The seven books of Paulus Ægineta, volume 1 (of 3) : $b translated from the Greek: with a commentary embracing a complete view of the knowledge possessed by the Greeks, Romans, and Arabians on all subjects connected with medicine and surgery — John Shaqi
The seven books of Paulus Ægineta, volume 1 (of 3) : $b translated from the Greek: with a commentary embracing a complete view of the knowledge possessed by the Greeks, Romans, and Arabians on all subjects connected with medicine and surgeryPaulus, Aegineta
History
The seven books of Paulus Ægineta, volume 1 (of 3) : $b translated from the Greek: with a commentary embracing a complete view of the knowledge possessed by the Greeks, Romans, and Arabians on all subjects connected with medicine and surgery
Paulus, Aegineta
Medicine; Medicine, Arab; Medicine, Greek and Roman
But the account of the disease given by Galen and Aëtius is the fullest.
They derive the name either from the bird, as mentioned above, or from
ivy (κίττος), because, as ivy entwines itself about various plants, so
does this appetite in pregnant women fasten upon a variety of improper
articles of food. It is attended with languor of the stomach, nausea,
and loathing of food, bringing on vomiting of bile or phlegm, anxiety,
and pains in the stomach. All these symptoms arise, they say, from a
sanguineous plethora, brought on by a suppression of the menstrual
discharge. They, therefore, recommend a restricted diet, and moderate
exercise when the woman was accustomed to it. When the humour which
infests the stomach is of an acid, acrid, or saltish nature, they
direct draughts of tepid water, to encourage vomiting; they forbid all
sweet things; and recommend an old sub-astringent wine. When there is a
loathing of food, they advise us to tempt the appetite with a variety
of savory things. To those who have a desire for eating earth, they
particularly recommend starch. When the fluid which is vomited is of a
thick and viscid nature, they recommend pickles, radishes, and oxymel,
for an emetic. They also particularly direct astringent cataplasms and
plasters to be applied to the præcordia.
As the practice of the other authorities is conducted upon similar
principles, we shall mention them very succinctly. For the depraved
appetite which longs for earth, Serapion recommends aromatic spices,
such as cardamon, cubebs, and the like. For the continued vomiting,
Alsaharavius directs plasters, containing the oil of spikenard, mastich,
quinces, wormwood, and the like, or a vessel filled with hot water, to be
applied over the stomach, pomegranate seeds to be held in the mouth; and
that the patient should take gentle exercise, and abstain from all sweet
things.
Alexander Aphrodisiensis accounts for the disease in much the same way as
Galen and Aëtius. He says that, when the menstrual fluid is suppressed, a
determination of it takes place to the stomach, until the fœtus becomes
as large as to consume it.
Pliny strongly commends citrons for the cure of the disease.
For the œdematous swellings of the feet and legs, most of the other
authorities concur with our author in recommending astringent
applications. The anthyllis, mentioned by him, is supposed by Sprengel to
have been the _cressa cretica_. (R. H. Hist. p. 164.)
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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