If there be trembling of the hands and head, he may take a draught, consisting of castor with three cupfuls of honeyed-water, for some days; or if he will not drink this, we may melt down the castor in a sufficient quantity of oil, wherein rue has been boiled, to the amount of three cupfuls; and a double amount of this is to be injected into the lower bowel, and is to be repeated for several days; and after the benefit derived from it (for it brings off flatus upwards and downwards, and, in certain cases, urine and fæces), if it should be diffused over the whole system in any way, the nerves recover from their tremblings and become strong, and it changes the habit of body to the hot and dry, and alters the constitutions of diseases. It is also a very excellent thing to blow it into the nostrils, for in this way it expels flatulence by sneezing; for as the bladder secretes urine, so does the nose mucus. It effects these things by its gentle heat, in which respect it is superior to the other sternutatories, pepper, hellebore, soap-wort, and euphorbium; for these things, both at their first and last impression are harsh, and disorder the head and the sense, whereas castor gradually creates a gentle heat. To the head it is also otherwise suitable, because the nerves everywhere derive their origin from it; and castor is a remedy for the diseases of the nerves; but to mix it with some one or more of the medicines described will not be disagreeable, for if it be mixed, it will not immediately disorder the head, even in a moderate degree, but after a time it will stir up the heat.
ἢν δὲ τρόμος χειρῶν καὶ κεφαλῆς ἔῃ, καστόριον πιπίσκειν δραχμῆς ὁλκῆς ἥμισυ ξὺν μελικρή του κυάθοις τρισὶ ἐς ἡμέρας πλεῦνας· ἢν δὲ μὴ πίνῃ τόδε, ἐντήκειν ξυμφόρῳ ἐλαίου, ἔνθα πήγανον ἐνεζέσθη κυάθοις τρισὶ, τὸ δὲ διπλόον ἐς τὸ κάτω ἔντερον ἐγχέειν, καὶ τόδε ἐς πλεῦνας ἡμέρας. μετὰ δὲ τὸ ἐκ τουτέου ξύμφορον, (φύσας γὰρ ἄγει ἄνω τε καὶ κάτω· μετεξετέροισι δὲ καὶ οὖρα καὶ κόπριον)· ἢν δὴ ποθὲν εἰς τὸ πᾶν διαθέον ἥκῃ, ἄτρομα ἠδὲ κραταιὰ τὰ νεῦρα γίγνεται καὶ τὰς ἕξιας ἐς τὸ θερμὸν καὶ ξηρὸν ἀλλοιοῖ καὶ τὰς καταστάσιας τῶν νούσων τρέπει. ἄριστον δὲ καὶ ἐς τὰς Ῥῖνας ἐμφυσῆν· καὶ γὰρ καὶ τῇδε πνευμάτων καταρρηκτικὸν πταρμοῖσι· καὶ ὁκοῖόν τι κύστις ἀγωγὸν οὔρων καὶ Ῥὶν μύξης· πρήσσει δὲ θέρμῃ προσηνεῖ τάδε τῇδε καὶ τῶν ἄλλων τῶν πταρμικῶν κρέσσον, πεπέρεος, ἐλλεβόρου, στρουθίου, εὐφορβίου. τάδε γὰρ ἐς τὴν πρώτην ἠδὲ πυμάτην θίξιν ἀπηνέα καὶ ταρακτικὰ κεφαλῆς τε καὶ αἰσθήσιος, ἐκ προσαγωγῆς δὲ τὸ καστόριον ἀλεαίνει· κεφαλῇσι δὲ καὶ ἄλλως ξύμφορον, ὅτιπερ τὰ νεῦρα πάντη ἐνθένδε περιφύεται· νούσων δὲ νεύρων καστόριον ἰητήριον. ἀλλὰ ξυμμίσγειν τόδε τῶν γεγραμμένων τινὶ ἤ τισι, οὐκ ἄχαρι. ἢν γὰρ μιγῇ, μὴ αὐτίκα μὲν κεφαλὴν ξυμμέτρως ταράξαι, ἐς μακρὸν δὲ τὴν θέρμην ἐξάψαι.
The nose is to be moistened by tickling; by odours acrid indeed to the sense, but possessed of heating powers, such as the castor itself, or savory, or penny-royal, or thyme, either in a green state, or in a dried, moistened well with vinegar.
ὑγρῆναι τὴν Ῥῖνα προκλήσι· ὁσμαῖς δριμείασις μὲν ἐς αἴσθησιν, ἐς δύναμιν δὲ θερμαῖς· ὁκοῖον αὐτὸ τὸ καστόριον, ἢ θύμβρα, ἢ γλήχων, ἢ θύμος, χλωρὰ, ἢ ξηρὰ δευθέντα ὄξεϊ.
Anointing with acrid medicines is proper to the feet and knees. The materiel thereof should be heating and pungent by degrees; for there is need of both in cases of lethargy to induce warmth and watchfulness. In the first place, it is proper to whip the limbs with the nettles, for the down thereof sticking to the skin does not endure long, but imparts no disagreeable tingling and pain; it also moderately stimulates, induces swelling, and provokes heat. But if you desire to have these effects produced more powerfully, rub in equal parts of lemnestis and euphorbium, with oil of must. It is also a very good thing to rub with raw squill pulverised; but it is necessary to rub off the oily matter of the limb (for everything acrid loses its stimulant properties with oil) — unless it be medicinal — either the oil of privet, or that of must, or the Sicyonian. But if after these things a deep coma prevail, it will be proper, having pounded the wild cucumber with vinegar, and mixed it with an equal quantity of a cake of mustard, to apply this as an acrid cataplasm, and one which will speedily occasion redness, and will also quickly produce swelling. But if there be danger of blistering and of wounds, it will be proper to raise the cataplasm frequently, and see that none of these effects be produced. These things, therefore, are to be done to relieve the torpor and insensibility of the parts at all seasons, except at the commencement of the paroxysms.
δριμέων φαρμάκων χρίσιες κατὰ τῶν ποδῶν καὶ γουνάτων. ὕλη δὲ ἔστω ἀλεαίνουσα καὶ δάκνουσα ἐκ προσαγωγῆς. ἀμφοῖν γὰρ χρέος ληθαργι κοῖσι ἐς θάλψιν καὶ ἐγρήγορσιν. τὰ πρῶτα μὲν ὦν καὶ κνίδῃ μαστίζειν τὰ σκέλεα. προσίζουσα γὰρ ἡ ἄχνη οὐκ ἐς πολλὸν μὲν διαρκέει, ἄλυπον δὲ ὀδαξησμὸν καὶ πόνον ἐνδιδοῖ. μετρίως δὲ ἐρεθίζει τε καὶ παροιδίσκει, καὶ θερμασίην προκαλέεται. ἢν δὲ ἐπὶ μᾶλλον ἐθελήσῃς τάδε τοι γίγνεσθαι, λημνήστιδος ἠδʼ εὐφορβίου ἷσα ξὺν λίπαϊ γλευκίνῳ χρίειν. ἄριστον καὶ σκίλλης ὠμῆς λεπτοῖσι ἐκτρίβειν· χρὴ δὲ ἀπομάξαντα τῶν μελέων τὸ ἐλαιῶδες· (ἄδηκτον γὰρ πᾶν δριμὺ ξὺν λίπαϊ ἢν μὴ φαρμακῶδες), ἢ κυπρίνῳ, ἢ γλευκίνῳ, ἢ σικυωνίῳ. ἢν δὲ ἐπὶ τουτέοισιν ἔτι βαθὺ κῶμα ἴσχῃ, σίκυον χρὴ τὸν ἄγριον ξὺν ὄξεϊ τρίψαντα σινήπιος ἴσῃ μάζῃ ξυμμίξαντα, τιθέναι· δριμὺ δὲ τὸ ἐπίπλασμα καὶ ὠκέως ἐρυθήμα τα ἐντεῦξον, ὠκέως δὲ οἰδαλέα θέμενον· εἰ κίνδυνος δὲ φλυκται νώσιος καὶ τρωμάτων, ξυνεχέωσς ἐπαίρειν τὸ ἐπίπλασμα, καθορέοντα μή τι τουτέων ξυμβῇ. τάδε μὲν ὦν ἐς τὸ νωθὲς καὶ νεκρῶδες αὐτέου, καὶ ἐς πάντα καιρὸν, πλὴν τῇσι ἐσβολῇσι τῶν παρόξυσμῶν.
