De Medicina |
Translator: Walter George Spencer
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| 93 |
Is autem morbus , qui in intestino pleniore est , in ea maxime parte est , quam caecam esse proposui . Vehemens fit inflatio , uehementes dolores , dextra magis parte ; intestinum , quod uerti uidetur * * prope spiritum elidit . In plerisque post frigora cruditatesque oritur , deinde quiescit , et per aetatem saepe repetens sic cruciat , ut uitae spatio nihil demat .—Vbi is dolor coepit , admouere sicca et calida fomenta oportet , sed primo len ia, deinde ualidiora , simulque friction e ad extremas partes materiam reuocare : si discussu s non est , qua dolet , cucurbitulas sine ferro defigere . Est etiam medicamentum eius rei causa comparatum , quod colicon nominatur : id se repperisse Cassius gloriabatur . Magis prodest potui datum , sed impositum quoque extrinsecus digerendo spiritum dolorem leuat . Nisi finito uero tormento recte neque cibus neque potio adsumitur . Quo uictu sit utendum , qui hoc genere temptantur , iam mihi dictum est . [ Confectio medicamenti , quod colicon nominatur : ex his constat : costi , anesi , castorei , singul orum P #1111 #1108 III , petroselini P #1111 de 〈n 〉 III , piperis longi et rotundi , singul orum P #1111 #1108 II , papaueris lacrimae , iunci rotundi , myrrae , nardi , singul orum P #1111 #1108 VI ; quae melle excipiuntur . Id autem et deuorari potest et ex aqua calida sumi . ]
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21 The disease which is in the larger intestine is situated chiefly in that part which I have described as a blind alley (IV.1, 8). There is extreme flatulence, violent pains especially on the right side; the intestine which appears to undergo torsion, . . . almost forces out wind. In most cases it comes on after chills and fits of indigestion, then subsides, and in course of time often recurs so as to be a cause of suffering but without shortening the length of life. At the commencement of the pain, dry, hot foments should be applied, at first mild, then stronger ones, at the same time rubbing is used to draw off the matter to the extremities, into the legs and arms; if the pain be not so dispersed, dry cups should be applied. There is even a medicament compounded for this very purpose called colicos: Cassius used to boast that he had invented it. It is of more benefit when given as a draught, but when applied externally too it relieves pain by dispersing the wind. Until griping has quite ceased it is not right to take properly either food or drink. I have already stated what kind of food should be used in this kind of disorder (1, 7). The composition of the medicament termed colicos is as follows: costmary, anise, castor, of each 12 grams, of parsley 12 grams, of long and round peppers, a.a. 8 grams, of poppy tears, round rush, myrrh, nard, a.a. 24 grams, all mixed together with honey. This may be either swallowed by itself of the taken in hot water. |
| 94 |
Proxima his inter intestinorum mala tormina esse consueuerunt : dys enteria Graece uocatur . Intus intestina exulcerantur ; ex his cruor manat isque modo cum stercore aliquo semper liquido , modo cum quibusdam quasi muccosis excernitur , interdum simul quaedam carnosa descendunt ; frequens deiciendi cupiditas dolorque in ano est . Cum eodem dolore exiguum aliquid emittitur atque eo quoque tormentum intenditur ; idque post tempus aliquod leuatur exiguaque requies est ; somnus interpellatur ; febricula oritur ; longoque tempore id malum cum inueterauit , aut tollit hominem , aut , etiamsi finitur , excruciat . —Oportet inprimis conquiescere , siquidem omnis agitatio exulcerat ; deinde ieiunum sorbere uini cyathum , cui contrita radix quinquefolii sit adiecta ; imponere cataplasmata super uentrem , quae reprimunt , quod in superioribus uentris morbis non expedit ; quotiensque desidit , subluere aqua calida , in qua decoctae uerbenae sint ; port ulacam uel coctam uel ex dura muria esse ; cibos potionesque eas , quae adstringunt aluum Si uetustior morbus est , ex inferioribus partibus tepidum infundere uel tisanae cremorem uel lac uel adipem liquatam uel medullam ceruinam uel oleum uel cum rosa butyrum uel cum eadem album crudum ex ouis uel aquam , in qua lini semen decoctum sit , uel si somnus non accedit , uitellos cum aqua , in qua rosae floris folia cocta sint : leuant enim dolorem haec et mitiora ulcera efficiunt , maximeque utilia sunt , si cibi quoque secutum fastidium est . Themison muria dura quam asperrima hic utendum memoriae prodidit . Cibi uero esse debent , qui leniter uentrem adstringant . At ea , quae urinam mouent , si ea consecuta sunt , in aliam partem umorem auertendo prosunt : si non sunt consecuta , noxam augent ; itaque nisi in quibus prompte id facere consuerunt , non sunt adhibenda . Potui , si febricula est , aqua pura calida uel ea , quae ipsa quoque adstringat , dari debet : si non est , uinum leue , austerum . Si pluribus diebus nihil remedia alia iuuerunt uetusque iam uitium est , aquae bene frigidae potio adsumpta ulcera adstringit et initium secundae ualetudinis facit . Sed ubi uenter suppressus est , protinus ad calidam potionem reuertendum est . Solet autem interdum etiam putris sanies pessimique odoris descendere , solet purus sanguis profluere . Si superius uitium est , aluus aqua mulsa duci debet , tunc deinde eadem infundi , quae supra comprehensa sunt . [ Valensque est etiam aduersus cancerem intestinorum minii gleba cum salis hemina contrita , si mixta his aqua in aluum datur . ] A t si sanguis profluit , cibi potionesque esse debent , quae adstringant .
