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
Galen’s practice is exactly detailed by our author. He evacuates the
bile upwards and downwards at the commencement, and also, with the same
intention, administers diuretics and sudorifics. After these he reposes
great confidence in wormwood, which, indeed, all the ancients held to
be a powerful cholagogue. He also approves much of the tepid bath of
common water. He directs the physician not to neglect venesection, if
it be indicated; upon which his commentator Stephanus remarks, that the
circumstances commonly indicating bloodletting are the condition of the
patient, if he be young and plethoric, and the season of the year, if it
be spring. (Ed. Dietz.) He forbids wine until the fever is concocted, but
afterwards allows a small quantity of thin watery wine. The food is to be
refrigerant, and diluent. Everything of a heating and acrid nature is to
be abstained from.
Aëtius, Oribasius, and Nonnus conduct the treatment upon the principles
laid down by Galen. Actuarius directs bleeding at the commencement.
Alexander discusses the established principles of treatment freely and
fully. He disapproves of Galen’s practice of giving the decoction of
wormwood in the genuine or true tertian, after the seventh day, and
confines the administration of it to spurious tertians, when he mixes it
with oxymel. His own remedies are of a diluent and refrigerant nature. He
approves very much of the bath. He speaks highly of the good effects of
grapes and peaches, and still more of water-melons given with cold water
before the fit. He approves of gentle, but not of strong purgatives. He
praises very especially a rhodomel prepared from the juice of roses,
honey, and scammony; and another, consisting of the same ingredients,
along with agaric and pepper.
Synesius recommends cooling articles, such as damascenes, gourds, &c.
but says nothing of wormwood. Constantinus Africanus also omits to make
mention either of wormwood or the tepid bath. He, however, pours water on
the head and puts the feet into hot water.
Serapion directs emetics, if the matters are determined to the stomach,
and clysters, or gentle purgatives, if to the bowels. He recommends
myrobalans afterwards, and then wormwood, but not until the morbific
matter is concocted. (Tr. vii, 13.)
Rhases recommends gentle and cooling purgatives, with refrigerant and
diluent drinks, containing sorrel, cucumber, camphor, &c. (Ad Mansor. x,
4.)
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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