But if the patient have already recovered his sensibility, but there is still some heaviness of the head, noise, or ringing thereof, it will be proper to evacuate phlegm by the mouth, first by giving mastich to chew, so that he may constantly spit, then again stavesacre, the granum cnidium, but more especially mustard, because it is a common article, and also because it is more of a phlegmagogue than the others. And if the patient drink it willingly, it will be sufficient to dissolve the matters in the stomach, it will also be able to moisten the stomach and expel flatulence; for this once fortunately happened to myself in the case of a man who drank it by my directions; for experience is a good teacher, one ought, then, to try experiments, for too much caution is ignorance.
ἢν δὲ ἀναφέρῃ μὲν ἤδη τὴν αἴσθησιν, βάρος μέν τι ἐπὶ τῆς κεφαλῆς, καὶ ἦχος, ἢ βόμβος ἔῃ, καὶ διὰ τοῦ στόματος ἄγειν φλέγμα, μαστίχην τὰ πρῶτα ἐς μάσησιν διδόντα, ὡς ξυνεχὲς ἀποπτύοι· ἔπειτα δʼ αὖθις ἀσταφίδος ἀγρίης, κόκκου τοῦ τῆς Κνίδου, πάντων δὲ μάλιστα σινήπιος, ὅτι τε ξύνηθες, ἀτὰρ ἠδὲ ὅτι τῶν ἄλλων μᾶλλον τόδε φλεγμάτων ἀγωγόν· κἢν μὲν καταπίῃτις ἑκὼν, ἱκανὸν μὲν τὰ ἐν τῷ στομάχῳ λῦσαι· δυνατὸν δὲ καὶ ὑγρῆναι γαστέρα καὶ φύσας ἀγαγεῖν· καὶ γάρ μοί κοτε ἐκ ξυντυχίης τάδε ξυνέβη, καταπιόντος τοῦ ἀνθρώπου κατὰ γνώμην τὴν ἐμήν· ἀγαθὴ δὲ διδάσκαλος ἡ πείρη· χρὴ δὲ καὶ αὐτὸν πειρῆν· εὐλαβίη γὰρ ἀπειρίη.
The head, then, after the hair has been clipped to the skin, if much good is not thereby accomplished, is to be shaven to procure insensible perspiration, and also to allow the anointing with acrid medicines, such as that from lemnestis (or adarce), or thapsia, or mustard moistened with water; these things, with double the quantity of bread, are to be rubbed on an old piece of skin, and applied to the head, taking good care at the expiry of an hour to foment the parts with hot sponges.
χρὴ δὲ καὶ τὴν κεφαλὴν μετὰ τὴν κουρὴν τὴν ἐν χρῷ, ἢν μὴ μέγα ἥδε ἀνύῃ, ξυρεῖν ἐς διαπνοήν· ἀτὰρ ἠδὲ ἐς φαρμάκω ν δριμέων χρίσιν, τοῦ διὰ τῆς λημνήστιδος, ἢ ἀδάρκην, ἢ θαψίην, ἢ σίνηπι ὑγρὸν ἐξ ὕδατος ξὺν ἄρτῳ διπλῷ ἐς τρύχνιον ἐγχρίσαντα ἐμπάσσειν τὴν κεφαλήν· φυλάξαν τα δὲ ἐς ὥρην μίην εὐκαιρίῃ σπόγγοισι θερμοῖσι πυριῆν.
It will also not be devoid of utility, when all, or most at least, of the fatal symptoms of the disease are gone, but the languor remains, to bathe; and then also gestation, friction, and all gentle motion will be beneficial.
οὐκ ἀνωφελὲς δὲ καὶ λούειν, ἤδη πάντων μὲν, ἢ τῶν γε πλείστων καὶ καιρίων τῶν ἐς τὴν νοῦσον λελυμένων. τῆς δὲ νωθείης μενούσης, εὖτε καὶ αἰώρης χρέος, καὶ τρίψιος, καὶ πάσης προσηνοῦς κινήσιος.
4. IN these cases, indeed, if Marasmus prevail, we must remedy it by quickly having recourse to the bath and to exercises. And truly milk is a remedy of marasmus by nourishing, warming, moistening the stomach, and soothing the bladder. Moreover, the same means are beneficial in cases of catochus, for the form of these diseases is alike and the same. Castor, then, is more particularly proper in these cases, and most particularly soothing, whether to drink, to anoint with, or to inject into the bowel. The affections similar to these which happen to women from the uterus, will be treated of among female diseases.
4. τοισίδε μέντοι κἢν μαρασμὸς ἔῃ, ἀρήγειν θᾶσσον ἰόντα ἐπὶ λουτρὰ καὶ κινήσιας. μαρασμοῦ μέντοι καὶ γάλα ἰητήριον, καὶ θρέψαι, καὶ ἀλεῆναι καὶ ὑγρῆναι γαστέρα, καὶ κύστιν πρηο̈́ναι· ἀτὰρ ἠδὲ κατόχοις τωὐτὰ τὰ ξυμφέροντα. ὁμοίη γὰρ καὶ ἡ ωὐτὴ τῶνδε τῶν νούσων ἡ ἰδέη. καστόριον δὲ τουτέοισι καιριώτερόν τε καὶ εὐμενέστερον πιεῖν τε καὶ χρίσασθαι καὶ ἐς τὸ ἔντερον ἐνεῖναι. τῇσι δὲ γυναιξὶ ὁκοῖα τουτέοισι ἴκελα πάθεα ἀπὸ ὑστέρης γίγνεται, ἐν τοῖσι γυναικείοσι λελέξεται.
5. ..... should indeed the apoplexy be severe, for by all means the patients are, as it were, dead men whenever one is old, to whom this affection is congenial, and they cannot survive the greatness of the illness, combined with the misery of advanced life. It has been formerly stated by me, how the magnitude of the disease is to be estimated. If the patient be young, and the attack of apoplexy weak, it is still no easy matter to effect a cure; it must, however, be attempted. The equivalent remedy, then, as being the great assistance in a a great disease, is venesection, provided there be no mistake as to quantity; but the amount is difficult to determine, since if you take a little too much, you despatch the patient at once; for to them a little blood is most potent, as being that which imparts the vital heat to the frame itself, and to the food. But, if the quantity be inferior to the cause, you do little good with this the great remedy, for the cause still remains. But it is better to err on the side of smallness; for, if it should seem to have been deficient, and the appearance of the eyes, as seen from below, be favourable, we can open a vein again. We must open the vein at the hollow of the elbow, for the blood flows readily from it in the left arm. But in smaller attacks of apoplexy, it is necessary to consider whether the paralytic seizure be on the left side or the right. In a word, the abstraction is to be made from the healthy parts, for there the blood flows more freely, and thither the revulsion is made from the parts affected. When, therefore, the patient is seized with apoplexy without any obvious cause, we should decide thus concerning the abstraction of the blood. But if the attack happen from a blow, a fall from a high place, or compression, there must be no procrastination, for in certain cases this alone is sufficient for the cure and to save life.
