Aristotle's works:: Containing the Master-piece, Directions for Midwives, and Counsel and Advice to Child-bearing Women with Various Useful Remedies
Aristotle · en
REGIMEN.—When a person has reason to suspect that he has caught the
venereal infection, he ought most strictly to observe a cooling regimen,
to avoid everything of a heating nature, as wines, spiritous liquors,
rich sauces, spices, salted, high seasoned, and smoke dried provisions,
particularly salt itself in every shape; as also all aromatic and
stimulating vegetables, as onions, garlic, shalot, nutmeg, mustard,
cinnamon, mace, ginger, and such like. His food ought chiefly to consist
of mild vegetables, milk, broths, light puddings, panado, gruels, &c.
His drink may be barley-water, milk and water, decoctions of
marshmallows and liquorice, linseed tea, or clear whey. Of these he
ought to drink plentifully. Violent exercise of all kinds, especially
riding on horseback, and venereal pleasures, are to be avoided. The
patient must beware of cold, and when the inflammation is violent, he
ought to keep his bed.
MEDICINE.—A virulent gonorrhœa can rarely be cured speedily and
effectually at the same time. The patient ought, therefore, not to
expect nor the physician to promise it. It will often continue for two
or three weeks, and sometimes for five or six, even where the treatment
has been very proper.
Sometimes, indeed, a slight infection may be carried off in a few days,
by bathing the parts in warm milk and water, and injecting frequently up
the urethra a little sweet oil, or linseed tea, about the warmth of new
milk. Should these not succeed in carrying off the infection, they will
at least have a tendency to lessen its virulence.
To effect a cure, however, astringent injections will generally be found
necessary. There may be various ways prepared, but I think those made
with the white vitriol are both more safe and efficacious. They can be
made stronger or weaker as circumstances may require; but it is best to
begin with the more gentle, and increase their power if necessary. I
generally ordered a dram of white vitriol to be dissolved in eight or
nine ounces of common or rose-water, and an ordinary syringe full of it
to be thrown up three or four times a day. If this quantity does not
perform a cure, it may be repeated, and the dose increased.
Whether injections be used or not, cooling purges are always proper in
the gonorrhœa. They ought not, however, to be of the strong or drastic
kind. Whatever raises a violent commotion in the body increases the
danger, and tends to drive the disease deeper into the habit. Procuring
two or three stools every second or third day for the first fortnight,
and the same number every fourth or fifth day for the second, will
generally be sufficient to remove the inflammatory symptoms, to diminish
the running, and to change its colour and consistence. It gradually
becomes more white and ropy as the virulence abates.[1]
Footnote 1: