1. IN chronic diseases, the postponement of medical treatment is a bad thing; for, by procrastination, they pass into incurable affections, being of such a nature that they do not readily go off if they once attack; and if protracted by time, they will become strong, and end only in death. Small diseases also are succeeded by greater, so that although devoid of danger at first, their progeny proves deadly. Wherefore neither should the patient conceal his complaint, from the shame of exposure, nor shrink from fear of the treatment; nor should the physician be inactive, for thus both would conspire to render the disease incurable. Some patients, from ignorance of the present and what will come at last, are content to live on with the disease. For since in most cases they do not die, so neither do they fear death, nor, for this reason, do they entrust themselves to the physician. Cephalæa, of which I am about to treat in the first place, is a proof of these statements.
1. ἐν τῇσι χρονίῃσι νούσοισι ἡ ἀμβολὴ τῆς ἰητρείης κακόν. ὑπʼ ἀμβλακίης γὰρ ὀκέλλει ἐς ἀνήκεστα πάθεα. φύσι γὰρ ὡδὶ ἴσχει, ὡς μὴ Ῥηϊδίως ἀποφοιτῆσαι, ἢν ἐσβάλλῃ ἅπαξ. ἢν δὲ καὶ ἐκδηθύνῃ, χρόνῳ καρτερὰ ἔσται καὶ ξυναποθνήσκειν γίγνεταί κοτε· καὶ τὰ σμικρὰ μεζόνων ποιέεται διαδέξιας· κἢν τὸ πρόσθεν ἐς κίνδυνον ἀσινὲς ᾖ, ὁ τόκος τῶνδε γίγνεται ὀλέθριος. χρὴ ὦν μήτε τὸν νοσέοντα σιγῆν αἰδοῖ τοῦ ἐλέγχου τῆς νούσου, μηδὲ ὑποδιδρήσκειν δέει τῆς ἰητρείης, μήτε τὸν ἰητρὸν καταμβλακεύειν. ἄμφω γὰρ ἐς τὸ ἀνήκεστον ξυνᾴδοι. μετεξέτεροι δὲ τῶν καμνόντων, ὑπʼ ἀγνωσίης τε τῶν παρεόντων καὶ τῶν αὖθις ἐσομένων ἐς τέλος ξυνδιαιτέονται τῇ νούσῳ. ἐπὶ γὰρ τοῖσι πλείστοισι οὔτε ὄλλυνται, οὔτε ὀρρωδέουσι θάνατον. διὰ τάδε ὦν ἰητρῷ σφεας αὐτοὺς οὐδʼ ἐπιτρέπουσι. πίστις δὲ τουτέων κεφαλαίη, ἧς ἄμφι πρότερον φράσω.
2. THE head, inasmuch as it is necessary towards life, so is it also very dangerous in disease. And the onset of diseases about it is quite tolerable, being attended with slight pain, noises in the ears, and heaviness; but if they acquire increase, they become fatal at last. Wherefore even slight pains should not be overlooked, and, in certain cases, they have been cured by slight remedies. But if prolonged for a longer space, as greater sufferings supervene, we must open the vein at the elbow. But, for two days previous, the patient must get wine to drink, and the quantity of blood abstracted must be regulated by the strength; and it is best not to make the whole evacuation at once, so that the strength may bear the amount thereof; and the disease is rather removed by the repetition of the means. The same rule applies to all chronic diseases. During an interval of three or four days, a fuller diet is to be given, and then the purgative hiera is to be taken in a draught; for it, in an especial manner, draws the pabulum of the disease from the head. The quantity of the medicine given is to be to the amount of four or five drams. And if well purged, we are to administer the bath, give wine, and improve the strength. Then again we are to open the straight vein (temporal?) on the forehead, for abstraction by it is most efficacious; the amount, about a hemina (half-pint?) or a little more. But we must not evacuate further, for we must avoid emptying the vessels. Then, having removed the hair with a razor, we are first to apply one cupping-instrument to the vertex, and another between the scapulæ, without drawing blood; but along with the instrument applied to the vertex, we are to scarify unsparingly, for the purpose of attracting the redundant fluid and of making an incision in the deep-seated parts. For remedial means applied even to the bones are beneficial in cephalæa. When the wounds are cicatrised, we are to excise a portion of the arteries; (of these there are two, one behind the ears, at a little distance from them, being obvious from their pulsations;
2. κεφαλὴ δὲ, ὁκόσον ἐς ζωὴν ἀναγκαῖον, τοσόνδε νούσῳ χαλεπωτάτη· καὶ τῶν ἀμφὶ τήνδε νούσων ἡ μὲν ἐσβολὴ εὐπαθὴς, ἐπὶ σμικρῷ ἄλγεϊ καὶ ἤχοισι ὤτων καὶ βάρεϊ. εἰ δὲ αὔξησιν προσλάβοι, καὶ τὰ τέλη ὀλέθρια. μὴ ὦν μηδὲ τὰ σμικρὰ ὑπερορῆν ἄλγεα· σμικροῖσι γὰρ καὶ τοῖσι ἄκεσι μετεξετέροισι ἰήθη. ἢν δὲ πρόσω μὲν ἥκῃ χρόνου, μέζω γὰρ προσεπιγίγνεται ἄχθεα, τάμνειν τὴν ἐπʼ ἀγκῶνι φλέβα· πρόσθεν δὲ δυοῖν ἡμέραιν οἶνον πιπίσκειν. ξυντεκμαιρόμενον δὲ τὴν δύναμιν τὸ πλῆθος ἀφαιρέειν. ἄριστον δὲ μὴ ἐσάπαξ, ὡς ἡ δύναμίς τε ἀνέχηται τὴν πληθὺν τῆς ἀφαιρέσιος, ξυνεχές τε τοῖσι αὐτέοισι μοχλεύηται ἡ νοῦσος. ὧδε μέντοι πάσῃσι τῇσι χρονίῃσι νούσοισι ξυνῳδόν· μεσηγὺ δὲ τριῶν ἢ τεσσάρων ἡμερῶν ἁδροτέρως διαιτᾶν, ἔπειτα τὴν ἱερὴν, τὸ καθαρτήριον, ξὺν μελικρή τῳ πιπίσκειν. ἀπάγει γὰρ μάλιστα ἥδε ἀπὸ τῆς κεφαλῆς τῆς νούσου τὴν τροφήν. πλῆθος δὲ τοῦ φαρμάκου, ὁκόσον τέσσαρες ἢ πέντε ὁλκῆς δραχμαί· κἢν εὖ καθαίρηται, λούειν τε καὶ οἶνον διδόναι καὶ τὴν δύναμιν αὔξειν· ἔπειτα αὖθις τάμνειν φλέβα τὴν ἐπὶ τῷ μετώπῳ τὴν ὀρθήν. κυριωτάτη γὰρ ἥδε ἡ ἀφαίρεσις· τὸ δὲ πλῆθος ὅσον κοτύλης ἢ σμικρῷ πλεῖον. λύειν τε μὴ περαιτέρω, κενεαγγ έειν γὰρ οὐ χρή· ἔπειτα τὰς κόμας ξυρῷ ἀφαιρέοντα σικύην τῇ κορυφῇ προσβάλλειν προτέρην. τὴν δὲ ἑτέρην τὴν μεσηγὺ τῶν ὠμοπλατέων ἐρείδειν ἀναίμακτον, σχάζειν τε τὴν ἐπὶ τῆς κορυφῆς ἀφειδέως ἔς τε πλήθεος ὁλκὴν καὶ ἐς τὴν τοῦ βάθεος ἐντομήν· κεφαλαίην γὰρ τὰ μέχρις ὀστέων ὀνίνησι ἰήματα. ἢν δὲ ἐς ὠτειλὴν ἥκῃ τὰ τρώματα, τὰς ἀρτηρίας ἐκτάμνειν διπλαῖ δέ· αἱ μὲν κατόπιν εἰσὶ ὤτων σμικρόντι προσωτέρω, δῆλαι δὲ ταῖς διασφύξεσι· αἱ δὲ τοῦ ὠτὸς ἐς τοὔμπρος θεν, αὐτῶν πλησίον. παράγεται γὰρ τῷ ἀντιτράγῳ,
the others in front of the ear, and close to it, for they lie close to the antitragus; and these also are discovered by their pulsations); we are to incise the larger ones at the bones, for they afford relief. Adjacent to them are others, very slender, which there is no benefit from excising. The mode of operating has been described under operative surgery. This is the great remedy in cephalæa, epilepsy, vertigo, and, in fine, in all the diseases of the head.
