge the body with hierapigra and colocynth until the disease is attenuated, and regulate him with a subtle and drying regimen. But I am very fearful of its removal with iron.

Chap. IIII. Concerning the scabies of the eyes.

Alpebiz (granules and scabies) also occur in the inner parts of the eyes. These granules are hard like stones, and also the scabies is sometimes found to be very hard, and sometimes less hard. And the worst of all is that which is likened to the rinds of figs, and it is viscous and glued inside the eyelids. And the granular [scabies], which is generated from a gross, hard, and compact humor, is viscous in the eyelids. Its cure is to subtilize its regimen. And among the most praised foods in this case are young birds prepared with almuri and vinegar, and cooked with water, oil, and salt; and turtledoves are also useful; of the vegetables, blete (blite) is recommended. And let the place be anointed assiduously with rose oil made with almond oil. And if the disease has become grave on account of its insensibility from the beginning, or on account of negligence in its curing, then you must cure it externally by the surgeon cutting or opening the skin and extracting the granules or the scabies themselves. And it is necessary in all things that surgeons be most skilled and learned above others in the anatomy of the members, and in knowing the utility or help of each of them, and their number, and their position and site, so that they may be able to fall into error as little as possible. The cure for the scabies is first to purge the whole body after the digestion of the humor has been made with digestives and incisives; and what is more recommended by us is the syrup sqinzabi made with seeded raisins and seeds of nettle, and food with chickens. And if you need to rub the scabies with very hard sugar, and once the rubbing and abrasion have been done, place upon it rose water in which quince seeds have stood, until it has become thickened from the viscosity, after it has been strained. And thus you must act more or less according to the strength and weakness of the scabies. But if it should be stony, that is, granular in the manner of hail, it is dissolved with difficulty. And in this you must intend to regulate it with a subtilizing and drying regimen, and by purging the body with that by which it comes. And if this cure does not suffice, return to surgery, so that it may be extracted with iron.

Chap. V. Concerning the junction or sealing of the eyelids.

Sometimes the eyelids are sealed and joined together. The cure for this is easy, for it is done by separating or dividing one eyelid from the other with the hand, or by cutting between them with a golden rod made in the manner of a knife. And having made the incision, place upon them or inside the white of an egg beaten with rose oil made with almond oil. And no physician except Haly makes any mention of this rose oil made with almond oil; but I know it through experience, as I have already proved its utility many times. But when the eyelid is joined to the albugo of the eye at the lacrimal angle, then the cure is very difficult. And this happens in the greater part after the incision of the ungula (pterygium). And the cure for this is to ingeniously elevate or separate the eyelid of the lacrimal angle from the albugo, and this must be done little by little, softly and plainly, placing space between one elevation and another. And this elevation must be done with a golden spatula, that is, with a golden instrument having much breadth and flatness in its extremity. But you should do this very little unless the body is perfectly cleansed and evacuated, so that you may have all certainty therein, lest pus or some collection be able to occur in the place. And this done, you must place upon it rose oil made with almond oil, continuing until he is freed.

Cla. VI. Concerning the inverted hairs of the eyelids.

Sometimes the hairs in the eyelids are inverted, so that they seem to return to their root, and they enter into the eyes, from which follows great harm. The cure for this is to cleanse the body many times with hierapigra. And if the patient is robust and strong, mix with the hierapigra some colocynth, and...