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
Alexander delivers his opinions regarding the treatment of quartans at
so great a length that it is impossible to do justice to them in an
abridgment. As usual, he animadverts freely upon the doctrines of Galen,
whom he finds fault with for recommending desiccants and calefacients in
every species of quartan fever; whereas he maintains that when it arises
from adust bile, refrigerants are indicated. He strongly commends emetics
at the beginning of a paroxysm. He approves of peppers combined with
opium, henbane, and other articles. Synesius and Constantinus Africanus
admit the distinction made by Alexander, and nearly follow his principles
of treatment. Synesius makes mention of wormwood, which, however,
had been recommended by Ruffus. (Ap. Aëtium.) Serenus Samonicus also
recommends wormwood: “Mira est absinthi cum simplice potio lympha.”
Celsus gives minute directions for conducting the treatment in all
the stages of the complaint. He thus sums up the remedies which he
recommends: “In ejusmodi valetudine medicamenta sunt, oleum, frictio,
exercitatio, cibus, vinum.”
Serapion mentions black hellebore, agaric, and the lapis lazuli, as
medicines which purge black bile. (De Antid. vi, 15.) Averrhoes, however,
cautions against using black hellebore for the cure of quartans;
expresses himself in dubious terms respecting venesection; and, upon the
whole, seems to place his principal reliance in things of a diffusible,
attenuant, and penetrating nature. Haly Abbas, Avicenna, and Rhases
speak of venesection in much the same terms as Galen, that is to say,
they recommend it when symptoms of plethora are present, but say that
it may prove prejudicial in any other circumstances. They approve of
emetics at the commencement, and of wormwood in the decline of the fever.
Avicenna appeals to Galen in favour of the black and white hellebore.
Several of Rhases’ authorities in his ‘Continens’ recommend bleeding.
They in general approve of the early use of the bath, and of diuretics
and sudorifics; and recommend, in the decline of the fever, things of a
heating nature, such as pepper, anise, spikenard, ginger, &c.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account