5. ἀποπληξίη ἰσχυρὴ μὲν εἴη, ἅπαντα γὰρ ἔασι νεκρώδεες, ἢν καὶ ὁ νουσέων γηραιὸς ᾖ, τοῖσί περ ξύνηθες τὸ πάθος. οὐ γὰρ περιγίγνονται τῷ τε μεγέθεϊ τοῦ κακοῦ καὶ τῇ τῆς ἡλικίης ξυμφορῇ. ὅκως δὲ τεκμαρτέα τὰ μεγέθεα, πρόσθεν μοι λέλεκται. ἢν δὲ νεηνίης, καὶ ἀσθενὴς ἡ ἀποπληξίη πέλῃ, ἰῆσθαι μὲν οὐ Ῥηΐδιον, πειρῆσθαι δὲ ὦν. ἰσόρροπον μὲν ὦν ἰητήριον, ὡς μεγάλῳ πάθεϊ μέγα βοήθημα, φλεβοτομίη, ἢν μή τις ἐς ἁμαρτωλὴν ἴῃ τοῦ πλήθεος δυστέκμαρτον δὲ τὸ μέτρον. ἤν τε γὰρ σμικρῷ πλέον ἀφέλῃς, προσαπέπνιξας τὸν ἄνθρωπον. ἐς γὰρ τὸ ζῆν τουτέοισι καὶ τὸ σμικρὸν αἷμα δυνατώτατον, καὶ ἡ ἀλέη τῆς ζωῆς τοῦ σκήνεος καὶ τῆς τροφῆς ἐόν· ἤν τε μεῖον τῆς αἰτίης, οὐδὲν μέγα ὤνησας διὰ μεγάλου ἄκεος· ἔτι γὰρ ἡ αἰτίη μίμνει· κρέσσον δὲ ἐς τὸ ἔλασσον ἁμαρτάνειν. ἢν γὰρ καὶ δοκέῃ μὲν ἐνδέειν, χρησταὶ δέ τινες ὑποφάσιες γίγνοιντο, αὖθις ἐπανατάμνειν τὴν φλέβα. τάμνειν δὲ τὴν ἐν τῷ κοίλῳ τοῦ ἀγκῶνος, εὔροος γὰρ ἥδε ἐν τῷ λαιῷ· ξυντεκμαίρεσθαι δὲ ἐν τῇ σμικρῇ ἀποπληξίῃ καὶ τὰ πάρετα μέρεα, εἰ ἐπʼ ἀριστερὰ, ἢ δεξιὰ, ἡ πάρεσις. ἀπὸ γὰρ τῶν ὑγιηρῶν, ὡς ἔπος εἰπεῖν, τὴν ἀφαίρεσιν χρὴ ποιέειν. τῇδε γὰρ τὸ αἷμα εὔροον· τῇδε καὶ ἡ παροχέτευσις ἀπὸ τῶν σιναρῶν. ἢν μὲν ὦν ἄνευ φανερῆς προφάσιος ἀπόπληκτοι γίγνωνται, ὧδε χρὴ συλλογί ζεσθαι ἀμφὶ τῆς ἀφαιρέσιος· ἢν δὲ ἀπὸ πληγῆς, ἢ καταφορῆς, ἢ πιέσιος ξυμβῇ, οὐ χρὴ ἀναβάλλεσθαι. μετεξετέροισι δὲ τόδε μοῦνον εἰς ἄκεσιν ἠδὲ ζωὴν ἤρκεσεν.
But if it is not thought expedient to open a vein, owing to the patient’s having been seized with much coldness, torpor, and insensibility, an injection must be given for the evacuation of the engorgement in the bowels (for very generally persons are seized with apoplexy from the immoderate use of food and wine), and for the revulsion of the humours seated in the head. The clyster should be acrid; and an evacuant of phlegm and bile, consisting not only of natron, but also of euphorbium, to the amount of three oboli, added to the usual amount of a clyster, also the medullary part of the wild cucumber, or the decoction of the hair (leaves) of centaury in oil or water. The following is a very excellent clyster: To the usual amount of honey add rue boiled with oil and the resin of the turpentine tree, and some salts, instead of natron, and the decoction of hyssop.
ἢν δὲ μὴ δοκέῃ τάμνειν φλέβα, ψύξιος πολλῆς καὶ νάρκης καὶ ἀναισθήσιος ἀμφισχούσης τὸν ἄνθρωπον, ὑποκλύζειν ἐς κένωσιν τοῦ πλήθεος τῶν ἐν τοῖσι ἐντέροισι (τὰ πολλὰ γὰρ ὑπʼ ἀδηφαγίης καὶ οἰνοφλυγίης παραπλῆγες γίγνονται), καὶ εἰς τὴν ἀντίσπασιν τῶν τὴν κεφαλὴν ἀμφεχόν των χυμῶν· ἔστω δὲ τὸ κλύσμα δριμὺ, καὶ φλεγμάτων καὶ χολῆς ἀγωγὸν, ὡς μὴ νίτρον ἔχειν μοῦνον, ἀλλὰ καὶ εὐφόρβιον, ὅσον ὁλκῆς τριώβολον, ἐς τόδε ξύνηθες πλῆθος τοῦ κλύσματος, καὶ κολοκυνθίδος τὸ ἐντός, ἢ κενταυρίου τῆς κόμης ἀφεψήματος εἰς ἔλαιον, ἧ ὕδωρ. ἄριστον δὲ κλύσμα καὶ τὸ τοιόνδε· τοῦ μέλιτος τῷ ξυνήθει πήγανον ξὺν τῷ λίπαϊ ἑψηθὲν, καὶ τερμίνθου τοῦ δένδρεος τῆς Ῥητίνης, καὶ ἁλῶν ἀντὶ νίτρου, καὶ ὑσσώπου ἐψήματος.
And if by these means the patient be somewhat aroused, either from being moved by the supervention of fevers, or having recovered from his insensibility, or the pulse has become good, or if the general appearance of the face has become favourable, one may entertain good hopes, and apply the remedies more boldly. Wherefore, when the strength is confirmed, the purgative hiera may be given to the patient fasting, and particularly a full dose. But, if the strength be an objection, it is to be given, to the amount of one-half, with honeyed-water. And we are to move him about, after having laid him stretched on a couch; and those who carry him must do so gently, he being allowed to rest frequently, to avoid inducing lassitude. And if there be a copious evacuation from the bowels, we are to permit it; but if not, give water, or honeyed-water, to the amount of two cupfuls, for drink. And if nausea supervene upon the purging, we are not to interfere with it; for the exertions of the body have some tendency to resuscitate the patient, and the vomiting of the bile carries off the cause of the disease. The medicine hiera is a purger of the senses, of the head, and of the nerves. Enough, indeed, has been said respecting evacuation of every kind at the commencement.
καὶ ἢν ἐκ τῶνδε μικρὸν ἀνέγρηται ὁ ἄνθρωπος, ἢ κινεόμενος τοῖσι πυρετοῖσι, ἢ αἰσθανόμενος ἀπὸ τῆς ἀναισθησίης, ἢ εὐσφυξίη γένοιτο, ἢ ὅλως τὸ πρόσωπον εὔσημον ᾖ, εὔελπιν χρὴ ἔμμεναι, ἠδʼ ἀρήγειν εὐτολμότερον. κρατύναντα ὦν μεσηγὺ τὴν δύναμιν τῆς ἱερῆς τοῦ καθαρτηρίου διδόναι νήστεϊ, μάλιστα μὲν τὸ πᾶν τῆς πόσιος· εἰ δὲ κώλυμα ἡ δύναμις ἔοι, ἐς τὸ ἥμισυ σὺν μελικρήτῳ. καὶ κινέειν αὐτὸν ἐν δίφρῳ ἐνθέντα ἀνακλίτῳ, ἀτρέμα μὲν αἰωρούντων τῶν φερόντων, διαναπαύοντα δὲ ξυνεχὲς διὰ τὸ ἄκοπον· κἢν μὲν ἡ γαστὴρ εὐρόως ὑποφέρῃ, δέχεσθαι· εἰ δὲ μὴ, ὕδωρ ἢ μελίκρητον πιπίσκειν, ὅσον κυάθους δύο· ἢν δὲ καὶ ναυτίη μὲν ἕλῃ ἐπὶ τῇσι καθάρσεσι, μὴ ἀποτρέπειν. ἥ τε ἔντασις ἐς ἐγρήγορσιν ἔχει τι ζώπυρον, καὶ ὁ τῶν φλεγμάτων ἔμετος τὴν αἰτίην τῆς νούσου ἄγει. αἰσθήσιος δὲ, καὶ κεφαλῆς, καὶ νεύρων καθαρτήριον ἡ ἱερὴ τὸ φάρμακον. ἀμφὶ μὲν ὦν κενώσιος παντοίης, τῆς ἐν ἀρχῇσι, ἅλις.
