But if the cause be seated in the middle parts, and if these induce the disease (this, however, very rarely happens, for, as in a mighty ailment, the middle parts of the body rather sympathise with the head, which is the origin of the disease), but however it may be, we must open the vein at the elbow in these cases also; for the flow by it is from the viscera. But such patients, more than the others, are to be purged with the hiera, cneoron, and the granum cnidium, for these are phlegmagogues. But the most suitable remedy in these cases is cupping. Of epithemes and cataplasms the components are well known, and it would be superfluous to describe them on all occasions, except in so far as to know the powers of them; namely, that by such means we must attenuate, promote exhalation, and render the secretions and perspirations healthy. We are also to use digestive, heating, desiccant, and diuretic articles, both in food and in medicine. But the best of all things is castor, taken frequently during the month in honeyed-water, and the compound medicines which possess the same powers, as the compound medicine from vipers, and the still more complex one of Mithridates, and also that of Vestinus; for these things promote digestion, form healthy juices, and are diuretic; for whatever simple medicines you could describe are contained in these powerful compositions — cinnamon. cassia, the leaves of melabathrum, pepper, and all the varieties of seseli; and which of the most potent medicines will you not find in them? It is told, that the brain of a vulture, and the heart of a raw cormorant, and the domestic weasel, when eaten, remove the disease; but I have never tried these things. However, I have seen persons holding a cup below the wound of a man recently slaughtered, and drinking a draught of the blood! O the present, the mighty necessity, which compels one to remedy the evil by such a wicked abomination! And whether even they recovered by this means no one could tell me for certain. There is another story of the liver of a man having been eaten. However, I leave these things to be described by those who would bear to try such means.
ἢν δὲ τὰ μέσα εἰσάγῃ τὴν αἰτίην καὶ τάδε ἐπάγει τὴν νοῦσον, — ἥκιστα δὲ τάδε γίγνεται· ξυμπαθέει γὰρ κεφαλῇ τὰ μέσα μᾶλλον, ὡς ἐπὶ μεγάλῳ κακῷ, ἥπερ ἀρχὴ τῆς νούσου, — ὅκως δʼ οὖν ἴσχῃ, φλέβα τάμνειν τὴν ἐπʼ ἀγκῶνι καὶ ἐπὶ τῶνδε· ἀπὸ σπλάγχνων γὰρ ἡ Ῥοή· ἀτὰρ καὶ καθαίρειν τούσδε μᾶλλον τῶν ἄλλων, καὶ τῇ ἱερῇ, καὶ κνεώρῳ, καὶ κόκκῳ κνίδης· τάδε γὰρ φλεγμάτων ἀγωγά. τὸ δὲ καίριον αὐτέων ἡ σικύη· ἐπιθημάτων δὲ, καὶ ἐπιπλασμάτων, ὁ φόρτος εὔδηλος, καὶ πάντη γράφειν περιττὸν, εἰ μὴ ὁκόσον δύναμιν αὐτέων γινώσκειν, ὅτι χρὴ τοῖσδε λεπτῦναι, διαπνεῦσαι, εὔροα καὶ εὔπνοα ποιέειν· καὶ πεπτηρίοισι φαρμάκοισι, θερμοῖσι, ξηροῖσι, καὶ οὔρων ἀγωγοῖσι χρεόμενον, καὶ ἐν τροφῇ καὶ ἐν φαρμακίῃ· κρέσσον δὲ πάντων κάστορος ὄρχις, πινόμενος ἐν μελικρή τῳ πολλάκις τοῦ μηνὸς, ὁκόσα τε ποικίλα φάρμακα τωὐτὸν πρήσσει, ἡ διὰ τῶν