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
Celsus, also, was well aware of the fatal nature of the disease, for
which he says the only remedy is to plunge the patient unexpectedly into
the cold bath, after which, to prevent convulsions, he is to be put into
warm oil. He also approves of giving undiluted wine. As a preventive of
the disease he directs the wound to be cauterized. (v, 27.)
Pliny in like manner reckons the disease dangerous, and mentions
hellebore as a remedy for it. (H. N. viii, 63; xxix, 32.)
But without doubt the best account of hydrophobia contained in any
ancient author is that given by Cælius Aurelianus. We shall now give a
short abstract of it. He says the disease may be produced not only by the
bite, but likewise by the breath of a rabid dog. This fact is mentioned
by other authorities, such as Aretæus (Morb. Acut. vii), and Vegetius
(Mulo. Med. iii, 84); and it is confirmed by modern writers, as Gokel,
Lister, Rhazouz, and others. He also relates the case of a sempstress
who fell into the disease from having sewed a robe which had been torn
by a mad dog. Similar cases are related by Hildanus and Heister. He
likewise states, what is confirmed by the Arabian authorities, and also
by modern experience, that the disease may be brought on by the bite of
wolves, bears, leopards, horses, and asses. He mentions the case of a
person in whom it was occasioned by a wound inflicted with the spurs of
a cock while fighting. Sometimes, too, he adds, it arises in the human
subject without any manifest cause, which also is confirmed by modern
experience. We once saw _the horror of water_ in a case of Phrenitis. He
mentions a singular case of hydrophobia in a child which was affected
with a horror of its mother’s breast. His description of the symptoms, if
compared with modern descriptions (for example that given by Dr. Goden in
Hufeland’s ‘Journal,’ Jan. 1816), will be found in every respect complete
and accurate. Thus Cælius says that the pulse is _densus_, _parvus_,
_inordinatus_, and Goden found it intermittent and irregular. Cælius
says there is a frequent desire of making water, which Goden found to
be a constant attendant of the disease. Cælius thought that the stomach
is more deranged than any other part, and Goden is of opinion that the
splanchnic nerves are particularly affected. In short, Cælius maintained
that it is an _incendium nervorum_; and it appears from him that some
of the ancient authorities believed it an inflammatory affection, and
treated it by bleeding. He treats it upon much the same principles as
Tetanus, that is to say, his great object seems to have been to remove
constriction, and with this view he recommends friction with tepid oil,
venesection, and all remedies of a relaxant nature. He also directs us
to administer clysters of tepid water and oil; and proposes to quench
the thirst by forcing a cooling injection up to the stomach; for which
purpose pressure with the hands is to be applied externally. He makes
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