ἀτὰρ καὶ αἵδε δῆλαι διασφύξεσι. τάμνειν δὲ πρὸς τοῖς ὀστέοις τὰς μέζονας· αἵδε γὰρ ὀνηϊσταί. ἐπικέαται καὶ ἕτεραι ἑκάστῃσι, κάρτα λεπταὶ, ἃς οὐδʼ ὄφελος ἐκτάμνειν. ὁ δὲ τρόπος ἐν τῇσι χειρουργίῃσι λέλεκται. μέγα δὲ τὸ ἄκος κεφαλαίῃσι καὶ ἐπιληψίῃ, καὶ σκοτώμασι, καὶ ξυμβλήδην ἁπάσῃσι τῇσι τῆς κεφαλῆς νούσοισι.
In all cases we are to bring off phlegm, first evacuating the bowels, either by a purgative draught, or by a clyster; and sometimes from the nostrils by sternutatories; and sometimes from the mouth by sialogogues. Among the kinds of sternutatories are pepper, the root of soapwort, and the testicle of the beaver; these may all be used together; having levigated and sifted them, we are to blow the powder in, either with a reed or the thick stalk of a goose quill. Euphorbium is more active and stronger than these when mixed with any of them. It is also mixed up with the oils, such as gleucinum, the Sicyonian, or the ointment from storax. It is made into a liquid form as an injection, and it is injected by means of a nasal pipe; the instrument consists of two pipes united together by one outlet, so that we can inject by both at the same time. For to dilate each nostril separately is a thing which could not be borne, as the head gets quickly filled, and thus contracts a sharp pain. The medicines which evacuate phlegm from the mouth are, mustard, the granum cnidium, pepper, stavesacre, these either together or separately; and one may masticate these substances and spit out constantly; and give them mixed up with water or honeyed-water, rinse the mouth, and press them back to the tonsils with stretching of the neck, thus wash out along with the breath in expiration; and when you have evacuated phlegm as much as you think proper, you must bathe and foment the head with a very large quantity of hot water to promote perspiration, for the obstructions become strong.
ἐπὶ πᾶσι δὲ φλέγμα ἄγειν χρὴ προκενώσαν τα τὴν γαστέρα ἢ καταπότῳ ὑπηλάτῳ, ἢ κλυσμῷ· ἄλλοτε μὲν ἐκ Ῥινῶν πταρμικοῖσι, ἄλλοτε δὲ διὰ στόματος τοῖσι ἄγουσι φλέγμα. εἴδη δὲ πταρμικῶν μὲν πέπερι, στρουθίου ἡ Ῥίζα, κάστορος ὄρχις· τάδε καὶ ξυνῆ· ἐς λεπτὰ δὲ κόψαντα καὶ σήσαντα καλάμῳ ἐμφυσῆν ἢ καυλῷ πτεροῦχηνὸς παχέϊ. ἀγωγότερον δὲ τῶνδε καὶ βιαιότερον εὐφόρβιον ξύν τινι τῶνδε μιχθέν· ἀτὰρ καὶ ἐλαίοισι δὲ μίσγεται γλευκίνῳ, σικυωνίῳ, ἢ τῷ ἀπὸ στύρακος μύρῳ. ὑγρὸν δὲ γίγνεται κάρτα ὡς ἔκχυτον· ἐγχεῖται δὲ διὰ τοῦ Ῥινός γ αὐλοῦ. δίδυμοι δὲ οἵδε ξυμφυέες ἀπὸ μιῆς ἐκροῆς, ὡς ἐσάπαξ ἀμφοτέροισι ἐγχέειν. οὐ γὰρ ἀνασχετὸν ἡ διάστασις ἑκατέρου μυκτῆρος ἰδίῃ καὶ ἰδίῃ. πίμπραται γὰρ ἡ κεφαλὴ αὐτίκα καὶ δριμὺ ἄλγος αἱρέει· τὰ δὲ διὰ τοῦ στόματος ἄγοντα φλέγμα, σίνηπι, κόκκος ὁ τῆς κνίδης, πέπερι, σταφὶς ἀγρίη· τάδε ξὺν ἀλλήλοισι, καὶ ἰδίῃ· ἐπεὶ δὲ καὶ τῷ μασήσασθαι μὲν αὐτὰ καὶ τὸ πτύειν ξυνεχές ἐστι· καὶ ὕδατι ἢ μελικρήτῳ μίξαντα διδόναι, κλύζειν τε τὸ στόμα καὶ ἐς τὰ παρίσθμια παρώσαντα ἀνατάσι τοῦ αὐχένος, τῷ τῆς ἐκπνοῆς πνεύματι κλύζειν· ἐπὴν δὲ, ἐς ὅσον θέλῃς, τὸ φλέγμα ἀγάγῃς, λούειν καὶ καταιονεῖν τὴν κεφαλὴν κάρτα πολλῷ θερμῷ ὕδατι ἐς διαπνοήν. ἰσχυραὶ γὰρ γίγνονται σφηνώσιες.