θηρίων ποικίλη, καὶ ἡ τοῦ Μιθριδάτεω ἐπιποικιλωτέρη· πίνειν δὲ καὶ τὴν Βηστίνου· εὔπεπτα γὰρ καὶ εὔχυμα ταῦτα καὶ οὔρων ἀγωγά. ὁκόσα γὰρ χρὴ γράφειν τῶν ἁπλῶν φαρμάκων, αἵδε ἔχουσι αἱ δυνάμιες, κιννάμωμον καὶ κασίην, φύλλα τὰ μαλαβάθρου, καὶ πεπέριος καὶ σεσέλιος πάσας ἰδέας. καὶ τί γὰρ οὐκ ἂν εὕροις ἐν τοῖσδε τῶν δυνατωτάτων; λόγος, ὅτι καὶ γυπὸς ἐγκέφαλος καὶ αἰθυίης ὠμῆς κραδίη, καὶ αἱ κατοικίδιοι γαλέαι βρωθέντες λύουσι τὴν νοῦσον· ἐγὼ δὲ τῶνδε μὲν οὐκ ἐπειρήθην· ἐθεασάμην δὲ ἀνθρώπου γε νεοσφαγέος ὑποθέντας φιάλην τῷ τρώματι καὶ ἀρυσαμένους τοῦ αἵματος πίνοντας. ὢ τῆς παρεούσης μεγάλης ἀνάγκης, τλῆναι κακὸν ἀκέσασθαι μιάσματι κακῷ· εἰ δὲ καὶ ὑγιέες ἐκ τούτου ἐγένοντο, ἀτρεκὲς οὐδεὶς ἔχει μοι λέγειν· ἄλλη δέ τις γραφὴ ἔφραζεν, ἧπαρ ἀνθρώπου φαγεῖν. ἀλλὰ τάδε μὲν γεγράφθω τοῖσι μέχρι τῶνδε τλήμοσι.
It is necessary to regulate the diet, in respect to everything that is to be done either by others or by the patient himself. Now nothing must be omitted, nor anything unnecessarily done; and more especially we must administer everything which will do the slightest good, or even that will do no harm; for many unseemly sights, sounds, and tastes, and multitudes of smells, are tests of the disease. Everything, therefore, is to be particularly attended to. Much sleep induces fatness, torpor, and mistiness of the senses, but moderate sleep is good. An evacuation of the bowels, especially of flatulence and phlegm, is very good after sleep. Promenades long, straight, without tortuosities, in a well ventilated place, under trees of myrtle and laurel, or among acrid and fragrant herbs, such as calamint, penny-royal, thyme, and mint; so much the better if wild and indigenous, but if not, among cultivated; in these places, prolonged gestation, which also should be straight. It is a good thing to take journeys, but not by a river side, so that he may not gaze upon the stream (for the current of a river occasions vertigo), nor where he may see anything turned round, such as a rolling-top, for he is too weak to preserve the animal spirits (pneuma) steady, which are, therefore, whirled about in a circle, and this circular motion is provocative of vertigo and of epilepsy. After the gestation, a gentle walk, then rest so as to induce tranquillity of the agitation created by the gestation. After these, the exercises of the arms, their extremities being rubbed with a towel made of raw flax. Not much oil to be used in the inunction. The friction to be protracted, and harder than usual for condensation, since most of them are bloated and fat: the head to be rubbed in the middle of the process, while the patient stands erect. The exercises of the neck and shoulders, chironomy, and the others mentioned by me under the treatment of Vertigo, with sufficient fulness of detail; only the exercises should be sharper, so as to induce sweat and heat, for all these attenuate. During the whole of his life he should cultivate a keen temper without irascibility.