But having wrapped the whole of his person in wool, we are to soak it with some oil — the Sicyonian, oil of musk (gleucinum), or old oil, either each of these separately, or all mixed together; but it is best to melt into it a little wax, so as to bring it to the thickness of ointments; and it is to be rendered more powerful by adding some natron and pepper: these are to be reduced to a powder, and strained in a sieve. But castor has great efficacy in cases of palsy, both in the form of a liniment with some of the fore-mentioned oils, and it is still more potent when taken in a draught with honeyed-water, the quantity being to the amount we have stated under lethargics; but, at the same time, we must consider the age and disposition of the patient, whether he be ready to take the drink for several days. Inunctions are more powerful than fomentations, as being more easily borne, and also more efficacious; for the ointment does not run down so as to stain the bed-clothes (for this is disagreeable to the patient), and adheres to the body until, being melted by the heat thereof, it is drunk up. Moreover, the persistence of their effects is beneficial, whereas liquid applications run off. The ingredients of the ointments are such as have been stated by me; but along with them castor, the resin of the turpentine-tree, equal parts of euphorbium, of lemnestis, and of pellitory; of pepper, and of galbanum one-half, with triple the amount of Egyptian natron; and of wax, so as to bring it to a liquid consistence. But a much more complex mode of preparing these medicines has been described by me on various occasions, and under a particular head. Cataplasms are to be applied to the hardened and distended parts; their ingredients are linseed, fenugreek, barley-meal, oil in which rue or dill has been boiled, the root of mallows pounded and boiled in honeyed-water, so as to become of the consistence of wax. They should be of a soft and agreeable consistence. These things are to be done if the patient still remains free of fever, or if the fever be slight, in which case no regard need be had to the heat.
ὅλον δὲ χρὴ τὸν ἄνθρωπον ἐρίοισι εἰλίξαντα καταιονεῖν λίπαϊ σικυωνίῳ, ἢ γλευκίνῳ, ἢ παλαιῷ, ἢ ἰδίῃ ἑκάστῳ, ἢ ξυμπάντεσσι συμμεμιγμένοισι· ἄριστον δὲ κηροῦ μικρὸν ἐντήκειν ἐς πάχος τῶν ἀλειφάτων· … ποιέειν δὲ χρὴ δυνατωτέρην τήνδε· ἐμπάσσειν δὲ καὶ νίτρου καὶ πεπέρεος. ἔστω δὲ λεπτὰ σησθέντα κρησέρῃ· μέγα δὲ ἐς δύναμιν τῶν παρέντων καὶ τὸ καστόριον· καὶ ἄλειμμα, ξύν τινι λίπαϊ τῶν εἰρημένων, πολλὸν δὲ δυνατώτερον καὶ πιπίσκειν ξὺν μελικρή τῳ. τὸ δὲ πλῆθος ὁκόσον ἐπὶ ληθαργικῶν ἴσμεν· ξυντεκμαίρεσθαι δὲ καὶ τὴν ἡλικίην καὶ τὴν γνώμην τοῦ νοσέοντος, εἰ πιεῖν ἐς πλεῦνας ἡμέρας ἑτοῖμος. ἔστι δὲ καὶ χρίσματα κρέσσονα τῆς τέγξιος, εὐφορέστερά τε καὶ δυνατώτερα. οὔτε γὰρ περιρρέει ἐς τὸ τῶν στρωμάτων αἶσχος· ἀχάριστον γὰρ τοῖσι κάμνουσι τὸ τοιόνδε, καὶ προσίζεται τῷ σκήνεϊ, ἔς τε τὰ ξυντακέντα ὑπό τε τῆς ἀλέης ἀνεπόθη. ἀλλὰ καὶ τὸ ἀΐδιον αὐτέων ὀνηϊστόν, περιρρέει γὰρ ἡ τέγξις. ὕλη δὲ ἀλειφάτων μὲν ὁκόσα μοι λέλεκται· ξὺν αὐτέοισι δὲ καστόριον, Ῥητίνη τερμίνθου τοῦ δένδρεος, εὐφορβίου, λημνήστιδος, πυρέθρουἶσα· πεπέριος, χαλβάνης ἐς ἥμισυ· ξὺν νίτρῳ Αἰγυπτίῳ τριπλάσιον, κηροῦ ὁκόσον ἐς σύστασιν ὑγρήν. πολλὸν δὲ τουτέων φαρμακίη ποικιλωτέρη καὶ πλέον καὶ ἰδίῃ λέλεκταὶ. ἐπιπλάσματα τῇσι σκληρίῃσι καὶ τῇσι ἐντάσεσι τῶν μερέων ἐπιθετέον· ὕλη δὲ, λίνου σπέρμα, τῆλις, ἄλφιτον κρίθινον, μέλι, ἔλαιον ἔνθα πήγανον ἢ ἄνηθον ἐζέσθη, ἀλθαίης Ῥίζα κοπεῖσα καὶ ἐν μελικρήτῳ ἑψηθεῖσα, ὡς κηροειδὴς γενέσθαι· ἔστω δὲ εὐαφέα καὶ προσηνέα τῇ ξυστάσι. ἢν μὲν ὦν ἄπυροι ἔωσι ἔτι, ἢ σμικρὸν ἐπιπυρεταίνωσι, τάδε χρὴ πρήσσειν οὐκ ἀλεγίζοντα τῆς θέρμης.
But if the fevers be of an acute nature, and the remaining disease appear to be of minor consequence, and if these induce urgent danger, the diet and the rest of the treatment must be accommodated to them. Wherefore, the patients must use food altogether light and of easy digestion; and now, most especially, attention ought to be paid to the proper season for eating, and, during the paroxysms, the whole of the remedial means must be reduced; and, altogether, we must attend to the fevers.
ἢν δὲ πυρετοὶ ὀξέες ἔωσι καὶ ἡ ἄλλη νοῦσος σμικροτέρη τῶνδε φαίνηται, καὶ ἐς τὸν κίνδυνον οἵδε ξυνεπείγωσι, πρὸς τούσδε χρὴ τὴν δίαιταν καὶ τὴν ἄλλην θεραπείην ἁρμόζεσθαι. τροφῇσίτε ὦν τελέως λεπτῇσι, εὐπέπτοισι χρέεσθαι· καὶ τῇ εὐκαιρίῃ προσεκτέον νῦν μᾶλλον· καὶ τοὺς παροξυσμοὺς ὑποστέλλεσθαι ἐς πᾶσαν ἰητρείην, καὶ τὸ ξύμπαν τοῖσι πυρετοῖσι προσκέεσθαι χρή.
But if the disease be protracted, and if the head be at fault, we must apply the cupping-instrument to the back of the head, and abstract blood unsparingly; for it is more efficacious than phlebotomy, and does not reduce the strength. But, dry-cupping is to be first applied between the shoulders, in order to produce revulsion of the matters in the occiput.
ἢν δὲ πρόσω προήκῃ χρόνῳ καὶ τὴν κεφαλὴν ἐν αἰτίῃ ἴσχῃ, σικύην χρῆ ἐς τὸ ἰνίον προσβάλλοντα, αἱμάσσειν ἀφειδέως. καὶ γὰρ φλεβοτομίης ὀνίνησι μᾶλλον, καὶ τὰς δυνάμιας οὐκ ἀφαιρέει. προτέρη δὲ μεσηγὺ τῶν ὠμοπλατέων κουφὴ τιθέσθω ἐς ἀντίσπασιν τῆς ἐν τῷ ἰνίῳ.