Supper should be spare; but wine also is to be given, to restore the tone of the stomach, for it also suffers in this complaint. When, in the meantime, you have re-established the strength, you will require to give a common clyster having sprinkled upon it much natron, or dissolving it in two drams of the resin of the turpentine tree. On the next day we are to abstract blood from the inside of the nostrils, and for this purpose push into them the long instrument named Katidion, or the one named Toryne, or, in want of these, we must take the thick quill of a goose, and having scooped the nervous part of it into teeth like a saw, we are to push it down the nostrils as far as the ethmoid cells, then shake it with both hands so that the part may be scarified by its teeth. Thus we shall have a ready and copious flow of blood; for slender veins terminate there, and the parts are soft and easily cut. The common people have many modes of scarification, by rough herbs, and the dried leaves of the bay, which they introduce with the fingers and move strongly. Having evacuated to a sufficient amount—say to the amount of half a hemina—we are to wipe the parts with sponges and oxycrate, or blow in some styptic powder, gall, fissil alum, or the flower of the wild pomegranate. Whether the pain remain, or cease after these things, we must go on to the conclusion of the system of treatment;
δεῖπνον εὐτελές· ἔστω δὲ καὶ οἶνος ἐς ἀνάκλησιν τοῦ στομάχου· μάλα γάρ τοι καὶ ὅδε πονέει. ἐπὴν δὲ μεσηγὺ τὴν δύναμιν ἑδράσῃς, κλυσμῷ χρέω τῷ ξυνήθεϊ, λίτρου πολλὸν ἐμπάσσων, ἢ Ῥητίνης τῆς ἀπὸ τῆς τερμίνθου τοῦ δένδρεος ἐντήκων ὁλκῆς δραχμὰς δύο· ἐς δὲ τὴν ἐπιοῦσαν ἡμέρην αἷμα τῆς Ῥινὸς ἔνδον ἀφαιρέειν, ὡς εἴσω παρωθεῖς θαι τὸ ὄργανον κατειάδιον εὔμηκες, ἢ τὸ καλεόμενον τορύνην. ἢ εἴ τις ἐλλειπῶς πρὸς τάδε ἔχει, χηνὸς χρὴ πτεροῦ τοῦ καυλοῦ τοῦ παχέος ἀπογλύψαντα τάμνειν τὰ νεῦρα ἐς ὀδόντας ὅκως πριστῆρα· καὶ τόδε ἐς Ῥῖνα κατιέναι, μέσφι τῶν ἠθμοειδῶν· ἔπειτα ἀμφοτέραισι χερσὶ κινέειν, ὡς ξυγχαράσσοιτο ὑπὸ τῶν ὀδόντων ὁ χῶρος. Ῥηϊδίη δὲ καὶ πολλὴ τοῦ αἵματος ἡ φορή· φλέβες γὰρ ἰσχναὶ τῇδε κραίνουσι καὶ τὰ σώματα μαλακὰ καὶ εὔτμητα. ἔασι δὲ καὶ τοῖσι δημότῃσι πολλοὶ τῆς ἐγχαράξιος οἱ τρόποι καὶ βοτάνῃσι τρηχείῃσι καὶ φύλλοισι δάφνης ξηροῖσι, ἐνθέντες τάδε τοῖσι δακτύλοισι κινέειν εὐτόνως. κενώσαν τα δὲ ὁκόσον χρή· (ἔστω δὲ πλῆθος ἐς κοτύλης τὸ ἥμισυ)· μάσσειν σπόγγοισι καὶ ὀξυκρήτῳ, ἢ ξηρόν τι ἴσχαιμον ἐμφυσῆν, κηκῖδα, ἢ σχιστὴν στυπτηρίην, ἢ βαλαύστιον.
for the mischief is apt to return, and frequently lurks in the seat of the disease. Wherefore, having removed the hair with a razor (and this also is beneficial to the head), we are to burn with heated cauteries, superficially, down to the muscles; or if you wish to carry the burning to the bone, you must avoid the muscles, for the muscles when burnt occasion convulsions. And if you burn superficially you must foment the part with plenty of fragrant sweet wine, along with rose-oil; a linen cloth wetted with this is to be spread over the eschars until the third day. But, if the eschars be deep, having pounded the hairy leaves of leeks with salt, and spread upon a linen rag, we are to apply it. On the third day, we are to put the cerate from rose-oil upon the superficial eschars, and lentil with honey upon the deeper. The medicinal applications to be made to the wound will be described in another place. Some have made an incision in the skin above the forehead, at the coronal suture, down to the bone, and having scraped it, or cut out a portion down to the diploe, have afterwards brought the part to incarnation. Some have perforated the bone, even to the meningx. These are bold remedies, but are to be used, if, after all, the cephalæa continue, and the patient be courageous, and the tone of the body good. But, if they progress gradually, they are to take exercises in the erect state of the body for the benefit of the chest and shoulders;
ἢν δὲ ἐπὶ τουτέοισι ἡ κεφαλαλγίη μίμνῃ, κἤν ποτε ἀποπαύηται, αὐτὸ χρὴ ἐς τέλος ἥκειν τῆς ἰητρείης. φιλυπόστροφον γὰρ κακὸν, καὶ ἐν ἕδρῃἷζον τὰ πολλὰ φωλεύει. χρὴ ὦν ἀφαιρέοντα τὰς κόμας ξυρῷ, (καὶ γὰρ τόδε κεφαλῇ ὀνηϊστὸν) καίειν πυρίῃσι καυτήρων, ἐπιπολῆς μὲν ἐς μύας· ἢν δὲ μέσφι ὀστέου ἐθέλῃς, ἀπάνευθεν καὶ τῶν μυῶν· μύες γὰρ καυθέντες ἔασι σπασμῶν προκλήσιες. κἢν μὲν ἐπιπολῆς καύσῃς, οἶνον εὐώδη λευκὸν ξὺν Ῥοδίνῳ καταιονεῖν ἅλις. ὀθόνην δὲ χρὴ τέγξαντα ἐπιπεταννύναι τῇσι ἐσχάρῃσι μέσφι ἡμέρης τρίτης· ἢν δὲ βαθεῖαι ἔωσι αἱ ἐσχάραι, πράσου χρὴ κόμην ξὺν ἁλὶτρίψαντα ἠδὲ ἐς ὀθόνην ἐγχρίσαντα τιθέναι· τῇ δὲ τρίτῃ κηρωτὴν ἐκ Ῥοδίνου ἐπὶ τοῖσι ἐπιπολαίοισι, ἢ φᾳκὸν ξὺν μέλιτι ἐπὶ τῇσι βυθίοισι ἐσχάρῃσι τιθέναι. ὁκόσα δὲ ἐπὶ ὠτειλῇ φάρμακα ἄλλῃ πη γεγράψεται. ἔταμόν τινες ὑπὲρ μέτωπον κατὰ τὴν στεφάνην τὸ δέρμα ἄχρις ὀστέου· καὶ τόδε ἐπιξέσαντες ἢ ἐπικόψαντες μέσφι διπλόης ἐς σάρκωσιν ἤγαγον. οἱ δὲ καὶ ἐσέτρωσαν τῷ οστέῳ, μέσφι μήνιγγος. εὔτολμα δὲ τὰ ἄκεα· ἀλλὰ χρῆσθαι, κἢν ἐπὶ πᾶσι μὲν ἡ κεφαλαί η ἐπιμίμνῃ, ὁ δὲ νοσέων εὔθυμος, καὶ ὁ τόνος τοῦ σώματος ἀγαθός.
the chironomy, the throwing of the halteres; leaping, and the well-regulated contortions of the body accompanying it; friction, first and last of the limbs, of the head in the middle of the process.
ἢν ἐκ προσαγωγῆς ἔωσι, γυμνάσια ὀρθὰ ἐς στέρνα καὶ ὤμους, χειρονομίη, ἁλτήρων βολὴ, ἔξαλσις, καὶ ἡ ξυνευπαί δευτος ἐν τούτοις ἀνείλησις· τρῖψις τὰ πρῶτα καὶ τὰ ὕστατα σκελῶν, κεφαλῆς δὲ ἐς μέσον.