Προσαρήγειν δὲ καὶ τῇ διαίτῃ, καὶ ἑκάστοισι τῶν γινομένων, ἢ διʼ ἄλλων, ἢ διʼ αὐτοῦ. νῦν δὲ χρὴ οὐδὲν ὑπερορῆν, μηδὲ πρήσσειν τι εἰκῆ, μάλιστα μὲν ἐφʼ ἑκάστοισι σμικροῖσι πάντως ὠφελεῦν τα· ἢν δὲ μὴ, βλάπτοντα μηδέν. καὶ γὰρ ὁρήματα ὁκόσα μὴ θηητὰ, καὶ ἀκούσματα, καὶ γεύματα, καὶ θυητὰ μυρία ἐλέγχει τὴν νοῦσον. φράζεσθαι ὦν περὶ πάντων μάλα. ὕπνος πολλὸς, παχυτὴς, ἀργίη, ὀμίχλη τῆς αἰσθήσιος· ἀγαθὸν δὲ ξυμμετρίη· κοιλίης ἔκκρισις ἐπὶ τοῖσι ὕπνοισι ἄριστον, μάλιστα πνευμάτων καὶ φλεγμάτων. περίπατοι μακροὶ, εὐθέες, ἀνέλικτοι, εὔπνοοι, ὑπὸ δένδρεσι μὲν μυρσίνης, ἢ δάφνης, ἢ τοῖσι δριμέσι, καὶ εὐώδεσι βοτάνῃσι δὲ, καλαμίνθῃ, γλήχωνι, θύμῳ, ἡδυόσμῳ· μάλιστα μὲν τοῖσι ἀγρίοισι, αὐτομάτοισι· ἢν δὲ μὴ, κἀν ποιητοῖσι· ἐν τοῖσι καὶ αἰῶραι μακραὶ καὶ αἵδε εὐθέες· ὁδοιπορίῃσι καλὸν χρέεσθαι, μὴ παρὰ ποταμὸν εἰς τὸ Ῥεῦμα ἐνορῆν,(ἰλίγγων γὰρ ποιητικὸν Ῥόος) μηδὲ ἐς κύκλον στρωφώμενον, μηδὲ βέμβικα δινεύμενον. ἀσθενέστερος γὰρ ἑδραῖον ἱστάναι τὸ πνεῦμα· ξυνελίσσεται γὰρ τῷ κύκλῳ. δίνησις δὲ σκοτώματος καὶ τῆς ἐπιληψίης πρόκλησις· ἀπὸ δὲ τῆς αἰώρης, περίπατος ἠρεμαῖος· ἔπειτα ἡ ἡσυχίη, ἐς ἀποκατάστασιν τοῦ ἐν τῇ αἰώρῃ ταράχου· γυμνάσια δὲ ἐπὶ τούτοισι πρὸς χεῖρας, τριβέντων τῶν ἄκρων ἀφʼ ἡμιτυμβίου λινοῖσι ὠμοῖσι· ἄλειμμα μὴ κάρτα λιπαρόν· τρῖψις ἐν μελλήσει μὲν οὖσα, σκληροτέρη δʼ ἐς πύκνωσιν· οἰδαλέοι γὰρ καὶ παχέες οἱ πλεῖστοι. μεσηγὺ δὲ ὅλης τῆς τρίψιος κεφαλὴ ὀρθίη τετρίφθω. γυμνάσια τὰ εἰς τὸν αὐχένα καὶ ὤμους· χειρονομίη· πάντα ὁκόσα μοι ἐπὶ σκοτωματικῶν λέλεκται. ἅλις δὲ ἐνθάδε τοῦ ἐκεῖ φόρτου. πλὴν ὁκόσα ὀξύτερα χρὴ τὰ τῶνδε γυμνάσια ἔμμεναι ἐς ἱδρῶτα καὶ θέρμην. τάδε γὰρ πάντα λεπτύνει.
All kinds of food derived from gross pulse are bad; but we are to give frumentaceous things, the drier sorts of bread, washed alica, and the drinks prepared from them. The medicines added for relish the same as before; but there should be more of acrid things, such as pepper, ginger, and lovage. Sauces of vinegar and cumin are both pleasant and useful. From fleshes in particular the patient is to be entirely restricted, or at least during the cure; for the restoration, those things are to be allowed which are naturally light, such as all sorts of winged animals, with the exception of the duck, and such as are light in digestion, such as hares, swines’ feet, and pickled fish, after which thirst is good. A white, thin, fragrant, and diuretic wine is to be drunk in small quantity. Of boiled pot-herbs, such as are possessed of acrid powers, attenuate and prove diuretic, as the cabbage, asparagus, and nettle; of raw, the lettuce in the season of summer. The cucumber and ripe melon are unsuitable to a strong man; but certain persons may have just a tasting of them. But being of a cold and humid nature, much of them is bad. The seasonable use may be granted of the green fig and the grape. Promenades; after these, recreation to dispel grief.
