Of Medicine, in Eight BooksCelsus, Aulus Cornelius
History
Of Medicine, in Eight Books
Celsus, Aulus Cornelius
Medicine, Greek and Roman
Asclepiades, to whom we are indebted for many useful discoveries, in
which I have also followed him, recommends the sipping of very strong
vinegar, and asserts, that this without any danger suppresses the
ulcers. That may possibly prevent a flux of blood, but cannot heal
the ulcers. A more proper application is lycium(13), which the same
author also equally approves; or the juice of leek, or horehound,
or sweet almonds rubbed with tragacanth, and mixed with passum, or
lint-seed bruised, and mixed with sweet wine. The exercise also of
walking and running is necessary. And smart friction is to be used from
the breast downwards to all the inferior parts.
The food ought to be neither too acrid, nor rough: honey, lentils,
tragum, milk, ptisan, fat flesh, and especially leeks, and whatever is
mixed with the latter. The drink ought to be as little as possible,
water may be given, either pure, or boiled to a decoction with a quince
or dates. Also mild gargarisms: but if these are not successful,
repellent ones are good.
This disease is not acute, and yet may not continue long: but requires
a speedy cure, lest it turn very severe and tedious.
[Sidenote: _Of a cough._]
A cough, which is contracted in many different ways, is generally a
troublesome concomitant of an exulceration of the fauces; and in this
case, when the fauces are cured, the cough ceases. Yet it is sometimes
found by itself without any other distemper: and when it becomes
inveterate, it is hardly possible to remove it entirely. And sometimes
it is dry, sometimes it either generates or discharges phlegm.
In this it is proper to drink hyssop every other day; to keep in the
breath and run, but by no means in dusty places; and to read aloud,
which at first is obstructed by the cough, but afterwards overcomes it;
then to walk; then to use also those exercises that employ the hands,
and to rub the breast for a long time: after these to eat three ounces
of the mellowest figs stewed over the fire.
Besides if it be moist, strong frictions are good with some heating
medicines, the head being briskly rubbed at the same time; also
cucurbitals used to the breast, mustard applied to the external part of
the fauces, till it be a little ulcerated; the drink may be prepared
from mint, and sweet almonds, and starch; and beginning with dry bread
he may proceed to any other light food.
But if it be a dry cough, when it is most severe, taking a cyathus of
austere wine relieves; provided that be not oftener done than three or
four times after proper intervals. It is likewise necessary to swallow
a little of the best laser, to take the juice of leeks or horehound, to
lick squils, to sup vinegar of squills, or at least sharp vinegar, or
two cyathi of wine with a clove of bruised garlick infused in it.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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