Though his belief in this restorative principle would naturally dispose him to watch its operations carefully, and make him cautious not to do anything that would interfere with their tendencies to rectify deranged actions, and though he lays it down as a general rule by which the physician should regulate his treatment, “to do good, or at least to do no harm,”[47] there is ample evidence that on proper occasions his practice was sufficiently bold and decided. In inflammatory affections of the chest he bled freely, if not, as has been said, _ad deliquum animi_,[48] and in milder cases he practised cupping with or without scarification.[49] Though in ordinary cases of constipation he merely prescribed laxative herbs, such as the mercury (_mercurialis perennis_),[50] beet,[50] and cabbage,[50] he had in reserve elaterium,[51] scammony,[52] spurges,[53] and other drastic cathartics, when more potent medicines of this class were indicated. And although when it was merely wished to evacuate upwards in a gentle manner, he was content with giving hyssop,[54] and other simple means, he did not fail, when it was desirable to make a more powerful impression, to administer the white hellebore with a degree of boldness, which his successors in the healing art were afraid to imitate.[55] A high authority has expressly stated that he was the discoverer of the principles of derivation and revulsion in the treatment of diseases.[56] Fevers he treated as a general rule, upon the diluent system, but did not fail to administer gentle laxatives, and even to practise venesection in certain cases.[57] When narcotics were indicated, he had recourse to mandragora, henbane, and perhaps to poppy-juice.[58]