The process of pitching is to be frequently applied to the head; and also rubefacients, sometimes rubbing in mustard with double quantity of bread, so that the heat may not be intolerable; and sometimes other medicines are to be so used, like the compound from lemnestis, euphorbium, and pellitory. The juice of thapsia, and the medicines made with it which produce swelling of the skin, and an eruption resembling vari, are beneficial both for allaying present pain and contributing to eradicate the evil. The diet in both kinds of the complaint should be light;
Πιττοκοπίητῷ ἐμπάττειν ξυνεχής· φοινίσσειν δὲ καὶ τὴν κεφαλὴν, ἄλλοτε μὲν σίνηπι ξὺν ἄρτῳ διπλόῳ ἐγχρίοντα, ὡς μὴ ἀφόρητον εἴη τὸ πῦρ· ἄλλοτε δὲ φάρμακα ξυναλείφοντα, ὡς τὸ ξύνθετον τὸ διὰ τῆς λιμνήστιδος καὶ εὐφορβίου καὶ πυρέθρου· ἔχει δὲ καὶ ἀνώδυνον περί τε τὸν ἐν καιρῷ πόνον καὶ ἐς μόχλευσιν τῆς Ῥίζης τοῦ κακοῦ, θαψίης ὁ ὀπὸς, καὶ τὰ ξὺν τῇδε φάρμακα, ὁκόσα ἐσοιδαίνει τὸ δέρμα, καὶ ἰόνθοισι ἴκελα ἐκφύει βλαστήματα.
little drink, water for drink, especially before giving any medicine; complete abstinence from acrid things, such as onions, garlic, the juice of silphium, but not altogether from mustard, for its acrimony, in addition to its being stomachic, is not unpleasant to the head, dissolving phlegm, and exhaling or discharging downwards. Of pulse, the worst is the common bean and its species, the common peas, and the species called ochrys, and the common kidney-beans; next to them are the lentils, which have indeed certain good properties for promoting digestion and secretion, but induce fulness of the head and occasion pain; only when boiled with pepper they are not to be rejected. Granulated spelt (alica) when washed, is pleasant along with wine and honey, so as to sweeten, and, in like manner, their soups, and with plain broths. The seeds of carui, coriander, anise, and parsley, in the Lydian sauce are excellent. But, of these articles, the best are the herbs mint and penny-royal, with the fragrant things which have some diuretic and carminative properties. Of fleshes, all such as are old are bad; of the recently killed, that of the hen is good; of birds, the wood pigeon, the common pigeon, and such others as are not very fat; the extremities of the swine; the roasted hare; that of the ox and of the sheep is incrassant and fills the head; the kid is not altogether bad. Milk and cheese occasion headache. Of fishes, those found among rocks, and those things that are best in each particular country. Of potherbs, such as promote the urinary and alvine discharges, the mallow, the blite, the beet, and asparagus; but the kale is also acrid. Among raw articles, the lettuce is the best of all. Roots are bad, even when boiled, such as radishes, navews, and parsnips, which are diuretic, but occasion repletion; the garden parsnip indeed is flatulent and swells up the stomach. Wine which is white, thin, and sweet, is to be admitted, if it have some astringency, so as not to bind the bowels. All articles of the dessert occasion headache, except dates of every species. In autumn the fig and grape are wholesome, and whatever other fruit is very good at any particular season. Repletion of all things, even of such as are proper, is bad; and so, also, indigestion is bad. Lassitude is less injurious than indigestion, but still it is hurtful. The morning walk after evacuation of the bowels, but so as not to affect the breathing nor induce weariness; and it is also very good after supper. Prolonged gestation, not exposed to wind or sun, is good for the head; but the dog-star is bad for it. Sexual intercourse is a self-inflicted evil to the head and nerves. A journey from a cold to a warmer climate, or from a humid to a drier, is proper; also a sea-voyage, and passing one’s life at sea;
δίαιτα δὲ ἡ μὲν ἐφʼ ἑκάστῳ τῶν ἀλγέων λεπτὴ, ὀλιγοποτίη καὶ ὑδροποτίη, ἐπίπροσθεν μάλιστα ἄκεός τινος. ξύμπαν δὲ, δριμέων μὲν ἄφεξις, κρομμύων καὶ σκορόδων καὶ ὀποῦ τοῦ σιλφίου, σινήπιος δὲ μὴ πάγχυ, καὶ γὰρ τὸ δριμὺ αὐτέου πρὸς τῇ τοῦ στομάχου ἀρετῇ καὶ ἐς κεφαλὴν οὐκ ἄχαρι, φλέγμα χύον, καὶ διαπνέον, ἢ διελαῦνον κάτω. ὀσπρίων κάκιστον κύαμος καὶ τὰ τοῦδε εἴδεα, πισσοὶ, καὶ ὠχροὶ, καὶ δολιχοί· δεύτερον φακοὶ, οἵ γε ἔχουσι μέν τινας ἀρετὰς πέψιός τε καὶ ἐκκρίσιος, κεφαλῆς δὲ πλήσμιοι καὶ πόνου ποιητικοί· πλὴν ἑψηθέντες ξὺν πεπέρι οὐκ ἀποξενωτέοι· χόνδροι δὲ οἵ τε πλυτοὶ χαρίεντες ξὺν οἴνῳ, καὶ μέλιτι ὅσον ἡδῦναι· καὶ τὸ ἐκ τουτέων Ῥόφημα καὶ οἱ ξὺν ἁπλοῖσι ζωμοῖσι. καλοὶ γὰρ καὶ οἱ ἐν τῇ καρυκείᾳ καρποὶ, κάρου, κοριάνου, ἀνίσου, σελίνου· τουτέων δὲ κρέσσων ἡ ἡδύοσμος ἡ βοτάνη, καὶ γλήχων πρὸς τοῖσι εὐώδεσι, ἴσχουσί τι καὶ οὔρων ἀγωγὸν καὶ φυσῶν ἔξοδον. κρεῶν δὲ πονηρὰ μὲν τὰ παλαιὰ πάντα· νεοσφαγῆ δὲ ἀλέκτορος, πτηνῶν ἡ φάσσα, ἡ πελειὰς, καὶ τὰ ἄλλα ὁκόσα μὴ μάλιστα πίονα. συῶν τὰ ἄκρεα, λαγωὸς ὀπτός· βοὸς δὲ καὶ ὄϊος παχῦνόν τε καὶ κεφαλῆς πλήσμιον· ἔριφος δὲ οὐ πάντη κακός· γάλα καὶ τυροὶ κεφαλαλγέες. ἰχθύων οἱ πετραῖοι, ἠδὲ ὁκόσοι κατὰ χώρην ἄριστοι. λαχάνων δὲ ἑφθῶν μὲν ὁκόσα οὔρων καὶ κοιλίας ὑπαγωγὰ, μαλάχη, βλίτον, τεῦτλον, ἀσπάραγοι· δριμὺ δὲ καὶ κράμβη· ὠμὰ δὲ, θριδακίνη πάντων ἄριστον· ῥίζαι δὲ πονηραὶ καὶ ἑφθαὶ, Ῥαφανῖδες, γογγυλίδες, σταφυλῖνοι· οὐρητικὰ μὲν, πλήσμια δέ· σίσαρονφυῶδες μὲν καὶ στομάχου ἐπαρτικόν. οἶνος λευκὸς, λεπτὸς, γλυκὺς μὲν ἐγγεγράφθω, στύψιος ἔχων, ὡς μὴ ἴσχειν τὴν γαστέρα· τράγημα πᾶν κεφαλαλγὲς, πλὴν φοίνικες πάσης ἰδέης· σῦκον δὲ ὀπώρῃ καὶ σταφυλὴ προσηνὲς, καὶ ὅ τι ἂν ἐπὶ τῆς ὥρης ἄριστον· πλησμονὴ πάντων καὶ τῶν ὠφελούν των κακόν. κάκιον δὲ ἀπεψίη· κόποι ἀπεψίης μὲν ἀσινέστεροι, ἐπιβλαβέες δὲ καὶ οἵδε. περίπατοι ἕωθεν, ἐπὶ τῆς κοιλίης ἐκκρίσι· εὔπνοοι δὲ καὶ εὔφοροι· ἄριστοι δὲ καὶ οἱ ἐπὶ τῷ δείπνῳ· αἰώρη μακρὰ, νήνεμος, ἀνήλιος τῇ κεφαλῇ· κακὸς γὰρ αὐτέῃ ὁ σείριος. ὁμιλίη γυναικὸς κεφαλῇ, νεύροις, κακὸν ἐπίσπαστον. ἀποδημίη ἐς θερμότερον ἀπὸ ψυχρῶν, καὶ ἀπὸ ὑγρῶν ἐς ξηρότερον. ξύμφορος δὲ πλοῦς καὶ ἐν θαλάσσῃ διεξαγωγὴ τοῦ βίου· κἢν παράλιός τις ᾖ, ἀγαθὸν λούεσθαίτε τῇ ἅλμῃ ψυχρῇ,
and if one lives by the sea-side it is a good thing to bathe in the sea-water, to tumble on the sands, and to reside close by the sea.