Sometimes, also, the parts concerned in deglutition are paralysed, which is the sole help and safety of persons in apoplexy, both for the swallowing of food and for the transmission of medicines. For not only is there danger of want of nourishment and hunger, but also of cough, difficulty of breathing, and suffocation; for if one pour any liquid food into the mouth it passes into the trachea, neither the tonsils coming together for the protrusion of the food, nor the epiglottis occupying its proper seat where it is placed by nature, as the cover of the windpipe; we must, therefore, pour honeyed-water or the strained ptisan into a piece of bread resembling a long spoon, and passing it over the trachea, pour its contents into the stomach; for in this way deglutition is still accomplished. But if the patient be in the extremity of danger, and the neck with the respiration is compressed, we must rub the neck and chin with heating things and foment. They effect nothing, and are unskilful in the art, who apply the cupping-instrument to the throat, in order to dilate the gullet; for distension, in order to procure the admission of food, is not what is wanted, but contraction of the parts for the purposes of deglutition. But the cupping-instrument distends further; and, if the patient wish to swallow, it prevents him by its expansion and revulsion, whereas it is necessary to pass into a state of collapse, in order to accomplish the contraction of deglutition; and in addition to these, it stuffs the trachea so as to endanger suffocation. And neither, if you place it on either side of the windpipe, does it any good; for muscles and nerves, and tendons and veins, are in front of it.
παρελύθη κοτὲ καὶ κατάποσις, ἥπερ μούνη ἀποπλήκτοισι ἄλκαρ ἐστὶ σωτηρίης, εἴς τε τὴν τῆς τροφῆς κατάποσιν καὶ ἐς τὴν τῶν φαρμάκων πάροδον. οὐ γὰρ ἀτροφίης καὶ λιμοῦ κίνδυνος μοῦνον, ἀλλὰ καὶ βηχὸς, καὶ δυσπνοίης, καὶ πνίξιος. κἢν γὰρ καὶ ἐγχέῃ τις εἰς τὸ στόμα ὑγρὸν σιτίον, ἐς τὴν ἀρτηρίην ὑπορρέει, οὔτε τῶν παρισθμίων ξυμπιπτόντων ἐς τὸν ὠσμὸν τῶν σιτίων, οὔτε τῆς ἐπιγλωττίδος ἐνιζούσης ἐς τὴν ἑωυτῆς ἕδρην, ἥτις ἐπίθημα τῆς ἀρτηρίης πέφυκε. χρὴ ὦν μελίκρητον ἢ χυλὸν ἐγχέαντα μυστίλῃ μακρῇ ὑπεραίροντα ὑπὲρ τῆς ἀρτηρίης ἐς τὸν στόμαχον ἐγχέειν. τόδε γὰρ ἔτι ἐς κατάποσιν ὑπουργέει· εἰ δʼ ὁ νοσέων ἐς ὄλεθρονἴῃ ὕστατον, ὁ δὲ αὐχὴν σὺν τῇ ἀναπνοῇ πηγνύηται, τόν τε αὐχένα καὶ τὸν ἀνθερεῶνα θερμάσμασι χρίειν τε καὶ πυριῆν. ματαιόπονοι δὲ καὶ ἀΐδριες ὁκόσοι σικύην ἐς τὸν ἀνθερεῶνα προσβάλλουσι ἐς εὐρύτητα τοῦ στομάχου. οὐ γὰρ διαστάσιος χρέως ἐς ἔνθεσιν τῆς τροφῆς, ἀλλὰ ξυμπτώσιος ἐς κατάποσιν. προσδιαστέλλει δὲ σικύη, κἢν καταπίνειν θέλῃ, ἐπίσχει τῇ ἀποστάσιτε καὶ ἀνθολκῇ· ἐπανιέναι δὲ χρὴ ἐς τὴν περιστολὴν τῆς καταπόσιος· πρὸς δὲ τουτέοισι τὴν ἀρτηρίην πληροῖ ἐς κίνδυνον ἀποπνίξιος. ἀλλʼ οὐδʼ εἰ ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα τοῦ βρόγχου θείης ἀρήγει· μύες γὰρ καὶ νεῦρα, καὶ τένοντες, καὶ φλέβες ἐπίπροσθεν ἔασι αὐτέου.
The bladder and the loose portion of the rectum are sometimes paralysed, in regard to their expulsive powers, when the bowels are constantly filled with the excrements, and the bladder is swelled to a great size. But sometimes they are affected as to their retentive powers, for the discharges run away as if from dead parts. In this case one must not boldly use the instrument, the catheter, for there is danger of inducing violent pain of the bladder, and of occasioning a convulsion in the patient. It is better to inject with no great amount of strained ptisan; and if the bowel be evacuated of the fæces, it will be proper to inject castor with oil. But the sole hope, both of general and partial attacks of paralysis, consists in the sitz bath of oil. The manner of it will be described under the chronic diseases.
κύστις δὲ καὶ τὸ χαλαρὸν ἀρχοῦ ἄλλοτε μὲν ἐς ἔκκρισιν παρεῖται, καὶ ἔστι τῶν περιττῶν ἀεὶ ἔντερα πλήρεα, κύστις δὲ καὶ ἐς ὄγκον μέγιστον ἀείρεται, ἄλλοτε δὲ εἰς κάθεξιν αὐτέων, διαρρέει γὰρ τὰ περιττὰ ὡς διʼ ἀψύχων. ἔνθα ὦν ἐς μὲν τὴν κύστιν τῷ καθετῆρι ὀργάνῳ οὐκ εὔτολμον χρέεσθαι· νδυνος γὰρ σφακελίζειν τῇ κύστι, ἠδὲ σπασμὸν διδόναι τῷ ἀνθρώπῳ. ὑποκλύζειν δὲ μὴ πολλῷ πλήθεϊ τοῦ χυλοῦ κρέσσον· κἢν ἐκκοπρωθῇ τὸ ἔντερον, προσενιέναι ξὺν ἐλαίῳ καστόριον. ἐλπὶς δὲ μούνη καὶ πάντων ὁμοῦ τῶν παρέτων, καὶ ἰδίῃ τῶν μερέων, ἡ εἰς ἔλαιον ἐνίζησις. ὁ δὲ τρόπος αὐτέης ἐν τοῖσι χρονίοισι εἰρήσεται.
6. EVEN the first fall in epilepsy is dangerous, if the disease attack in an acute form; for it has sometimes proved fatal in one day. The periodical paroxysms are also dangerous; and, therefore, on these accounts, epilepsy has been described among the acute diseases. But if the patient has become habituated to the illness, and the disease has taken a firm hold of him, it has become not only chronic, but, in certain cases, perpetual; for if it pass the prime of life, it clings to him in old age and in death. Such remedies, then, as are applicable in the chronic state will be described among the chronic diseases; but such things as must be done for a sudden attack of the disease, of these the greater number have been described under apoplectics, namely, venesection, clysters, anointings, the cupping instrument; these means being the most powerful for the purpose of arousing. But I will now describe the peculiar remedies for an attack of the falling sickness. In children, then, to whom, owing to dyspepsia, or from excessive cold, the disease is familiar, vomiting, either of food, or of phlegm, or of any other humour, is beneficial. Feathers, then, dipped in the ointment of iris, excite vomiting; and the unguentum irinum is not inapplicable for smearing the tonsils with. But having first laid the child on his belly (this is the easiest position for vomiting), we must press gently on his lower belly. But if the lower jaw be convulsed or distorted, or if the hands and legs be tossed about, and if the whole face be fixed, the limbs are to be soothed by gentle rubbing with oil, and the distortions of the countenance rectified; the straight parts are to be gently bound, so that they may not become distorted. The cold parts are to be fomented with unscoured wool, or with old rags. The anus is to be rubbed with honey along with the oil of rue, or with natron and liquid resin along with these things; and they are to be gently pushed within the anus, for they expel flatus, and children pass flatus in this disease. But if they can swallow, we may give them of this medicine: Of cardamom, one part; of copper, one siliqua. These things are to be drunk with honeyed-water; for either it is vomited up along with the matter annoying the stomach, or the bowels are opened. This is a very excellent linctus: Of cardamom, of mustard, and of the hair of hyssop equal parts; of the root of iris, one part, with a double quantity of natron; of pepper, to the amount of one-third. Having mixed up all these things together, and having separated the jaw, pour into the mouth, and even beyond the tonsils, so that the things may be swallowed. These things are proper for infants, and for young persons the same are applicable. But the more powerful emetics are to be taken: the bulbous root of narcissus; of mustard and of hyssop, equal parts; of copper and pepper, one-half the proportion of the former things. They are to be mixed with honey and given. These things are proper, in order to rouse from the paroxysm; but those calculated to produce the resolution of the disease will be described under the chronic diseases.
