INTRODUCTION 



Prurigo. — Chronic itching of the eye. 



Pierygium. — Also called unguis, an inflammatory 



swelling at the inner angle of the lower lid. Also 



whitlow. 

 Scabritia. — Inflammation of the eyelid. 



It will be seen that often a Latin name can be 

 associated only with a symptom or symptoms. 

 Moreover, Pliny's nomenclature does not altogether 

 coincide with that of Celsus, so that the invaluable 

 aid of the latter is not always available. 



Abscesses are called by various names, such as 

 carbunculus, collectio , furunculus , panus, parotis, 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 mortification and putre- 

 faction of the tissues. We have the terms cancer, 

 carcinoma, erysipelas, ig?iis sacer, phagedaena, and 

 Phny's favourite word ulcera, very often quaUfied 

 liy an adjective or participle Uke vetera, manantia, 

 putrescentia, serpentia. On the other hand there 

 are the modern terms sepsis, erysipelas, lupus, 

 shingles, gangrene, cancer. Identifications are often 

 difficult, or even impossible, and the medical his- 

 torian, faced with the Latin names, can do Uttle 

 more than make probable guesses. 



PUny does not use the word erysipelas, but igjiis 

 sacer, and this mav sometimes refer to lupus or to 

 shingles (XXVI. § 121). Phagedaena is certainly 

 gangrene, and so perhaps are ulcera serpentia or 

 putrescentia. Superficial maUgnant disease would 



