Fracastorius gives the following account of this affection: “Si inflammata et accensa sit cholera, pustulam illam facit, quæ ἐπινυκτις vocatur, quod sæpissime noctu nascatur, Arabes Essere appellant.” (De Morb. Cont. ii, 15.) Both Lorry and Rayer confess themselves unable to determine what the epinyctis of the ancients was. It would appear to have been some peculiar species of eczema, now extinct. It must have been a more formidable disease than the nettle-rash, which certain modern authorities have taken for the _epinyctis_ of the ancients. SECT. X.—ON PHLYCTÆNÆ OR BULLÆ. As Bullæ when they burst spontaneously are attended with acute pain, it is proper to perforate at their under part with a sharp needle, and then to squeeze out the humour gently, suffering the skin which covers it to remain. And if the wound should close up and the bullæ fill up, it is to be evacuated again in like manner, and pressed out; and the incumbent skin is to be kept pressed down until the ulcer below be healed. Before the bullæ break, apply boiled lentils triturated with water; or, the shoots of pomegranate, having been warmed upon hot coals, are to be applied, so as to burn the parts. But if they burst and form an ulcer, having melted axunge, and mixed levigated litharge, put into a linen cloth, and apply; or, having boiled the root of lily in water, triturate it with cerate, and apply. _For epinyctis and phlyctæna._ Having triturated equal portions of litharge and sulphur vivum with vinegar and myrtle-oil, until it become of the thickness of the sordes of baths, rub with oil and wine. For hot eruptions, warm papulæ, achores, incipient furunculus, and burns, the composition of plumbago, and that from eggs is applicable. * * * * * COMMENTARY. See Aëtius (xiv, 63); Oribasius (Morb. Curat. iii, 23); Actuarius (Meth. Med. vi, 8); Avicenna (iii, 3, 1, 11.) This appears to be the pompholyx of Drs. Willan and Bateman. Aëtius remarks, that the disease principally attacks women whose menses are obstructed. (Bateman says, “it seems to affect only women.”) He recommends emmenagogues, laxatives, and diuretics, and forbids all acrid things. Our author copies the whole from Oribasius. Actuarius recommends nearly the same applications. Celsus describes the phlyctænæ as a variety of the pustulæ. There is nothing particular in the treatment recommended by Avicenna. Thucydides mentions small phlyctænæ and ulcers among the symptoms of the plague of Athens. (De Bello Pelopon. ii.) Hippocrates gives the name of _pemphyx_ to the cutaneous eruption, by which the plague of Athens was distinguished. (Epidem. vi.) See Galen’s Comment. (v, 453, ed. Basil.) Procopius also takes notice of black phlyctænæ among the symptoms of the great plague which raged in the reign of Justinian (Pers. ii.) See also Diodorus Siculus (Biblioth. xiv.) Some suppose, however, that by phlyctænæ were meant petechie. See Prælect. Marc. p. 301. SECT. XI.—ON BURNS.