καὶ νήχεσθαι τῇ θαλάσσῃ, καὶ τῇσι ψάμμοισι ἐγκαλινδέεσθαι, καὶ βιοτεύειν ἐς θάλασσαν.
The remedies for heterocrania are the same; for it is well to apply to a portion of the head the same remedies as are proper for the whole of it. In all cases in which the disease is not removed by these means, we are to use hellebore, as being the last and most potent of all methods of treatment.
Ἑτεροκρανίης ταὐτὰ ἄκεα. ὁκοῖα γὰρ τῇ κεφαλῇ ὅλῃ ἄκεα πρόσφορα, τοῖσδε πρὸς ἅπαν τῆς κεφαλῆς μέρος χρέεσθαι καλόν. ὁκόσοισι δὲ ἐκ τῶνδε ἄφυκτος ἡ νοῦσος, ἐλλεβόρῳ χρέεσθαι, τῇ ἐσχάτῃ καὶ δυνατωτάτῃ πάντων ἀγωγῇ.
3. VERTIGO arises as the successor of cephalæa; but also springs up as a primary affection from certain causes, as the suppression of the hemorrhoidal flux; and if blood which used to flow from the nose has ceased to flow; or if the body has not perspired properly, either by sweating, or labour, when it had been used to labour. If then it arise as the consequence of cephalæa, we must do for its cure those things which have been described under cephalæa; and I will afterwards state certain other more powerful means which must be tried ultimately. But if the disease happen from the suppression of any of the humours, we must excite the customary secretion; for the recurrence of nature promotes recovery. If it be delayed, and the disease increases, in the other suppressions, those by the nose or sweats, we are to open the vein at the elbow; but in plethora of the liver, spleen, or any of the viscera in the middle of the body, cupping affords relief, but as much blood as is taken from a vein, so much is to be thus abstracted from them; for it is the nutriment of the exciting cause, in like manner as the belly. After this the remedies of the head are to be applied, opening the straight vein on the forehead, or those at the canthi on either side of the nose; a cupping-instrument is to be fastened to the vertex, the (temporal?) arteries are to be excised, the head shaven, rubefacients applied to it, phlegm evacuated from the nostrils by sternutatories, or from the mouth as I have stated—all these things are to be done in the order described under cephalæa, except that the juice of sow-bread or of pimpernel is to be used as an injection into the nose. But when you have exhausted all the remedies for cephalæa, the more violent means which are applicable for vertigo are to be used;
3. καὶ ἐκ διαδέξιος μὲν κεφαλαίης γίγνεται σκοτοδινίη· ἀτὰρ καὶ αὐτὴ πρώτη ἐπʼ αἰτίῃσι φύεται, αἱμορρο ΐδων Ῥόου ἐπισχέσι· κἢν ἀπὸ Ῥινὸς αἷμα μὴ Ῥέῃ, πρόσθεν Ῥέον, ἢ μὴ διαπνέηται τὸ σκῆνος, ἢ ἱδρῶτι, ἢ πόνῳ, πρόσθεν πονεύμενον. ἢν μὲν ὦν ἐπὶ τῇ κεφαλαί ῃ ξυστῇ, τάδε χρὴ πρήσσειν ἐς ἴησιν, ὁκόσα ἐπὶ τῇσι κεφαλαίῃσι λέλεκται· τίσι δὲ καὶ βιαιότερον ἰῆσθαι χρὴ ἐς τέλος τῶν ἀκέων, ὕστερον φράσω· ἢν δὲ ἀπό τευ ἐπισχέσιος ὑγρῶν ἡ νοῦσος ἀποβῇ, τὴν ξυνήθη ἔκκρισιν κινέειν. ὑγιεινὸν γὰρ τῆς φύσιος ἡ παλινδρομίη. ἢν δὲ ἡ μὲν μέλλῃ, τὸ δὲ πάθος αὔξῃ, ἐπὶ μὲν τῇσι ἄλλῃσι ἐπισχέσεσι, τῇσι διὰ Ῥινὸς, ἢ ἱδρώτων, φλέβα τάμνειν τὴν ἐπʼ ἀγκῶνι· ἢν δʼ ἐπὶ ἥπατι πλημμύροντι, ἢ σπληνὶ, ἤ τινι τῶν ἐν τοῖσι μέσοισι σπλάγχνων, ἀρῆγον ἡ σικύη. χρὴ δὲ ὁκόσον ἂν ἐκ φλεβὸς πολλὸν ἐκρέῃ, τοσόνδε ἐκ τῶνδε ἀφαιρέειν αἷμα. τόδε γὰρ τῆς προφάσιος ἡ τροφὴ, ὥσπερ δὴ καὶ γαστήρ· ἐπὶ δὲ τῷδε τὰ τῆς κεφαλῆς ἄκεα ξυνάπτειν, φλέβα τὴν ἐπὶ τῷ μετώπῳ ὀρθὴν τάμνοντα, ἢ τὰς ἑκατέρωθεν τῆς Ῥινὸς πρὸς τοῖσι κανθοῖσι, σικύην τῇ κορυφῇ προσβάλλειν, ἐκκόπτειν τὰς ἀρτηρίας· ξυρεῖν τὴν κεφαλὴν, φοινίσσειν, φλέγμα ἄγειν διὰ Ῥινῶν πταρμικοῖσι, ἢ διὰ στόματος, ὅκως ἔλεξα· ἅπαντα πρήσσειν ἐν κόσμῳ τῷ ἐπὶ τῇ κεφαλαίῃ εἰρημένῳ, πλὴν ὁκόσον κυκλαμίνου χυλὸς, ἢ ἀναγαλλίδος, ἐγχυτὸς εἰς τὴν Ῥῖνα, ἔχει τὴν πρόσθεσιν.
we must use the emetics after supper, and those from radishes, which is also required as a preparation for the hellebore; for the stomach is to be trained beforehand to the more violent emetics. But the phlegm now becomes thinner, and fit for solution in the hellebore. There are several modes of giving the hellebore; to the stronger sort of patients it is to be given to the size of a sesame, or a little larger; or, in slices, with washed chondrus or lentil, the dose, about two drams. In the case of feebler and more slender persons, the decoction with honey, to the amount of two or three spoonfuls, is to be given. The manner of preparing it will be described else-where. In the interval between each remedy, the patient is to be supported, in order that he may be able to endure what is to be given in the intermediate periods. The patient is to be assisted during the paroxysms thus:—The legs are to be bound above the ankles and knees; and the wrists, and the arms below the shoulders at the elbows.