6. τῆς ἐπιληψίης ὀλεθρίη μὲν ἡ πρωτίστη κατάπτωσις, ἢν ὀξέως εἰσβάλλῃ ἡ νοῦσος. ἔκτεινε γάρ κοτε καὶ ἡμέρῃ μιῇ. κινδυνώδεες δὲ καὶ οἱ ἐν τῇσι περιόδοισι παροξυσμοί. διὰ τάδε μὲν ὦν καὶ ἐν τοῖσι ὀξέσι καταγέγραπται ἡ ἐπιληψίη· ἢν δὲ ἐς μελέτην μὲν ἥκῃ τοῦ κακοῦ ὥνθρωπος, ἡ δὲ νοῦσος ἀπρὶξ ἐμφῦσα ἔχηται, οὐ χρονίη μοῦνον γίγνετα ι, ἀλλὰ μετεξετέροισι αἰωνίη. ἢν γὰρ ὑπερβάλλῃ τὴν ἀκμὴν τῆς ἡλικίης, ξυγγηρᾷ τε καὶ ξυναποθήσκει. ὁκόσα μὲν ὦν ὡς χρονίῃ ἐστὶν ἰητήρια ἐν τοῖσι χρονίοισι λελέξεται· ὁκόσα δὲ ἐς τὸ τάχος τοῦ ὀλέθρου πρηκτέα, τῶνδε τὰ πλεῦνα μὲν ἐπὶ τοῖσι ἀποπληκτικοῖσι λέλεκται, φλεβοτομίη, κλύσματα, χρίσιες, σικύη. τάδε γὰρ ἐς ἀνέγερσιν δυνατώτατα. ὁκόσα δὲ ἴδια καταπτώσιος ἄκεα, τάδε νῦν φράσω. παιδίοισι μὲν ὦν οἷσι ἐκ διαφθορῆς, ἢ ἐκ ψύξιος ἰσχυρῆς, ξύνηθες τὸ πάθος, ἔμετος, ἢ σιτίων, ἢ φλέγματος, ἢ ἄλλου χυμοῦ τινος ὀνηϊστόν. πτίλα δὲ ἰρίνῳ μύρῳ δευθέντα ναυτίην ἐρεθίζει· ἀτὰρ καὶ τὸ ἴρινον οὐκ ἄχρηστον εἰς τὴν τῶν παρισθμίων χρίσιν. ξυμπιέζειν δὲ τὴν λαγόνα πρηέως ἐπὶ γαστέρα ἐκκρεμὲς προβάλλοντα τὸ παιδίον. τόδε γὰρ τὸ σχῆμα πρὸς ἔμετον Ῥήϊστον· ἢν δὲ καὶ σπᾶται ἢ διαστρέφηται τὴν κάτω γνάθον, ἢ τὼ χεῖρε καὶ τὰ σκέλεα Ῥίπτηται, καὶ ξύμπας τιταίνηταί οἱ ὢψ, τὰ γυῖα ψηλαφίῃ ξὺν λίπαϊ μαλθάσσειν, ἀπιθύνειν τε τῆς ὄψιος τὰ διάστροφα· πρηέως δὲ διακρατέειν, ὡς μὴ διαστρέφηται τὰ ἰθέα. τὰ ψυχρὰ πυριῆν ἢ πιναροῖσι ἐρίοισι ἢ παλαιοῖσι τρύχεσι· διαχρίειν τε τὴν ἕδρην μέλιτι ξὺν πηγανίνῳ ἐλαίῳ, ἢ ξὺν νίτρῳ, ἢ Ῥητίνῃ ὑγρῇ ξὺν τοῖσδε, καὶ διωθεῖν πρηέως ἔσω τῆς ἕδρης. τάδε γὰρ φυσέων ἀγωγά· φύσας δὲ διεξίουσι ἐπὶ τῆσδε τῆς νούσου παῖδες. ἢν δὲ καταπίνειν δύνωνται, διδόναι τοῦδε τοῦ φαρμάκου· καρδαμώ μου μέρος ἕν, χαλκοῦ κερ. ά. τάδε ξὺν μελικρή τῳ πιπίσκειν. ἢ γὰρ ἐξήμεσαν ξὺν τοῖσι ἐν τῷ στομάχῳ πιέζουσι, ἢ ὑπηλάθη ἡ γαστήρ. ἄριστον δὲ ἔκλευγμα καὶ τόδε· τοῦ καρδαμώμου, καὶ σινήπιος, καὶ ὑσσώπου τῆς κόμης ἶσα, ἴριδος τῆς Ῥίζης μέρος α, ξὺν νίτρου διπλασίῳ, πεπέριος ἐς τρίτον, μέλιτι φυράσαν τα ὁμοῦ τὰ πάντα, διαστήσαντα τὴν γένυν ἐς τὸ στόμα ἐγχέειν, ἀτὰρ καὶ ἔτι προσωτέρωτῶν παρισθμίων, ὅκως καταπίοιεν. τάδε μὲν ὦν παιδίοισι· τοῖσι δὲ νεηνίῃσι καὶ τάδε ξύμφορα. ἀτὰρ καὶ φάρμακα δυνατώτερα ἐς ἔμετον αἱρέεσθαι, ναρκίσσου βολβοὺς, σινήπιος καὶ ὑσσώπουἶσα, καὶ χαλκοῦ καὶ πεπέριος, μοίρης τῶν προτέρων ἐς ἥμισυ, σὺν μέλιτι φυράσαντα διδόναι· τάδε μὲν ὦν ἐς ἀνέγερσιν τοῦ παροξυσμ οῦ· τὰ δὲ ἐς λύσιν τοῦ νοσήματος ἐν τοῖσι χρονίοισι λελέξεται.
