COMMENTARY. This is taken from Galen. (Meth. Med. xii, 6.) See also Oribasius (Synops. vi, 27); Aëtius (v, 98.) In this case Alexander recommends nearly the same plan of treatment as Galen. He recommends for food things which are incrassant and anti-discutient, such as the juice of halica, succory, lettuces, apples, pomegranates, pears, &c. They must be administered, however, in small quantities. He approves of giving a weak watery wine, not very old. He recommends friction with tonic and incrassant oils, such as the oil of apples, and other applications of a like nature. Avicenna, Averrhoes, and Rhases treat the case exactly as our author. SECT. XXXIX.—ON THE OTHER CAUSES WHICH OCCASION SYNCOPE. There are four other causes from which men fall into syncope; namely, violent pain, watchfulness, too great evacuation, and sometimes motion when in a state of delirium. To these, if you please, you may add a fifth, namely, an intemperament of the primary organs. Death takes place most quickly when the heart is affected, next, when the brain, but not so when the liver. * * * * * COMMENTARY. See, in like manner, Galen (Meth. Med. xii, 7); Oribasius (Synops. vi, 28); Aëtius (v, 99.) From the Commentaries on the last three Sections it will be seen that Galen and his followers, whether Greek or Arabian, consider syncope in the light of a symptom or complication of fever. But it is treated of as a distinct disease by Celsus, Cælius Aurelianus, and Aretæus; by the former two under the name of _morbus cardiacus_, and by the last under that of _syncope_. We think ourselves called upon in this place to give a brief exposition of their views.