Of Medicine, in Eight BooksCelsus, Aulus Cornelius
History
Of Medicine, in Eight Books
Celsus, Aulus Cornelius
Medicine, Greek and Roman
If the tonsils swell from an inflammation without an ulcer, the
head must be covered as in the last disorder, and the part fomented
externally with the vapour of hot water; the patient must walk much;
lie in bed with his head raised; and use gargarisms of the repellent
medicines. The liquorice root too bruised, and boiled in passum or
mulse, has the same effect. And it is not amiss to touch them gently
with some medicines, which are made in this manner: the juice is
squeezed from a sweet pomegranate, and a sextarius of this is boiled
over a gentle fire to the consistence of honey; then saffron, myrrh,
scissile alum, of each p. ii. *. are powdered separately, and to these
are added gradually two cyathi of mild wine, of honey one; after that,
they are mixed with the first mentioned juice; and again gently boiled;
or a sextarius of the same juice is boiled in the same way, and the
following things powdered in like manner are added to it; of nard p.
*. omphacium p. i. *. cinnamon, myrrh, cassia, each p. i. *. And these
same compositions are proper both for purulent ears and nostrils. The
food in this disorder also ought to be mild, lest it exasperate the
inflammation.
But if the inflammation is so great as to obstruct the breath, the
patient must rest in bed, abstain from eating, and take nothing else
but warm water: a clyster must also be given, and a gargarism used
of figs and mulse; and the part touched with honey and omphacium.
Externally the hot vapour must be applied, but for a longer time, till
they suppurate and break of themselves. If pus is contained within, and
the tumours do not break, they must be cut. Afterwards the patient must
gargle with warm mulse.
But if with an inconsiderable swelling there is an ulceration, for a
gargarism there must be added to the cream of bran a little honey,
and the ulcers are to be anointed with the following medicines: three
cyathi of the sweetest passum are boiled into one; then is added of
frankincense p. i. *. saffron, myrrh, each p. *. and the whole is set
upon the fire again, till it boil. When the ulcers are clean, he must
gargle with the same cream of bran, or with milk. And in this case also
a mild diet is necessary; to which may be added sweet wine.
CHAP. XI.
OF ULCERS OF THE MOUTH.
Ulcers of the mouth, if they be attended with an inflammation, and
are foul and red, are best treated by the medicines prepared from
pomegranates mentioned before. And a repellent cream, with the addition
of a little honey, is to be held in the mouth often; the patient must
walk, and avoid all acrid food. When the ulcers begin to be clean,
a mild liquor, and sometimes the best water is to be kept in the
mouth: and the use of wine undiluted does service, also a fuller diet,
provided it be not at all acrid. The ulcers ought to be sprinkled with
scissile allum, and a little more than half its quantity of unripe
galls.
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