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22 The most akin to the above among intestinal maladies are gripings, called by the Greeks dysenteria. The insides of the intestines ulcerate; from these blood trickles and at times is excreted with some faeces which are always liquid, at times with a sort of mucus, sometimes at the same time something fleshlike comes down; there is frequent desire to stool and pain in the anus. Along with this pain a scanty motion is discharged, and by this too the griping pain is intensified: and after a while there is some relief and a short interval of ease; sleep is broken, feverishness comes; when the disorder has continued for a long while, it either carries off the patient, or even, although it come to an end, puts him to torture. Rest must be adopted from the first, since any shaking sets up ulceration; next on an empty stomach he is to sip a cupful of wine to which has been added powdered cinquefoil root; then repressant plasters are put upon the abdomen, which in the case of disorders of the upper abdomen is not expedient; whenever the patient goes to stool, he should bathe the anus with hot water in which vervains have been boiled; purslane should be eaten, whether cooked or pickled in strong brine; also such foods and drink as are astringent to the bowel. If the distemper is of longer standing, there should be injected into the rectum either a tepid cream of pearl barley, or milk, or melted fat, or deer marrow, or olive oil, or rose oil with butter or with raw white of egg, or a decoction of linseed, or if sleep does not occur, yolk of eggs in a decoction no rose-leaves: for such remedies relieve pain and mitigate ulceration, and are of special utility if loss of appetite has ensued. Themison has stated in writing that the strongest brine should be used in these cases. Food too should be of the kind which will act as mild astringents. But diuretics if they take effect are beneficial by directing humour to another part: if they do not take effect, they increase the trouble; so unless for those on whom they act promptly, they should not be used. If there is feverishness, the drink should be hot water, either plain or with some astrin gent in it; if none, then light dry wine. If for several days other remedies have done no good, and the disease is now of long standing, drinking of very cold water acts as an astringent upon the ulcerations and starts recovery. But as soon as the movement of the bowels is under control, there should forthwith be a return to warm drinks. Sometimes also there is discharged a putrid sanies having a foul odour, sometimes unmixed blood escapes. If the former occurs, a hydromel clyster should be given, and then the other things mentioned above injected. An effective remedy even for intestinal canker is a lump of minium rubbed up with 250 grams of salt, dissolved in water, and administered as a clyster. But if there is a flux of blood, food and drink should be astringent. |
| 95 |
Ex torminibus interdum intestinorum leuitas oritur , quae * * continere nihil possunt , et , quicquid adsumptum est , imperfectum protinus reddunt . Id interdum aegros trahit , interdum praecipitat .—In hoc utique adhibere oportet comprimentia , quo facilius tenendi aliquid intestinis uis sit . Ergo et super pectus ponetur sinapi , exulcerataque cute malagma , quod umorem euocet ; et ex uerbenis decoct a in aqua desidat ; et cibos potionesque adsumat , quae aluum adstringunt ; et frigidis utetur perfusionibus . Oport et tamen prospicere , ne simul his omnibus admotis uitium contrarium per immodicas inflationes oriatur . Paulatim ergo firmari intestina debebunt aliquibus cotidie adiectis . Et cum in omni fluore uentris , tum in hoc praecipue necessarium est , non quotiens libet desidere , sed quotiens necesse est , ut haec ipsa mora in consuetudinem ferendi oneris intestina deducat . Alterum quoque , quod aeque ad omnes similes adfectus pertinet , in hoc maxime seruandum est , ut , cum pleraque utilia insuauia sint , qualis est plantago et rubi et quicquid malicorio mixtum est , ea potissimum ex his dentur , quae maxime aeger uolet . Deinde , si omnia ista fastid it , ad excitandam cibi cupiditatem interponatur aliquid minus utile , sed magis gratum . Exercitationes , frictiones huic quoque morbo necessariae sunt , et cum his sol , ig nis , balneum ; uomitus , ut Hippocrati uisum est , etiam albo ueratro , si cetera parum proficient , euocatus .