ἀτὰρ καὶ ἐν τῷ παντὶ βίῳ χρὴ ὀξυθυμίην ἀόργητον ἐμποιέειν. τροφαὶ πᾶσαι παχέεσι ὀσπρίοισι, κακόν· σιτώδεις δὲ, ἄρτοι ξηρότεροι, χόνδροι πλυτοὶ, καὶ τὰ ἐκ τῶνδε Ῥοφήματα· τὰ δὲ ἐς ἡδονὴν φάρμακα ταὐτὰ τοῖς πρόσθεν. τῶν δριμέων δὲ νῦν ἔστω πλεῦνα, πεπέριος, ζιγγιβέριος, λιγυστικοῦ. ἐμβάμμα τα δὲ, διʼ ὄξεος καὶ κυμίνου, καὶ ἡδέα καὶ χρήσιμα. κρεῶν μάλιστα μὲν ἀπείρχθω πάμπαν· εἰ δὲ μή γε, ἐν τῇ θεραπείῃ· ἐς δὲ τὴν ἀνάληψιν ἔστω ὁκόσα κοῦφα ᾖ φύσι, οἷόν τι τὰ πτηνὰ, πλὴν νήσσης· καὶ τῇ πέψι, ὅκως λαγωοὶ, ὑῶν πόδες, τάριχος· καὶ ἐπὶ τοῖσι, δίψος ἀγαθόν. οἴνου ὀλιγοποσίη, λευκοῦ, λεπτοῦ, εὐώδεος, οὐρεομένου· λαχάνων ἑφθῶν, ὁκόσα ἐς δύναμιν δριμέα λεπτῦναι, οὖρα κινῆσαι, ὁκοῖόν τι κράμβη, ἀσπάραγος, κνίδη· ὠμῶν δὲ θριδακίνη ἐφʼ ὥρᾳ· σίκυος δὲ καὶ πέπων ἀνδρὶ μὲν κρατερῷ περιττὰ, τισὶ δὲ δοτέον μέσφι γεύσιος. κακὸν γὰρ τῶνδε ἡ πληθὺς, ψυχρῶν ἐόντων καὶ ὑγρῶν. σύκου χλωροῦ καὶ σταφυλῆς ἡ χρῆσις ὡραῖος· περίπατοι· ἐπὶ τοῖσι δὲ θυμηδίη ἄλυπος.
Passion is bad, as also sexual enjoyment; for the act itself bears the symptoms of the disease. Certain physicians have fallen into a mistake respecting coition; for seeing that the physical change to manhood produces a beneficial effect, they have done violence to the nature of children by unseasonable coition, as if thus to bring them sooner to manhood. Such persons are ignorant of the spontaneous law of nature by which all cures are accomplished; for along with every age she produces that which is proper for it in due seasons. At a given time there is the maturity of semen, of the beard, of hoary hairs; for on the one hand what physician could alter Nature’s original change in regard to the semen, and, on the other, the appointed time for each? But they also offend against the nature of the disease; for being previously injured by the unseasonableness of the act, they are not possessed of seasonable powers at the proper commencement of the age for coition.
