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
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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
evacuate by labour.
* * * * *
COMMENTARY. Our author, as usual, copies from Oribasius. (Synops. v, 28.)
Hippocrates describes accurately the bad effects of plethora, but at so
great length that we cannot venture to give an outline of his practice.
We may mention, however, that purging with hellebore, emetics, the warm
bath, and venesection are his most powerful remedies. (De Diæta, iii, 16
et seq.)
Galen has also a treatise of considerable length on the same subject.
Among the causes of plethora enumerated by him, we remark that he
mentions the use of the warm bath after meals, whereby he holds that the
system is overloaded with imperfectly concocted chyle. (De Plenitudine,
and Meth. Med. ix, 5.) See also Rhases (ad Mansor. ii); Haly Abbas
(Pract. i, 12); Alsaharavius (Pract. v, 4); Averrhoes (Comment. in Cant.
Avicennæ); Avicenna (i, 2, 3.)
Alsaharavius says that plethora is marked by ruddiness of the body,
heaviness, torpor, large veins, somnolency, a large face, and brawny
limbs. It is usually accompanied, he adds, by impairment of the
understanding, forgetfulness, heaviness of the head, weakness of sight,
great pulsation of the arteries, and a disposition to epistaxis. He
recommends a restricted diet, consisting of articles not very nutritious,
exercise, the bath, along with friction, and medicines calculated to
evacuate the prevailing humour, whether blood, phlegm, or bile.
Haly’s account is very like our author’s.
Rhases gives a good description of repletion, which, he says, is
generally brought on by excess in eating and drinking, along with too
much indulgence in sleep. Avicenna’s description is similar.
SECT. XXXIII.—ON INTOXICATION.
To those who are intoxicated, vomiting is an immediate relief. It will be
proper that they drink freely of water and honied water, so that they may
vomit freely, and remove the uneasy feelings. After vomiting, let them
use the bath, along with plenteous unction, and afterwards rest for some
time, well covered up, until they have slept off their debauch.
* * * * *
COMMENTARY. These simple directions are extracted from Oribasius.
(Synops. v, 33.) Hippocrates recommends an emetic after intoxication. (De
Diæta, iii, 4.)
For the cure of intoxication Haly Abbas recommends the tepid bath,
affusion of tepid water, and friction with oil. If headach prevail he
directs cold rose oil to be poured on the head; or, if it is summer, cold
water. After this the person is to be rubbed, and to take things of a
cooling nature, such as prunes, tamarinds, and the like. (Pract. i, 8.)
Rhases recommends vinegar and water, or the like, for drink; the
application of vinegar and oil of roses to the head, and camphor and
water to the nose. He also approves of emetics, and of putting the
person’s hands and feet into cold water. He says one ought to sleep long
before going into the bath. (Ad Mansor. v, 71 and 77.)
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