ἐπὴν δὲ τῶν ἀμφὶ τὴν κεφαλὴν ἀκέων ἵκγῃ ἐς τέλος, ὁκοσα βιαιότερα ἐς τοὺς σκοτώδεας, τάδε χρὴ πρήσσειν· ἐμέτοισι τοῖσι ἀπὸ δείπνου, ἠδὲ τοῖσι ἀπὸ Ῥαφανίδων χρέεσθαι, τὸ ἐκ τοῦδε δέον ἐστὶ, ἀτὰρ ἠδὲ ἐς ἐλλεβόρου παρασκευήν· μελέτῃσι γὰρ χρὴ τοῦ στομάχου ἐμέειν, ἐπὶ τοῖσι δεινοτέροισι ἐμετηρίοισι· ἀτὰρ καὶ τὸ φλέγμα λεπτότερον νῦν γίγνεται, καὶ ἐς τὸν ἐλλέβορον εὔχυτον· ἐλλεβόρου δὲ δόσιες πλεῦνες, τοῖσι μὲν ἰσχυροτέροισι ὀρέξαι ἐς μέγεθος σησάμου, ἢ ὀλίγον ἁδρότερον τετμημένον· ξὺν χόνδρῳ τε πλυτῷ ἢ φακῷ ἡ δόσις· σταθμὸς δὲ ὁλκῆς δραχμαὶ δύο. ἐπὶ δὲ τῶν ἀσθενεστέρων καὶ ἰσχνοτέρων τὸ ἕψημα ξὺν μέλιτι· μέτρον μυστίλαι δύο ἢ τρεῖς· τῆσδε ποιήσιος ὁ τρόπος ἄλλῃ πη λελέξεται. μεσηγὺ δὲ ἑκάστου ἄκεος, ὑπανατρέφειν τὸν νοσέοντα, ἐς τὴν τῶν μέσων ὑπομονήν.
The head is to be bathed with rose-oil and vinegar; but in the oil we must boil wild-thyme, cow-parsnip, ivy, or something such. Friction of the extremities and face. Smelling to vinegar, penny-royal, and mint, and these things with vinegar. Separation of the jaws, for sometimes the jaws are locked together; the tonsils to be tickled to provoke vomiting; for by the discharge of phlegm they are sometimes roused from their gloom. These things, then, are to be done, in order to alleviate the paroxysm and dispel the gloomy condition. With regard to the regimen during the whole period of the treatment and afterwards, I hold as follows:—Much sleep is bad, and likewise insomnolency; for truly much sleep stupefies the senses of the head. From a redundance of vapours there is disinclination to every exertion;
ἀρήγειν δὲ καὶ ἐπὶ τοῖσι παροξυσμοῖσι ὧδε· διαδέειν μὲν τὰ σκέλεα ὑπὲρ σφυρὰ καὶ γούνατα, καὶ χειρὸς καρπούς τε καὶ βραχίονας ἔνερθε τῶν ὤμων πρὸς τοῖσι ἀγκῶσι. τέγξιες κεφαλῆς· Ῥόδινον μύρον ξὺν ὄξεϊ· ἐνεψῆσαι δὲ χρὴ τῷ ἐλαίῳ ἑρπύλλιον, ἢ σπονδύλιον, ἢ κισσοὺς, ἤ τι τοιόνδε. ἀνάτριψις ἄκρων καὶ προσώπου· ὄσφρησις ὄξεος, γλήχωνος, ἡδυόσμου, καὶ τάδε ξὺν ὄξεϊ. διάστασις τῆς γένυος· ἔσθʼ ὅπη γὰρ ἐρείδουσι τὰς γνάθους· γαργαλισμὸς παρισθμίων, ἐμετοῦ πρόκλησις. ἐπὶ γὰρ ἐγχύσι κοτὲ φλέγματος ἀνέγροντο ἐκ τοῦ ζόφου. τάδε μὲν ὦν ἐς τὴν τοῦ παροξυσμοῦ παρηγορίην, καὶ σκέδασιν τοῦ ζοφώδεος.
and these are also the cause of the weight in the head, the noises, and the flashes of light, which are the marks of the disease. Insomnolency induces dyspepsia, atrophy, and wearies out the body; the spirits flag, and the understanding is unsettled; and for these reasons such patients readily pass into mania and melancholy. Moderate sleep is suitable for the proper digestion of the food and refreshment from the labours of the day; care and perseverance in these respects; and particular attention is to be paid to the evacuation of the bowels, for the belly is the greater source of the bodily perspiration. Next, friction of the limbs, by means of rough towels, so as to produce rubefaction; then, of the back and sides; last, of the head. Afterwards, exercise in walking, gentle at first and in the end; carried to running in the middle; rest and tranquillity of the breathing (pneuma) after the walking. They are to practise vociferation, using grave tones, for sharp occasion distension of the head, palpitation of the temples, pulsatory movements of the brain, fulness of the eyes, and noises in the ears. Sounds of medium intensity are beneficial to the head. Then the season of gestation should be regulated so as to promote the expulsion of the weight in the head; it should be prolonged, yet not so as to induce fatigue; neither should gestation be made in tortuous places, nor where there are frequent bendings of the road, for these are provocative of vertigo. But let the walks be straight, long, and smooth. If then the patients have been in the habit of taking lunch, we must only allow of a little bread, so as to be no impediment to the exercises; for digestion should take place previously. The head and the hands, and the frictions thereof, are to be attended to; in the latter it is to be gently performed for the restoration of the heat, for plumpness, and strength. Then the head is to be rubbed while the patient stands erect below a person of higher stature than himself. Gymnastics skilfully performed which tend to distension of the neck, and strong exercise of the hands. It is proper, also, by raising the head, to exercise the eyes at chironomy, or at throwing the quoit, or contending at boxing. The exercise both with the large and the small ball is bad, for the rolling of the head and eyes, and the intense fixing of them, occasion vertigo. Leaping and running are very excellent; for everything that is keen is beneficial to the limbs, and gives tone to the general system. The cold bath is better than no bath at all; no bath at all is better than the hot bath: the cold bath is very powerful as an astringent, incrassant, and desiccant of the head, which is the condition of health;
