De Medicina (Celsus)

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	De Medicina Author: Celsus	Translator: Walter George Spencer
105	Dixi de is malis corporis , quibus uictus ratio maxime subuenit : nunc transeundum est ad eam medicinae partem , quae magis MEDICAMENTIS pugnat . His multum antiqui auctores tribuerunt , et Erasistratus et ii , qui se empiricos nominarunt , praecipue tamen Herophilus deductique ab illo uiro , adeo ut nullum morbi genus sine his curarent . Multaque etiam de facultatibus medicamentorum memoriae prodiderunt , qualia sunt uel Zenonis uel Andriae uel Apolloni , qui Mys cognominatus est . Horum autem usum ex magna parte Asclepiades non sine causa sustulit ; et cum omnia fere medicamenta stomachum laedant malique suci sint , ad ipsius uictus rationem potius omnem curam suam transtulit . Verum ut illud in plerisque morbis utilius est , sic multa admodum corporibus nostris incidere consuerunt , quae sine medicamentis ad sanitatem peruenire non possunt . Illud ante omnia scire conuenit , quod omnes medicinae partes ita innexae sunt , ut ex toto separari non possint sed ab eo nomen trahant , a quo plurimum petunt . Ergo et illa , quae uictu curat , aliquando medicamentum adhibet , et illa , quae praecipue medicamentis pugnat , adhibere etiam rationem uictus debet , quae multum admodum in omnibus corporis malis proficit . Sed cum omnia medicamenta proprias facultates habeant , ac simplicia saepe opitulentur , saepe mixta , non alienum uidetur ante proponere et nomina et uires et mixturas eorum , qui minor ips as nobis curationes exsequentibus mora sit .	Book V I have spoken of those maladies of the body in which the regulation of the diet is most helpful: now I pass on to that part of medicine which combats rather by medicaments. These were held of high value by ancient writers, both by Erasistratus and those who styled themselves Empirics, especially how by Herophilus and his school, insomuch that they treated no kind of disease without them. A great deal has also been recorded concerning the powers of medicaments, as in the works of Zeno or of Andreas or of Apollonius, surnamed Mys. On the other hand, Asclepiades dispense with the use of these for the most part, not without reason; and since nearly all medicaments harm the stomach and content bad juices, he transferred all his treatment rather to the management of the actual diet. But while in most diseases that is the more useful method, yet very many illnesses attack our bodies which cannot be cured without medicaments. This before all things it is well to recognize, together, that it is impossible to separate off any one part completely, but each gets its name from the treatment which it uses most. Therefore, both that which treats by dieting has recourse at times to medicaments, and that which combats disease mainly by medicaments ought also to regulate diet, which produces a good deal of effect in all maladies of the body. But since all medicaments have special powers, and afford relief, often when simple, often when mixed, it does not seem amiss beforehand to state both their names and their virtues and how to compound them, that there may be less delay when we are describing the treatment itself.
106	Sanguinem supprimunt atramentum sutorium , quod Graeci chalcanthon appellant , chalcitis , acacia , et ex aqua Lycium , tus , aloe , cummi , plumbum combustum , porrum , herba sanguinalis ; creta uel Cimolia uel figularis , misy ; frigida aqua , uinum , acetum ; alumen Melinum , squama et ferri et aeris [ atque huius quoque duae species sunt , alia tantum aeris , alia rubri aeris ] .	1 The following suppress bleeding: Blacking with the Greeks call chalcanthon, copper ore, acacia, and lycium with water, frankincense, lign-aloe, gums, lead sulphide, leek, polygonum; Cimolian chalk or potter's clay, antimony sulphide; cold water, wine, vinegar; alum from Melos, iron and copper scales and of this last there are two kinds, one from ordinary copper, the other from red copper.
107	Glutinant uulnus murra , tus , cummi , praecipueque acanthinum ; psylleum , tragacantha , cardamomon , bulbi , lini semen , nasturcium ; oui album , gluten , icthyocolla ; uitis alba , contusae cum testis suis cocleae , mel coctum ; spongia uel ex aqua frigida uel ex uino uel ex aceto expressa ; ex isdem lana sucida ; si leuis plaga est , etiam aranea . Reprimunt alumen et scissile , quod ΣΧΙΣΤΟΝ uocatur , et liquidum ; Melinum , auripigmentum , aerugo , chalcitis , atramentum sutorium .	2 The following agglutinate a wound: myrrh, frankincense, gums, especially gum arabic; fleawort, tragacanth, cardamon, bulbs, linseed, nasturtium; white of egg, glue, isinglass; white vine, snails pounded with their shells, cooked honey, a sponge squeezed out of cold water or out of wine or out of vinegar; unscoured wool squeezed out of the same; if the wound is slight, even cobwebs. The following subdue inflammation: alum, both split alum called schiston, and alum brine; quince oil, orpiment, verdigris, copper ore, blacking.
108	Concoqunt et mouent pus nardum , murra , costus , balsamum , galbanum , propolis , st urax , turis et fuligo et cortex , bitumen , pix , sulpur , resina , sebum , adeps , oleum .	3 The following mature abscessions and promote suppuration: nard, myrrh, costmary, balsam, galbanum, propolis, storax, frankincense, both the soot and the bark, bitumen, pitch, sulphur, resin, suet, fat, oil.