7. NOW, indeed, a soft, comfortable, smooth, commodious, and warm bed is required; for the nerves become unyielding, hard, and distended by the disease; and also the skin, being dry and rough, is stretched; and the eye-lids, formerly so mobile, can scarcely wink; the eyes are fixed and turned inwards; and likewise the joints are contracted, not yielding to extension. Let the house also be in a tepid condition; but, if in the summer season, not to the extent of inducing sweats or faintness; for the disease has a tendency to syncope. We must also not hesitate in having recourse to the other great remedies; for it is not a time for procrastination. Whether, then, the tetanus has come on from refrigeration, without any manifest cause, or whether from a wound, or from abortion in a woman, we must open the vein at the elbow, taking especial care with respect to the binding of the arm, that it be rather loose; and as to the incision, that it be performed in a gentle and expeditious manner, as these things provoke spasms; and take away a moderate quantity at first, yet not so as to induce fainting and coldness. And the patient must not be kept in a state of total abstinence from food, for famine is frigid and arid. Wherefore we must administer thick honeyed-water without dilution, and strained ptisan with honey. For these things do not press upon the tonsils, so as to occasion pain; and, moreover, they are soft to the gullet, and are easily swallowed, are laxative of the belly, and very much calculated to support the strength. But the whole body is to be wrapped in wool soaked in oil of must or of saffron, in which either rosemary, fleabane, or wormwood has been boiled. All the articles are to be possessed of heating properties, and hot to the touch. We must rub with a liniment composed of lemnestis, euphorbium, natron, and pellitory, and to these a good deal of castor is to be added. The tendons also are to be well wrapped in wool, and the parts about the ears and chin rubbed with liniments; for these parts, in particular, suffer dreadfully, and are affected with tension. Warm fomentations, also, are to be used for the tendons and bladder, these being applied in bags containing toasted millet, or in the bladders of cattle half filled with warm oil, so that they may lay broad on the fomented parts. Necessity sometimes compels us to foment the head, a practice not agreeable to the senses, but good for the nerves; for, by raising vapours, it fills the senses with fume, but relaxes the nervous parts. It is proper, then, to use a mode of fomentation the safest possible, and materials not of a very heavy smell; and the materials should consist of oil devoid of smell, boiled in a double vessel, and applied in bladders; or of fine salts in a bag: for millet and linseed are pleasant indeed to the touch, but gaseous, and of an offensive smell. The patient having been laid on his back, the fomentations are to be spread below the tendons, as far as the vertex; but we must not advance further to the bregma, for it is the common seat of all sensation, and of all remedial and noxious means it is the starting-point. But if it be necessary to apply cataplasms to the tendons, it must be done below the occiput; for if placed higher, they will fill the head with the steam of the linseed and fenugreek. After the cataplasms, it is a good thing to apply the cupping-instrument to the occiput on both sides of the spine; but one must be sparing in the use of heat, for the pressure of the lips of the instrument is thus painful, and excites contractions. It is better, then, to suck slowly and softly, rather than suddenly in a short time; for thus the part in which you wish to make the incision will be swelled up without pain. Your rule in regard to the proper amount of blood must be the strength. These are the remedies of tetanus without wounds. But if the spasm be connected with a wound, it is dangerous, and little is to be hoped. We must try to remedy it, however, for some persons have been saved even in such cases. In addition to the other remedies, we must also treat the wounds with the calefacient things formerly described by me, by fomentations, cataplasms, and such other medicines as excite gentle heat, and will create much pus: for in tetanus the sores are dry. Let the application consist of the manna of frankincense, and of the hair of poley, and of the resins of turpentine and pine-trees, and of the root of marsh-mallow and of rue, and of the herb fleabane. These things are to be mixed up with the cataplasms, melting some of them, sprinkling the others upon them, and levigating others beforehand with oil; but the mallow, having been pounded, is to be boiled beforehand in honeyed-water. We are to sprinkle, also, some castor on the ulcer, for no little warmth is thereby communicated to the whole body, because the rigors proceeding from the sores are of a bad kind. Rub the nostrils with castor along with oil of saffron; but also give it frequently, in the form of a draught, to the amount of three oboli. But if the stomach reject this, give intermediately of the root of silphium an equal dose to the castor, or of myrrh the half of the silphium: all these things are to be drunk with honeyed-water. But if there be a good supply of the juice of the silphium from Cyrene, wrap it, to the amount of a tare, in boiled honey, and give to swallow. It is best given in this way, as it slips unperceived through the palate; for it is acrid, and occasions disagreeable eructations, being a substance which has a bad smell. But if it cannot be swallowed thus, it must be given dissolved in honeyed-water; for it is the most powerful of all the medicines given to be