The "De morbo quem gallicum nuncupant" (1497) of Coradinus Gilinus / by Cyril C. Barnard.

  • Barnard, Cyril Cuthbert.
Date:
1930
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Licence: In copyright

Credit: The "De morbo quem gallicum nuncupant" (1497) of Coradinus Gilinus / by Cyril C. Barnard. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    IO About this French disease however there are three things to be considered, firstly the pustules, secondly the pains in the joints, and thirdly why it begins in the pudenda, such as the testicles, anus, vulva and male organ or penis. * ■ f T, 4 . t . * * t 7 >. % ./ . .! i j t. ; III. Diagnosis: i. About the first and second points I main¬ tain that since this French disease or malady proceeds from adust choler mixed with melancholy, and works through to the skin, which it sometimes ulcerates and blisters, and forms a crust like that produced by the cautery, and sometimes appears like millet-seeds, so it breaks out in that part which is fairly tenuous and hot, resolves or putrefies somewhat quickly and soon recovers. Also, as it finds the skin hard, it ulcerates, blisters, and forms a crust, for when any hot and tenuous matter settles in a hot and not very dense part, it is fairly soon adusted. When therefore this tenuous adust choler arises in the flesh, it is resolved or permeates to the skin fairly quickly, and afterwards forms pustules, ulcers, blisters and a crust, and this on account of the tenuosity of the part. 2. On the other hand that which occurs in the nerves and ligaments or in the joints is a gross substance and the part is dense, for nerves are of a cold and dry complexion, and so it is not resolved nor does it work through to the skin, form pustules or ulcerate at all. Pains are caused in the ligaments and joints, which is apparent from Galen (de ingenio sanitatis, lib. XIV, cap. de igne persico) ]), about the place where he says, “and sometimes this disease appears without pustules”. It is confirmed by the authority of Prince Avicenna in the above named place, at the end of the chapter on the Ignis Persicus2), “And that which occurs in the flesh is resolved fairly quickly, but that which occuis in the nerves is more settled and resolves more slowly”. J. I he tnird point to be considered is why this disease begins as pustules and ulcers in the tenuous parts or pudenda, such as the testicles, vulva, male organ or penis, and anus. In this mat- 1) See p. 104, footnote 1. 2) Book 4, Fen 3, Treatise 1, Chapter 9. , •