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
Avicenna gives ample directions for the treatment of sneezing; but they
are evidently copied from our author. (iv, 1, 2.) The same may be said
of Haly Abbas. (Pract. iii, 22.) Rhases recommends us to give warm gruel
internally, to pour warm water on the head, and to apply oil of gourd, of
roses, and the like, to the nostrils. (Cont. xxxi.)
Cassius Medicus discusses the question why rubbing the nose and eyes
stops sneezing. He supposes that it is by occasioning a discharge from
these parts, whereby the exciting cause is removed. (Probl. 45.)
SECT. L.—ON LOSS OF APPETITE.
When loss of appetite is occasioned by depraved humours, we must give
those kinds of food and drink which will either clear away such humours
by vomiting, or downwards by the bowels, or those that by dilution will
render them better. You have the materials of these things treated of in
the First Book of this work. Should the loss of appetite be occasioned
by debility, since all debility is owing to an intemperament of the
parts, we must cure the species of intemperament by its contraries.
Wherefore we will give a more particular account of loss of appetite
in treating of stomach complaints in the Third Book. But in fevers we
must straightway endeavour to bring back the appetite with aromatics,
more particularly by giving polenta moistened with water, or oxycrate,
or diluted wine, or a decoction of some of the fragrant and astringent
fruits; by gentle unction and moderate friction of the whole body, by
chafing, by bathing the face, and swallowing a small quantity of water;
and, by putting the fingers down the throat, the stomach has been roused
to bring up the food, more especially if the fluid discharged be bilious
or acid. After the first days, cataplasms of dates, of apples, of the
wild wine, of wormwood, and of aloes, ought to be applied over the
stomach. Let a variety of simple food be prepared, and from grain, having
some difference from the common articles, but not very different from
those used in fevers; and among them those fruits which do not readily
turn acid, nor are very sweet, but are ripe; however, they are not to be
eaten to satiety, but only so as to whet the appetite for other food.
While they are eating, the most delicious articles ought to be present,
which may have the power to provoke and incite the desire. After the
fever is gone, should the want of appetite continue during the recovery,
yellow parsnip boiled with oxymel, and lettuces, and pickled olives,
and capers, and pickles, the bulbi, and every other stomachic should be
thought of; and, in particular, those things should be recollected in
which the patient delighted most when in good health. Walking, gestation,
vociferation, calefacient plasters, frictions, and exercises ought to be
had recourse to. And drinking the propoma from wormwood, or from aloes,
or swallowing the vinegar of squills to the amount of a mystrum, have
proved excellent remedies.
* * * * *
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