Singultus is occasioned either by fulness, or emptiness; or by the presence of acrid and pungent humours in the stomach, and when they are vomited, it ceases. And many, if they only take the medicine composed of the three kinds of pepper, and drink wine immediately after, have hiccough. And it is well known that many people hiccup when the food spoils on the stomach. Many also hiccup from rigors. We will find an emetic a proper remedy in cases which are occasioned by fulness or pungency, and warmth in those from cold; and, when the complaint is occasioned by a plethora of humours, there is need of strong evacuation. This may be accomplished by sneezing, but when emptiness is the cause, sneezing will not cure it; for in such cases, we must give rue with wine, or nitre in honied water, or hartwort, or carrot, or cumin, or ginger, or calamint, or Celtic nard. These are the remedies for such cases as are occasioned by corruption of the food, cold, or plethora. When a redundance of cold and viscid humours is the cause, give castor to the amount of three oboli to drink in oxycrate, and the same thing will be of use when applied externally to the skin, along with old Sicyonian oil. The vinegar of squills or oxymel may also be drunk with advantage. Retaining the breath is likewise of great use. * * * * * COMMENTARY. This Section is copied from Oribasius (Synops. vi, 42.) According to Galen’s explanation, hiccough is occasioned by any exciting cause which rouses the stomach to violent emotions. He states that sneezing proves a cure to it. (De Caus. Sym. iii, 6.) Celsus says, in like manner, ‘Singultus sternutamento finitur.’ He states that frequent and unusual hiccuping is symptomatic of an inflamed liver. (ii, 7.) Aëtius, in like manner, says that singultus in fevers often arises from inflammation of the stomach and neighbouring parts. He treats of the complaint at great length. When it arises from pungent humours, he gives first emetics, and afterwards narcotics, such as opium, &c. He also applies a cupping instrument with great heat to the breast, stomach, and back, in certain cases. (ix, 5.) Alexander gives an interesting account of this affection, for which he recommends various remedies. When connected with inflammation of the stomach or liver, he begins with bleeding. When it is occasioned by thick and viscid humours, he recommends an oxymel of squills, the composition of which he minutely describes. He also speaks favorably of emetics. When the humours are of a pungent nature he approves of diluents and the drinking of tepid water. Sometimes, he adds, he has known a draught of cold water prove effectual. (vii, 15.) When singultus is connected with a cold cause, the author of the ‘Euporista,’ ascribed to Dioscorides, recommends us to put the feet into hot water, to take tepid draughts, and apply hot fomentations to the stomach. (ii, 4.)