διαίτης δὲ περὶ ἁπάσης τῆς ἐν τῇ θεραπείῃ καὶ τῆς ἐς αὖθις τάδε γιγνώσκω. ὕπνος πουλὺς κακὸν, καὶ ἀϋπνίη. πουλὺς μὲν γὰρ ναρκᾷ τὰς αἰσθήσιας τῆς κεφαλῆς. ἀτμῶν πλημμύρᾳ, ὄκνος ἁπάσης πρήξιος. τάδε μέντοι βάρεος καὶ ἤχων καὶ μαρμαρυγῶν ἐστι αἴτια, τῆς νούσου τὰ ξύμβολα· ἀγρυπνίη δὲ ἄπεπτον, ἄτροφον, καματηρὸν τῷ σκήνεϊ, ἄθυμον, εὐπαράγωγος ἡ γνώμη· διὰ τάδε Ῥηϊδίως μαίνονται καὶ μελαγχολέουσι οἵδε· ξύμφορος δὲ ὁ μέτριος, ἐς τὴν τῆς τροφῆς οἰκονομίην, καὶ ἐς ἀνάπαυλαν τῶν διʼ ἡμέρας καμάτων. πρόνοια καὶ ἐπιμονή προεδρίη τῆς κοιλίης ἐς ἀπόκρισιν· διαπνοῆς γὰρ ἡ μέζων αἰτίη, κοιλίη. ἀνάτριψις αὖθις σκελῶν διʼ ἡμιτυμβίων τρηχέων μέσφι φοινίξιος, ἔπειτα νώτου καὶ πλευρέων, ὕστατα κεφαλῆς· ἀπὸ τουτέων περίπατοι, προσηνέες μὲν ἀρχῆθεν καὶ ἐς ἀπόπαυσιν, ἐπίτροχοι δὲ οἱ μέσοι, ἠρεμίη, κατάστασις τοῦ πνεύματος ἐπὶ τοῖσι περιπάτοισι ἔστω. ἀναφωνέειν χρὴ, τοῖσι βαρέσι φθόγγοισι μᾶλλον χρεόμενον ἠχέειν. ὀξέες γὰρ, κεφαλῆς διαστάσιες, κροτάφων παλμοὶ, ἐγκεφάλου διασφύξιες, ὀφθαλμῶν πρήσιες, ἤχων ἀκοή· μετρίη ὀξυφωνίη κεφαλῇ ὀνήϊστον· ἔπειτα δὲ καιρὸς αἰώρης, ἐς διαπνοὴν τοῦ παντὸς κεφαλῆς βάρεος, πλῆθος δὲ ἔσται πολλὸν, πλὴν ὁκόσον ἀκάματον ᾖ· μηδὲ ἐπὶ ἐλιγμοῖσι τοῖσι τοῦ χωρίου, μηδὲ ξυνεχέσι καμπῇσι, αἰώρη γιγνέσθω. ἰλίγγων γὰρ τάδε προκλήσιες. εὐθέες δὲ καὶ μακροὶ καὶ λεῖοι ἔστων καὶ οἱ περίπατοι. ἢν μὲν ὦν ἐν ἔθει ἔωσι ἀρίστου, ἄρτου μόνου ὀρέγειν, ὁκόσον μηδὲν ἐμποδὼν τοῖσι γυμνασίοισι ἔμμεναι, προπεπέφθαι γὰρ χρή· κεφαλὴ καὶ χεῖρες, καὶ αἱ τῶνδε τρίψιες· ἐπὶ δὲ τοῖσι οἷον πρηέως ἐς ἀνάκλησιν θέρμης, καὶ εὐσαρκίης, καὶ τόνου· ἔπειτα κεφαλὴν τρίβεσθαι ὄρθιον ἑωυτέου μέζονι ὑπέχοντα· ἀτὰρ καὶ τὰ γυμνάσια ἐς τραχήλου πρήσιας, καὶ ἐς δίωσμον χειρῶν συντείνει, εὐπαιδεύτως· ὑπεραιωρεῦντα δὲ χρὴ τὴν κεφαλὴν, καὶ τὰς ὄψιας γυμνάζειν χειρονομίῃ, ἢ δίσκων βολῇ, ἢ φιλονεικεῦντα πυγμῇ· κακὸν δὲ σφαῖρα, μικρή τε καὶ μεγάλη· τῆς γὰρ κεφαλῆς καὶ τῶν ὀφθαλμῶν αἱ δινήσιές τε καὶ ἐνστάσιες σκοτώματα ποιέουσν.
while the warm bath is most powerful to humectate, relax, and create mistiness; for these are the causes of disease of the head, and such also are south winds, which occasion dulness of hearing. There should be rest after exercises, to allay the perturbation. Pinching of the head, even to the extent of producing excoriation of the skin. Whetters made of water, or of wine diluted with water, should be given before a meal. Lunch should be slight: laxatives from the capillary leaves of pot-herbs,—of mallow, of beet, and of blite.
ἄριστον ἀφάλσεις καὶ δρόμοι. τὸ ὀξὺ μὲν πᾶν ἐς τὰ σκέλεα πάντων τονώσιες· ψυχρολουσίη ἀλουσίης κρέσσων· ἀλουσίη δὲ θερμολουσίης· στῦψαι, πυκνῶσαι, ξηρῆναι κεφαλὴν ψυχρολουσίη δυνατωτάτη, ὑγείης ἡ κατάστασις· ὑγρῆναι, λῦσαι, ἀχλυῶσαι, θερμολουσίη δυνατωτάτη. κεφαλῆς γὰρ νούσου αἱ προφάσιες· τοιοίδε καὶ οἱ νότοι, βαρυήκοοι. ἡσυχίη ἐπὶ τοῖσι γυμνασίοισι, ἐς κατάστασιν τοῦ ταράχου. πίεσις τῆς κεφαλῆς ἐς τὴν τοῦ δέρματος ξῦσιν.
A condiment of a stomachic nature, which is pleasant to the mouth, laxative of the bowels, and not calculated to induce heaviness of the head, is made of thyme, or of savory, or of mustard. Eggs, hot in winter, and cold in summer, stripped of their shell, not roasted; olives, dates, pickled meat in season. Granulated spelt washed, with some of the sweet things, so as to give it a relish, is to be chosen; and, with these, salts. Solitude, rest as regards hearing and speaking. Promenades in a well-ventilated place, rendered agreeable by trees or herbs. But if it be come to supper-time, they are again especially to take the cold bath, having been slightly anointed with oil; or, otherwise, the limbs only. The supper should be of frumentaceous articles, such as pastry, or a soup from chondrus (granulated spelt), or a carminative ptisan, rendered easy of digestion by boiling. The medicines used for seasoning of the ptisan, pepper, penny-royal, mint, a small proportion of onions or of leeks, not so much as to float on the stomach; the acrid part of vinegar is suitable; of fleshes, the parts of fat animals which are not fat; of swine, the feet and head; all winged animals—you must select from the great variety of them what is suitable; the hare and the other kinds of venison are proper; the hen is easily procured, and suitable. All articles of the dessert create headaches, except the date, or figs in the summer season, or the grape if the patient be free from flatulence; and of sweetmeats, such as are well seasoned, without fat, and light. Walking, exhilaration; in solitude, resignation to sleep.
Προπόσιες ὕδατος, ἢ οἴνου ὑδαρέος· ἄριστον εὐτελές· λαχάνων κόμης τὰ μαλθακτήρια, μαλάχης, τεύτλου, βλίτου. ἔμβαμμα εὐστόμαχον, εὔστομον, κοιλίης μαλθακτικὸν, ἀβαρὲς δὲ κεφαλῇ, διὰ θύμου, ἢ θύμβρης, ἢ σινήπιος. ὠῶν τὰ θερμὰ χειμῶνος· θέρεος δὲ τὰ ψυχρὰ, γυμνὰ τοῦ ὀστρακώδεος, μὴ ὀπτά· ἐλαῖαι, φοίνικες, τάριχος ὡραῖον, χόνδρος πλυτὸς, ξύν τινι τῶν γλυκέων, ὁκόσον ἡδῦναι, αἱρετόν. ἐπὶ τοῖσδε ἅλες. ἠρεμίη, ἡσυχίη καὶ ἀκοῆς καὶ λαλιῆς. περίπατοι, ἔνθα ἂν εὔπνοον καὶ εὔχαρι, δένδρεσι, ἢ βοτάνῃσι· ἢν δὲ ἐς δεῖπνον ἥκῃ, μάλιστα μὲν αὖθις ψυχρολουτέειν, σμικρὸν ὑποχρισάμενον λίπαϊ· εἰ δὲ μὴ, σκέλεα μοῦνον. τὸ δεῖπνον σιτῶδες, οἷον ἰτρίον, ἢ Ῥόφημα χόνδρου, ἢ πτισάνη ἄφυσος, ἑψήσι εὔπεπτος· φάρμακα δὲ τὰ ἐς ἡδονὴν τῆς πτισάνης, πέπερι, γλήχων, ἡδύοσμον, κρομμύων ἢ πράσων σμικρὸν, μηδὲ ὁκόσον ἐμπλεῦσαι· ὄξεος δὲ τὸ δριμὺ ξύμφορον· κρεῶν τὰ ἐκ πιόνων μὴ πίονα· συῶν πόδες καὶ κεφαλή· πτηνὰ πάντα· τῷ πλήθεϊ δὲ τεκμαίρεσθαι· λαγώς καὶ τὰ θηρευτὰ δέ· ἀλεκτορὶς εὔπορος καὶ ξύμφορος. τράγημα πᾶν κεφαλαλγὲς, πλὴν φοίνικος, ἢ τῶν ὡραίων σύκων, ἢ σταφυλῆς, ἢν ἄφυσος ὥνθρωπος ἔῃ· ἠδὲ πεμμάτων εὔπεπτα, καὶ ἄκνισα, καὶ κοῦφα. περίπατοι· θυμηδία· ἐν ἡσυχίῃ ἐς ὕπνον ἄφεσις.