swallowed, which are naturally warming, diluent, and can relax distensions and soothe the nerves. But if they can swallow nothing, we must inject it into the anus with the oil of castor; and thus the anus is to be anointed with oil or honey. With this, also, we must anoint the fundament, along with oil or honey. But if they will drink nothing, we must make an injection of some castor with the oil. With this, also, we are to anoint the fundament, along with fat or honey; and also foment the bladder; and use it as an ointment, having melted it with a sufficiency of wax to bring it to the proper consistence. But if it be the time for evacuating flatulence and fæces, we are to inject two drams of the purgative hiera along with honeyed-water and oil, since, along with the expulsion of these, it warms the lower belly; for hiera is both a compound and heating medicine.
7. νῦν μάλα χρὴ κοίτην μαλακὴν, εὐαφέα, λείην, προσηνέα, θερμὴν ἔμμεναι. ἀπηνέα γὰρ καὶ σκληρὰ καὶ τιταινόμενα τὰ νεῦρα ὑπὸ τῆς νούσου γίγνεται. ἀτὰρ καὶ τὸ δέρμα πᾶν καρφαλέον καὶ τρηχὺ περιτέταται, τὰ πρόσθεν εὔτροχα βλέφαρα μόγις τοῖσι ὀφθαλμοῖσι ἐπιμύει. ὀφθαλμοὶ δὲ ἀτενέες, ἐνδεδινημένοι. ἀτὰρ καὶ τὰ ἄρθρα ξυνδέδεται οὐ κινεύμενα τῇ τάσι. ἔστω δὲ καὶ ὁ οἶκος ἀλεεινὸς, κἢν θέρεος ᾖ, μὴ μέχρι ἱδρώτων, ἢ ἐκλύσιος. ἐς συγκοπὴν γὰρ ἡ νοῦσος Ῥέπει. χρὴ δὲ μηδὲ ἐς τὰ ἄλλα τὰ μεγάλα ἄκεα μέλλειν· οὐ γὰρ καιρὸς ἀμβολῆς. εἴτε ὦν διὰ ψύξιν ἄνευ φανερῆς προφάσιος γένοιτο τέτανος, εἴτε ἐπὶ τρώματι, εἴτε ἐπʼ ἀμβλώσει γυναικὸς, φλέβα τὴν ἐπʼ ἀγκῶνι τάμνειν. προμηθευόμενον καὶ τὴν πίεσιν τοῦ βραχίονος ἐν τῇ ἐπιδέσι, ὡς ἐς ἄνεσιν ἔχοι, καὶ τὴν τομὴν ὡς εὐαφέως καὶ Ῥηϊδίως γένοιτο. τάδε γὰρ σπασμῶν προκλήσιες· καὶ ἐσάπαξ ἀφαιρέειν εὐμέτρως, μὴ μέχρι λειποθυμίης καὶ περιψύξιος. μηδʼ ἐπʼ ἀσιτίης ἔῃ· ψυχρὸν καὶ ξηρὸν λιμός. διδόναι ὦν μελικρή του παχέος ἀκρητεστέρου, καὶ πτισάνης χυλοῦ ξὺν μέλιτι. τάδε γὰρ καὶ παρισθμίοισι ἐς ἔκθλιψιν ἀπονώτατα, καὶ στομάχῳ ἐς κατάποσιν λεῖα καὶ Ῥήϊστα, καὶ ἐς μάλθαξιν κοιλίης μαλακώτατα, καὶ ἐς δύναμιν δυνατώτατα· τὸ δὲ ξύμπαν σκῆνος ἐρίοισι κατειλίχθω δεδευμένοισι ἐλαίῳ γλευκίνῳ, ἢ κροκίνῳ, ἐν οἷς ἢ λιβανωτὶς, ἢ κόνυζα, ἢ ἀρτεμισίη ἐνήψηται. καὶ τὰ πάντα θερμὰ ἐς δύναμιν καὶ ἐς θίξιν ἔστω· χρίειν δὲ τῷ διὰ τῆς λημνήστιδος, καὶ εὐφορβίου, καὶ νίτρου, καὶ πυρέθρου ἀλείμματι· προσβάλλειν δὲ τοῖσδε τοῦ καστορίου συχνόν· εὖ δὲ καὶ τοὺς τένοντας ξυλλαμβ άνειν τοῖσι ἐρίοισι, καὶ χρίειν καὶ τὰ παρʼ οὖς καὶ ἀνθερεῶνα. τάδε γὰρ μάλιστα πάσχειτε δεινὰ καὶ τείνει. πυριῆν δὲ κούφοις θερμάσμασι τένοντας καὶ κύστιν, μαρσίποις ἔχουσι κέγχρον πεφωγμένην, ἢ κύστεσι βοῶν ἐλαίου θερμοῦ ἡμιπληρέσι, ὡς εἰς πλάτος ἐπικέηνται τῶν πυριωμένων χωρίων. ἐβιήσατό κοτε ἀνάγκη πυριῆσαι κεφαλὴν, οὐκ ἀσφαλὲς μὲν αἰσθήσεσι, νεύροισι δὲ ἀγαθόν. τάσδε μὲν γὰρ ὀμίχλης ἐπʼ ἀναφορῇ ἀτμῶν πίμπλησι, ἀνίησι δὲ τὰ νεῦρα. χρὴ οὖν τῷ τρόπῳ τε τῆς πυρίης ὡς ἀσφαλεστάτῳ χρέεσθαι, καὶ ὕλῃ μὴ σφόδρα βαρυόδμῳ μιῇ· ἀλλὰ ὕλη μὲν ἔστω ἔλαιον τὸ ἐν κύστεσι ἄκνισον ἐν διπλῷ ἀγγείῳ ἑψηθὲν, ἢ ἅλες λεπτοὶ ἐν τῷ μαρσιπίῳ. κέγχρος γὰρ καὶ λίνου σπέρμα εὐαφέα μὲν, ἀτμώδεα δὲ καὶ βαρύοδμα. τρόπος δὲ πυρίης· ὑποτετάσθαι δεῖ τοῖς τένουσι ὑπτίοισι τὰ πυριάματα ἄχρι τῆς κορυφῆς· προσωτέρω δὲ ἐπὶ τὸ βρέγμα μὴ προβαίνειν. τόδε γὰρ τὸ χωρίον ἁπάσης μὲν τῆς αἰσθήσιός ἐστι κοινὸν καὶ ἀπὸ τοῦδε πᾶσαι αἱ ἀφέσιες ὠφελίης τε καὶ βλάψιος· ἢν δὲ ἐπιπλάσσειν δέῃ τοὺς τένοντας, νέρθεν ἔστω τοῦ ἰνίου. ἀνωτέρω γὰρ εἰ θείης, τὴν κεφαλὴν πλήσεις ἀτμῶν τοῦ λίνου σπέρματος καὶ τῆς τήλεως· ἐπὶ δὲ τοῖσι ἐπιπλάσμασι ἀγαθὸν ἡ σικύη ἐς τὸ ἰνίον τῆς Ῥάχιος ἑκατέρωθεν· ἔστω δὲ φειδὼ πολλὴ τῆς φλογός· ὀδυνηρὸν γὰρ καὶ σπασμῶδες τῶν χειλέων τῆς σικύης ἡ ἀμφίθλασις. χρὴ ὦν ἐς δηρὸν ἕλκειν καὶ μαλθακῶς μᾶλλον, ἢ ἀθρόον ἐν ὀλίγῳ χρόνῳ. ὧδε γὰρ ἄν σοι κυρτωθείη τὸ χωρίον ἀπόνως, ὅπερ ἐπιτάμνειν χρή. τέκμαρ δέ σοι τῆς αἱμάξιος τῆς συμμετρίης ἡ δύναμις γιγνέσθω. τάδε μὲν ὦν τῶν ἄνευ ἑλκέων τετάνων τὰ ἄκεα. ἢν δὲ ἐπὶ τρώματι σπασμὸς γένηται, ὀλέθριον μὲν καὶ δυσέλπιστον· ἀρήγειν δὲ χρή· μετεξέτεροίτε γὰρ καὶ ἐκ τοιῶνδε ἐσώθησαν. χρὴ ὦν, πρὸς τῇ ἄλλῃ ἰητρείῃ καὶ τὰ ἕλκεα ἰῆσθαι, τέγξιθερμαινόντων, ἅσσα μοι λέλεκται, καὶ πυρίῃ καὶ ἐπιπλάσμασι, φαρμάκοισίτε ὁκόσα Ῥηϊδίως θερμαίνειτε καὶ πολλὸν τεύξει πῦον. ξηρὰ γὰρ ἐπὶ τετάνῳ τὰ ἕλκεα. ἔστω ὦν λιβανωτοῦ τῆς μάννης, καὶ πολίου τῆς κόμης, καὶ Ῥητίνης ἀπὸ τερμίνθου καὶ πίτυος τῶν δενδρέων, καὶ ἀλθαίης Ῥίζης, καὶ πηγάνου καὶ κονύζης τῆς βοτάνης. τάδε χρὴ συμμίσγειν τοῖς ἐπιπλάσμασι, τὰ μὲν τήκοντα, τὰ δὲ ἐμπάσσοντα, τὰ δὲ ξὺν ἐλαίῳ προλεαίνοντα· ἐν μελικρή τῳ δὲ τὴν ἀλθαίηνκεκομμένην προεψεῖν· ἐπιπάσσειν δὲ τῷ ἕλκεϊ καὶ τοῦ καστορίου· οὐ σμικρὴ δὲ ἡ ἔνθεν ἀλέη ὅλῳ τῷ σκήνεϊ, ὅτι καὶ τὰ Ῥίγεα τὰ ἀπὸ τῶν ἑλκέων κακοήθεα. ἐγχρίειν δὲ τὰς Ῥῖνας τῷ καστορίῳ ξὺν κροκίνῳ λίπαϊ· ἀλλὰ καὶ πιπίσκειν τοῦδε ξυνεχέως ὁκόσον ὁλκῆς τριώβολον· ἢν δὲ πρὸς τόδε ἀπαυδήσῃ ὁ στόμαχος, μεσηγὺ σιλφίου Ῥίζης διδόναι τῆς ὁλκῆς τὸ ἶσον τῷ καστορίῳ, ἢ σμύρνης, τοῦ σιλφίου ἥμισυ. ἅπαντα δὲ ξὺν μελικρή τῳ πιπίσκειν. εἰ δὲ εὐπορίη ὀποῦ τοῦ σιλφίου τοῦ ἀπὸ τῆς Κυρήνης γένοιτο, τόνδε χρὴ μέλιτι ἑφθῷ ἐνειλίξαντα, ὁκόσον ὀρόβου μέγεθος, καταπιεῖν διδόναι. ἄριστον γὰρ ὧδε, ὡς τὴν ὑπερώην λάθοι παραλλάξας· δριμὺς γὰρ καὶ τὴν ἐρυγὴν ἀπηνὴς, κάκοδμος ἐών. ἢν δὲ μὴ δύνηται ὧδε καταπιεῖν, μελικρήτῳ λύσαντα διδόναι. ἁπάντων γὰρ τῶν καταποτῶν δυνατώτερον, ὁκόσα πέφυκε ἀλεαίνειν τε καὶ ὑγραίνειν, καὶ ἀνιέναι τῆς τάσιος, καὶ μαλθάσσειν νεῦρα. ἢν δὲ μηδὲν καταπίνωσι, ἐς τὴν ἕδρην ἐγχέειν ξὺν ἐλαίῳ, τοῦ καστορίου. τῷδε καὶ χρίειν τὴν ἕδρην ξὺν λίπαϊ ἢ μέλιτι· τῷδε καὶ τὴν κύστιν τέγγειν τε καὶ χρίειν ἐς πάχος ξὺν κηρῷ τήξαντα. ἢν δὲ καὶ φύσας καὶ κόπριον ἄγειν καιρὸς ᾖ, τῆς ἱερῆς τοῦ καθαρτηρίου ὁλκῆς͵ δύο ξὺν μελικρή τῳ καὶ ἐλαίῳ ἐνιέναι. ξὺν γὰρ τῷ ἄγειν τάδε ἔτι καὶ τὸ ἔντερον καὶ τὴν κάτω κοιλίην ἐκπυριῇ. ποικίλον γὰρ καὶ θερμὸν φάρμακον ἡ ἱερή.