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23 From dysentery there proceeds sometimes leienteria, when the intestines cannot retain anything, and whatever is swallowed is straightway excreted imperfectly digested. Sometimes in the patients this drags on, sometimes it hurries them off. In this affection especially astringents should be put on the chest, and when the skin becomes ulcerated, then an emollient to draw out humour; and the patient should sit in a decoction of vervains; take both food and drink which control the bowel: and have cold water poured over him. Nevertheless, care should be taken lest with all these remedies there be an opposite trouble set up by excessive flatulence. Consequently, little by little, the intestines should be strengthened by some additions daily. As in the case of any abdominal flux, so in this, it is particularly necessary that the patient should go to stool, not as often as inclined, but as often as compelled, so that by such delay the intestines may be got into the habit of holding up their contents. There is another thing which, whilst applicable equally to all similar affections, is to be specially observed in this, that as many beneficial medicaments are disagreeable to the taste, such as the mixture containing plantain and blackberries and any mixture containing pomegranate rind, that shall be chosen which the patient likes most. Moreover, if he loathes all of them, something to excite his appetite should be interposed, less useful, perhaps, but most pleasant. Exercise and rubbing are needed in this disease also, as well as heat, whether of the sun, or a fire, and baths; and according to Hippocrates, a vomit even by white hellebore, when other measures prove of little avail. |
| 96 |
Nonnumquam autem lumbrici quoque occupant aluum , hique modo ex inferioribus partibus , modo foedius ore redduntur ; atque interdum latos eos , qui peiores sunt , interdum teretes uidemus .—Si lati sunt , aqua potui dari debet , in qua lupinum aut cortex mori decoctus sit , aut cui adiectum sit contritum uel hysopum uel piperis acetabulum uel scamoniae paulum . Vel etiam pridie , cum multum a lium ederit , uomat , posteroque die mali Punici tenues radiculas colligat , quantum manu comprehendet ; eas contusas in aquae tribus sextariis decoquat , donec tertia pars supersit ; huc adiciat nitri paulum , et ieiunus bibat . Interpositis deinde tribus horis duas potiones sumat ; at aquae * * * uel muriae durae sit adiecta ; tum desidat subiecta calida aqua in pelue . Si uero teretes sunt , qui pueros maxime exercent , et eadem dari possunt et quaedam leuiora , ut contritum semen urticae aut brassicae aut cumini cum aqua , uel menta cum eadem uel absinthium decoctum uel hysopum ex aqua mulsa uel nasturcii semen cum aceto contritum . Edisse etiam et lupinum et a lium prodest , uel in aluum oleum subter dedisse .
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24 Again, worms also occasionally take possession of the bowel, and these are discharged at one time from the lower bowel, at another more nastily from the mouth: and we observe them sometimes to be flattened, which are the worse, at times to be rounded. For the flat worms there should be given as draughts, a decoction of lupins, of or of mulberry bark, to which may be added, after pounding, either hyssop or a vinegar cupful of pepper, or a little scammony. Alternatively on one day let him eat a quantity of garlic and vomit, then on the next day take a handful of fine pomegranate roots, crush them and boil them in a litre and a half of water down to one- third, to this add a little soda, and drink it on an empty stomach. At three hours' interval, let him take two further draughts; but with the addition of half a pint of sea water or strong brine; then on going to stool, sit over a basin of hot water. Again, for the round worms which especially trouble children, both the same remedies may be given and some milder ones, such as pounded-up seeds of nettles or of cabbage or of cummin in water, or mint in the same or a decoction of wormwood or hyssop in hydromel or cress seeds pounded up in vinegar. It is also of service either to eat lupin or garlic, or administer into the lower bowel a clyster of olive oil. |