Of Medicine, in Eight BooksCelsus, Aulus Cornelius
History
Of Medicine, in Eight Books
Celsus, Aulus Cornelius
Medicine, Greek and Roman
But if there be any inflammation, which is commonly followed by a
swelling and pain, the chief remedies are, rest, and abstinence,
sulphurated wool(17) applied round it, the use of wormwood fasting.
If there is a burning heat in the stomach, it must be embrocated
now and then with vinegar and rose-oil; and then food must be taken
sparingly; and the external applications must be such, as both repel
and soften; then withdrawing these, warm cataplasms of meal must be
used, to discuss the remains of it; a clyster must be given now and
then; exercise must be used, and a fuller diet.
But if the stomach is infested with an ulcer, the same course almost
must be pursued, as has been prescribed in ulcerated fauces. Exercise
and friction of the lower parts must be practised. Light and glutinous
food must be used, but not to satiety. Every thing acrid and acid is to
be avoided. If there is no fever, sweet wine may be used, or if that
inflates, at least mild; but neither very cold, nor too hot.
If the stomach is loaded with phlegm, a vomit is necessary, sometimes
fasting, sometimes after meat. Exercise, gestation, sailing, friction,
are good. Nothing is to be eaten or drunk, but what is warm; only
avoiding such things, as usually generate phlegm.
It is a more troublesome disorder, where the stomach is vitiated with
bile. Those that are thus affected, usually at the interval of some
days throw it up, and indeed, which is worst of all, of a black colour.
It is proper to give such patients clysters, and potions of wormwood;
gestation, and sailing are necessary, and vomiting by sea sickness,
if it can be procured; crudity must be avoided; food used easy of
concoction, and not ungrateful to the stomach, and austere wine.
The most common and worst disorder of the stomach is a relaxation,
that is, when it is not capable of retaining food, and the body ceases
to be nourished, and thus is wasted by a consumption. The bath is
very hurtful in this species. Reading, and exercising of the superior
parts are necessary, also unctions and frictions; then to have cold
water poured all over the body, and to swim in cold water, and to
lay the stomach itself under canals, and more especially that part
below the shoulders, which is opposite to the stomach; to stand in
cold and medicinal springs is a salutary practice, such as those of
Cutiliæ(18) and Subruinæ; food is also to be used cold, and such
rather, as is of difficult concoction than what is easily corrupted:
for this reason most people, that can concoct nothing else, concoct
beef. Whence we may infer, that neither birds, nor venison, nor fish
ought to be given, except the harder kinds. Cold wine indeed is fittest
to drink, or at least the strong well warmed, particularly the Rhetic
or Allobrogic(19), or any other, which is both austere, and seasoned
with resin; if that is not to be had, the roughest possible, and
especially Signine(20).
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account