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
Since the Ulcerose lassitude is occasioned by the ill digestion of acrid
superfluities, if the cacochymy be small, the restorative exercise will
be sufficient; but if it be greater and deeper-seated, we must not permit
such a one either to exercise or to take any motion whatever, but he must
for one day remain without food, in a state of quietude and sleep; and
then in the evening, when he has been rubbed with emollient unguents, and
bathed in tepid water, we must give him wholesome food and some soup.
And we must also not restrict him from wine, for nothing contributes
so much to the digestion of half-digested humours as wine. Should the
symptoms be removed by means of the aforesaid treatment, we may allow the
man to return to his usual employments; but if on the following day they
should still remain, we must bethink ourselves of a more potent remedy.
If his strength be good, we must have recourse either to phlebotomy or
purging, having first determined which of these remedies we shall try.
If he be weak, we must not bleed, but may purge him moderately. If there
be many crude humours in the system, we must neither bleed, nor purge,
nor exercise, nor move at all, nor try the bath; but we must keep him in
a state of perfect quietude, and give him food, drink, and medicines of
attenuating and incisive qualities, without being of a manifestly heating
nature. We may give vinegar and honey, and occasionally some ptisan or
honied water. And since, in such persons, the lower belly is apt to
become swelled and distended with wind, and whatever food is taken to be
converted into flatulence, it will be better to give some pepper along
with the food. It will be better, too, to use the composition called
Diospoliticus, and that simple medicine which consists of three kinds of
peppers. Oxymel is also most proper. Let them likewise use a drink made
from honey, particularly when it begins to become acid; and such wines
as are gently acid, and such articles of food as are attenuant without
being heating, as capers, if taken with vinegar and honey, or vinegar and
oil. When the Tensive species of lassitude takes place without exercise,
it indicates that a plethora distends the solid parts of the body. If
the fulness be occasioned by blood, it will be best to open a vein, or
scarify the ankles. If the Inflammative lassitude be spontaneous, it will
not endure a delay of a few hours, much less of two or three days, for
it straightway induces a strong fever, unless one anticipate by letting
blood. It will be best, if possible, to abstract blood twice in one day;
for if care be taken that the first bleeding do not occasion swooning,
it will be of less consequence whether or not it occur after the next.
Those who are not bled will be fortunate indeed if they escape with the
life.
* * * * *
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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