Of Medicine, in Eight BooksCelsus, Aulus Cornelius
History
Of Medicine, in Eight Books
Celsus, Aulus Cornelius
Medicine, Greek and Roman
If they be ulcerated, and the ulcers are to be cleansed, the remedy is
sixty seeds of cucumber blanched, fifteen kernels of the wild pine, as
much anise as can be held betwixt three fingers, a little saffron; all
these powdered, and divided into two draughts of mulse.
If the pain only is to be relieved, _the medicine is_ thirty seeds
of cucumber, and twenty of the kernels mentioned before, five sweet
almonds, a little saffron powdered, and given to drink with milk. And
besides these it is proper to apply some malagmas; especially such as
are fit for drawing out moisture.
CHAP. XI.
OF THE CHOLERA, AND ITS CURE.
From the bowels we proceed to the intestines, which are obnoxious both
to acute and chronic distempers. And first of all we shall make mention
of the cholera; because that seems at once to affect equally the
stomach and intestines. For at the same time there is both a purging
and vomiting: besides these, there are flatulencies, the intestines are
racked, bile is forced both upwards and downwards, first resembling
water, then as if fresh meat had been washed in it, sometimes white,
sometimes black, or variously coloured. Upon this account the Greeks
gave this distemper the name of cholera[CX]. And besides what we have
taken notice of already, the legs and hands too are often contracted,
thirst torments, and there are faintings. Where all these concur, it is
not to be wondered, if the patient die suddenly. And nevertheless there
is no distemper obviated with less trouble.
[CX] χολέρα.
Wherefore upon the first appearance of these symptoms it is proper to
drink plenty of tepid water and to vomit. That scarce ever fails to
vomit: but although it miscarries in that, yet it is of use to mix
new matter with the corrupted; and it is a step in the recovery, if
the vomiting be stopped. If that happens, all drink must immediately
be abstained from. But if there be bloody stools, it is fit to bathe
the stomach with something cold, or if the belly be pained, with the
same egelid, the belly itself being assisted by medicines moderately
warm. But if the vomiting, and purging, and thirst, all at once torment
greatly, and what is vomited is yet somewhat crude, it is not a proper
time to give wine: water must be given, and that not cold, but rather
egelid. And penny-royal with vinegar must be applied to the nostrils,
or polenta sprinkled with wine, or mint, or what is _comfortable or
refreshing_ to nature(26).
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