4. OF remedies, whatever is great and most powerful is needed for epilepsy, so as to find an escape not only from a painful affection, and one dangerous at each attack, but from the disgust and opprobrium of this calamity. For it appears to me, that if the patients who endure such sufferings were to look at one another in the paroxysms, they would no longer submit to live. But the want of sensibility and of seeing conceals from every one what is dreadful and disgusting in his own case. It is best that the method of cure should follow the alleviation of nature, when, with the changes of age, she changes greatly the man. For if the diet akin to the ailment, and on which the disease subsisted, be changed, the disease no longer seizes the man, but takes its departure along with that in which it delighted.
4. ἀκέων ὅτι περ μέγα καὶ δυνατώτατον ἐς ἐπιληψίην χρέεσθαι. φυγὴ γὰρ οὐ μοῦνον ἐπιπόνου πάθεος καὶ κινδυνώ δεος ἐφʼ ἑκάστης ὑπομνήσιος, ἀλλὰ καὶ ἰδέης αἴσχεος, καὶ ὀνείδεος τῆς συμφορῆς. καί μοι δοκέω, εἴπερ εἰς ἀλλήλους ἐν τοῖσι παροξυσμοῖσι ἐνέβλεπο, ὁκόσα πάσχουσι οἱ νοσεῦντες, οὐκ ἂν ἔτι ζώειν τλαῖεν ἄν. ἀλλὰ γὰρ τὰ δεινὰ ἑκάστῳ καὶ τὰ αἰσχρὰ ἀναισθησίη καὶ ἀθεησίη κρύπτει· ξυνομαρτεῖν δὲ τὴν ἰητρείην τῇ Ῥαστώνῃ τῆς φύσιος ἄριστον, εὖτε τῇσι μεταβολῇσι τῆς ἡλικίης ἐς μέγα ἀμείβει τὸν ἄνθρωπον. ἢν γὰρ ἡ ξυνήθης τῷ κακῷ δίαιτα, ἐν ᾗ ἐμβιοτεύει ἡ νοῦσος, οἴχετο, οὐκέτι ἐπιφοιτέει ἐς τὸν ἄνθρωπον·
If, then, it seize on the head, it settles there; to it, therefore, we are to do those things which have been described by me under cephalæa, regarding the abstraction of blood (and also the purgings) from the veins at the elbow, the straight vein at the forehead, and by cupping; but the abstraction is not to be carried the length of deliquium animi; for deliquium has a tendency to induce the disease; we are to open all the ordinary arteries before and behind the ears, and we are also to practise purgings, which are more potent than all these things, by the purgative hiera and those medicines which draw off phlegm from the head; but the medicines should be particularly powerful, for the habit of such persons renders them tolerant of pains, and their goodness of spirits and good hopes render them strong in endurance. It is necessary, also, to apply heat to the head, for it is effectual. In the first place, we must perforate the bone as far as the diploe, and then use cerates and cataplasms until the meninx separate from the bone. The exposed bones are to be perforated with the trepan if still any small portion prevent its spontaneous removal, when the meninx there is found black and thickened; and when, having gone through the process of putrefaction and cleansing under the bold treatment of the physician, the wound comes to complete cicatrization, the patients escape from the disease. In all cases we are to use rubefacient applications to the head; namely, the common ones, as described by me formerly; and a still more powerful one is that from cantharides, but for three days before using it the patient must drink milk as a protection of the bladder, for cantharides are very injurious to the bladder. These are the remedies when the head is the part affected.
ξυναποίχεται γὰρ τῷ πρόσθεν ἡδέϊ. ἢν ὦν τῆς κεφαλῆς λάβηται, ἐνοικέει· τῇδε ἅπαντα χρὴ πρήσσειν, ὁκόσα μοι ἀμφὶ κεφαλαίης λέλεκται, ἀμφί τε τὰς τοῦ αἵματος ἀφαιρέσιας, — ἠδʼ ἀμφὶ τὰς καθάρσιας, — φλεβῶν τῶν ἐπʼ ἀγκῶνος, μετώπου τῆς ὀρθίας, σικύης· τὰς δὲ ἀφαιρέσιας μὴ μέσφι λειποθυμίης ποιέεσθαι, πρόκλησις γὰρ τοῦ πάθεος λειποθυμίη· ἀρτηρίας τάμνειν ἁπάσας, τάς τε ὤτων πρόσω τε καὶ ὀπίσω· καθάρσιας δὲ ποιέεσθαι ἐξοχέας τουτέων πάντων, τῇ ἱερῇ τῷ καθαρτηρίῳ καὶ τῆς κεφαλῆς τοῖσι ἄγουσι φλέγμα· πολλῷ δὲ δυνατώτερα ἔστω φάρμακα· φέρει γὰρ ἡ ἕξις τῶνδε τοὺς πόνους· εὐθυμίη δὲ καὶ εὐελπιστίη τίθησι τοὺς νοσέοντας τλήμονας. χρεὼν καὶ πῦρ φέρειν ἐς τὴν κεφαλήν· ἀνύει γάρ. τετρῆναι δὲ χρὴ πρῶτα τὸ ὀστέον μέχρι διπλόης, ἔπειτα κηρωτῇσι καὶ ἐπιπλάσμασι χρέεσθαι. ἔς τʼ ἂν ἡ μῆνιγξ τῶν ὀστέων ἀποστῇ, τερέτρῳ χρὴ περικόπτειν τὰ γυμνὰ ἢν ἔτι σμικρὰ ἀντέχῃ μέχρι αὐτομάτου ἀποσπάσιος, ὅτε μέλαινά κοτε τουτέων καὶ παχείη εὑρεθῇ ἡ μῆνιγξ· καὶ ἐπὴν ἐς μύδησιν, ἢ καὶ κάθαρσιν, τοῦ ἰητροῦ εὐτόλμως ἀκεομένου, ἐς ὠτειλὴν ξυμβῇ τὸ τρῶμα, ὥνθρωπος ἐξῆλθε τῆς νούσου. ἐπὶ πᾶσι, φοινίξιες κεφαλῆς, ξυνήθεες μὲν, ὁκόσαι μοι ἐν τοῖσι πρόσθεν εἰρέαται· δυνατωτέρη δὲ ἡ διὰ τῶν κανθαρίδων· χρὴ δὲ ἐπίπροσθεν τῆς χρήσιος, τριῶν ἡμερῶν πίνειν γάλα ἐς τὴν τῆς κύστιος φυλακήν. κανθαρί δες γὰρ κάρτα σίνονται κύστιν. τάδε μὲν ὦν ἢν κεφαλὴ πεπόνθῃ.