CELSUS

the same way with a probe and the knife; and the same must be done if several, as it were, small branches show themselves. Where one has reached the ends of the fistula, all the callus hardened tissue must be cut out from it, and staples or sutures/fasteners applied on top, and the medicament with which it may be glued together. But if it extends straight underneath, where it has been explored with a probe as to where it leads most, that sinus ought to be cut out; then a staple of the skin margins is to be inserted; and equally, agglutinating medicaments are to be applied on top or, if the ulcer is more corrupt, which sometimes happens with diseased bone, where that has also been treated, those that promote pus.

2 Fistulae are accustomed to exit underneath between the ribs; when this happens, the rib must be cut through on both sides in that place and removed, so that nothing corrupt is left inside. They are accustomed, when they have crossed the ribs, to violate the diaphragm the membrane separating the upper viscera from the intestines. This can be understood by the location and magnitude of the pain, and because sometimes the breath bursts forth from it with a bubbling fluid, and especially if he has held this in his mouth. In that case, there is no place for medicine. In other cases, however, which are curable around the ribs, fatty medicaments are hostile; one may use others which are adapted to wounds: however, dry lint is applied best or, if something seems to need cleansing, lint dipped in honey.

3 No bone lies under the belly, but there very pernicious fistulae are formed, so much so that Sostratus believed them to be incurable. Use has shown that this is not entirely the case. And indeed, what may seem most surprising