Of Medicine, in Eight BooksCelsus, Aulus Cornelius
History
Of Medicine, in Eight Books
Celsus, Aulus Cornelius
Medicine, Greek and Roman
As to the different ages, people in middle life bear want of food most
easily; young men not so well; least of all boys, and very old men.
The more uneasiness one finds from it, he ought to take victuals the
oftener; and that frequency is more especially necessary for one, that
is growing. Warm bathing is fit both for boys and old men. Wine should
be given to boys more diluted, to old men less; but such as occasions
flatulencies, to neither of them. It is of less consequence what
victuals young men eat, and how dressed. Those that are loose in the
belly while young, for the most part are costive when they grow old;
such as are costive, in their youth, are often loose in old age. It
is best for a young man to have a lax belly, and for an old man to be
bound.
[Sidenote: _Of the seasons. Winter._]
It is necessary also to consider the seasons of the year. It is proper
to eat more in the winter; to take a smaller quantity of drink, but
less diluted; to make much use of bread, and flesh rather boiled
_than roasted_, and greens sparingly; to take food once a day, unless
the belly be too much bound. If one dines, it is better to take some
trifling thing, and that dry, without flesh, and without drink. In that
season of the year, all warm things, or such as promote heat, are best.
Nor is venery altogether so hurtful then, as at some other times.
[Sidenote: _Spring._]
But in the spring the quantity of food is to be lessened, and the
drink increased, but more diluted; more use is to be made of flesh and
greens, and there must be a gradual change from boiled to roast flesh.
Venery is most safe in that season of the year.
[Sidenote: _Summer._]
But in summer the body requires meat and drink more frequently;
therefore it is convenient to take a dinner. Flesh and greens are most
proper in that season; drink very much diluted, that it may at once
remove thirst, and not inflame the body; bathing in cold water; roast
flesh, cold food, or such as is cooling. As food must be often taken,
so it must be in small quantities.
[Sidenote: _Autumn._]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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