The seven books of Paulus Ægineta, volume 2 (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 2 (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
Alsaharavius recommends strong ligatures, cupping, and, in urgent cases,
amputation. He also approves of applying the bodies of hens still warm.
Serapion approves of bleeding under the same circumstances as the others,
and of the same general treatment that they recommend. Rhases recommends
sucking and cupping the wound, and the application of stimulant
dressings, such as a plaster consisting of mustard, lime, and pitch.
He, and most of the ancient authorities on toxicology, recommend salt
as an application to the wound. Most of them also join Dioscorides in
recommending the application of caustic leys. They also in general direct
us to prevent sleep. The ligature to prevent absorption is recommended
by Rhases, as it is in fact by most of the ancient authorities. As a
matter of course all of them speak highly of the theriac, and acquiesce
in Galen’s celebrated eulogy upon its virtues. (Ad Pison. ii, 457, ed.
Basil.)
The Arabian authorities notice cursorily the treatment of poisoned
weapons of war, more especially of the Armenian arrows. Galbanum and
assafœtida administered internally, and applied to the wounds in various
forms, are the two articles which are most generally approved of by them.
They also recommend sucking the wound, as in other cases of poisoning by
a wound. (See further, B. vi, 88.)
SECT. III.—ON PERSONS BITTEN BY MAD DOGS, AND ON HYDROPHOBIA.
We have placed the account of persons bitten by mad dogs before all
the others because these animals are numerous and domestic, and are
frequently seized with madness; because the complaint is difficult to
guard against, and the danger inevitable, unless one have recourse to
many and suitable remedies. Dogs for the most part become mad during
violent heat, but also, as Lycus says, sometimes in extreme cold. When
mad they shun drink and food, for they are thirsty but do not drink,
and for the most part they pant, hang their ears, and emit much frothy
saliva. Generally they utter no sounds, and are as it were delirious, so
that they do not recognize persons with whom they are familiar. Wherefore
they attack equally without barking all animals, whether wild beasts or
men, and bite them. Their bite at first occasions nothing disagreeable
except the pain of the wound; but afterwards it brings on the affection
called hydrophobia, which makes its attack with convulsions, redness of
the whole body, but especially of the countenance, sweating, and anxiety;
and those affected shun water when they see it, and some every fluid that
is presented to them. Some bark like dogs and bite those who approach
them, and so doing they occasion the same affection. The cause of the
other symptoms is obvious, being occasioned by the poison affecting
all the parts, but as to the dread of water some have said that it is
occasioned by inordinate dryness, as if the whole fluids of the body
had undergone a change. But Ruffus has pronounced it to be a species of
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