Pliny Natural History, Vol. VI (Loeb Latin-English)

Prurigo.—Chronic itching of the eye.

Pterygium.—Also called unguis ("the nail"), an inflammatory swelling at the inner angle of the lower eyelid. It also refers to a whitlow.

Scabritia.—Inflammation of the eyelid.

It will be seen that often a Latin name can be associated only with a symptom or set of symptoms. Moreover, Pliny’s nomenclature does not entirely coincide with that of Celsus, so the invaluable aid of the latter is not always available.

Abscesses are called by various names, such as carbunculus (carbuncle), collectio, furunculus (boil), panus, parotis, and tumor. The parotis received its name from its position by the ear; the panus was a superficial abscess in a hair follicle (Spencer on Celsus V. 18, 19); and the others probably denoted variations in size or severity.

There is much confusion in the use of Latin terms to denote conditions due to the decay and putrefaction of tissues. We have the terms cancer, carcinoma, erysipelas, ignis sacer ("holy fire"), phagedaena, and Pliny’s favorite word, ulcera (ulcers), very often qualified by an adjective or participle like vetera (old), manantia (oozing), putrescentia (rotting), or serpentia (spreading). On the other hand, we have the modern terms sepsis, erysipelas, lupus, shingles, gangrene, and cancer. Identifications are often difficult or even impossible, and the medical historian, faced with these Latin names, can do little more than make probable guesses.

Pliny does not use the word erysipelas, but rather ignis sacer, and this may sometimes refer to lupus or to shingles (XXVI. § 121). Phagedaena is certainly gangrene, and perhaps the same is true for ulcera serpentia or putrescentia.