COMMENTARY. According to Galen, bulimos is occasioned by a want connected with atony, and coldness of the stomach. (De Caus. Sympt. i, 7.) Alexander, on the other hand, says, that it arises from inordinate heat and weakness of the stomach. He informs us that the vulgar practice consisted in giving fragrant things, binding the extremities, rousing by pinching, giving bread soaked in wine, and, in short, administering every thing calculated to cool and strengthen the body. Others, he says, give opium in cold water, in order to extinguish the heat of the stomach. However, he disapproves of all these things, and recommends food of difficult digestion. He relates the case of a woman affected with bulimia who was cured by having a purgative powder given to her, which occasioned the discharge of a worm more than twelve cubits long. (vii, 6.) Aëtius and Oribasius adopt the theory of Galen, and recommend nearly the same treatment as our author. Aëtius also directs us to apply over the stomach cooling cataplasms made of dates, quinces, or polenta, boiled in diluted wine. Serapion remarks that bulimos is distinguished from the canine appetite, by the desire in the former complaint being for proper articles of food, whereas, in the latter, it is for depraved or improper food. His treatment in most respects is like our author’s. He also recommends a mixture of old odoriferous wine, camphor, and lignum aloes. (ii, 11.) Avicenna and Haly Abbas agree with Galen in stating that bulimos is connected with a cold intemperament of the stomach, whereby the sensibility and attractive power of the stomach are diminished. Their treatment in principle is quite similar to our author’s. In extreme cases they agree with Galen in recommending the theriac. One of Rhases’ authorities recommends cardamom, cubebs, and the like. (Cont. xi.) The classical reader is referred to Callimachus for a grand poetical description of Bulimia. (Hymnus in Cererem.) SECT. LII.—ON THE CANINE APPETITE.