ὀργὴ δὲ καὶ λαγνείη, κακόν· καὶ γὰρ τὸ πρῆγμα τῆς νούσου φέρει τὰ σύμβολα. ἀπάτη δέ τις ἔς τε μετεξετέρους ἰατροὺς συνουσίης. ἐπεὶ γὰρ ἡ τῆς φύσιος εἰς ἄνδρα μεταβολὴ ἀγαθόν τι πρήσσει, μετεβιάσαν το τὴν παίδων φύσιν ἀώρῳ ξυνουσίῃ, ὡς θᾶσσον ἀναρρώς οντ ες· ἀγνοέου σι δὲ τῆς φύσιος τὴν αὐτομάτην προθεσμίην, ἐφʼ ᾗ πάντα γίγνεται τὰ ἄκεα· ἥδε γὰρ ἑκάστῃ ἡλικίῃ συντίκτει τὰ οἰκεῖα ἐν χρόνοις ὡραίοισι. ἐν χρόνῳ γὰρ οἱ πεπασμοὶ σπέρματος, γενείου, πολιῆς. τίς ὦν ἰητρὸς προσαλλάξαι τῆς φύσιος τοῦτο μὲν τὴν ἀρχῆθεν τῶν σπερμάτων μεταβολὴν, τοῦτο δὲ τὴν ἐς ἑκάστου προθεσμίην; ἀλλὰ καὶ προσέκοψαν ἐς τὴν φύσιν τοῦ νοσήματος. οὐκέτι γὰρ ἔγκαιροί τινες ἔασι τῇ ἀρχῇ τῆς ξυνουσίης, προσινόμενο ἀωρίῃ τοῦ πρήγματος.
The patients ought to reside in hot and dry places, for the disease is of a cold and humid nature.
βιοτεύειν δὲ χρὴ ἐν χώρῃσι θερμῇσι, ξηρῇσι. ψυχρὸν γὰρ, καὶ ὑγρὸν, ἡ νοῦσος.
5. IN cases of melancholy, there is need of consideration in regard to the abstraction of blood, from which the disease arises, but it also springs from cacochymy in no small amount thereof. When, therefore, the disease seizes a person in early life, and during the season of spring we are to open the median vein at the right elbow, so that there may be a seasonable flow from the liver; for this viscus is the fountain of the blood, and the source of the formation of the bile, both which are the pabulum of melancholy. We must open a vein even if the patients be spare and have deficient blood, but abstract little, so that the strength may feel the evacuation but may not be shaken thereby; for even though the blood be thick, bilious, coagulated, and black as the lees of oil, yet still it is the seat and the pabulum of Nature. If, then, you abstract more than enough, Nature, by the loss of nourishment, is ejected from her seat. But if the patient has much blood, for the most part in such cases it is not much vitiated, but still we must open a vein, and not abstract all the blood required the same day, but after an interval, or, if the whole is taken the same day, the strength will indicate the amount. During the interval, the patient is to be allowed a fuller diet than usual, in order to prepare him for enduring the evacuation; for we must assist the stomach, it being in a state of disease, and distress from the black bile lodging there. Wherefore, having kept the patient on a restricted diet for one day previously, we must give black hellebore to the amount of two drams with honeyed-water, for it evacuates black bile. And likewise the capillary leaves of Attic thyme, for it also evacuates black bile. But it is best to mix them together, and give a part of each, to the amount of two drams altogether. After the purging we are to administer the bath, and give a little wine and any other seasoner in the food; for purging fatigues the powers of the stomach. We are, then, to come down to the middle parts, and having first relaxed by cataplasms and bathing, we are to apply a cupping-instrument over the liver and stomach, or the mouth of it; for this evacuation is much more seasonable than venesection. We are also to apply it to the back between the scapulæ, for to this place the stomach is adjacent. Then again we are to recruit; and if the strength be restored by the regimen, we are to shave the head, and afterwards apply the cupping-instrument to it, for the primary and greatest cause of the disease is in the nerves. But neither are the senses free from injury, for hence are their departure and commencement. Wherefore these also are changed, by participating in the affection. Some, likewise, from alienation of the senses have perverted feelings. It is necessary, then, especially to cure the stomach as being disordered of itself, and from black bile being lodged in it. Wherefore we must give to drink continuously of the juice of wormwood from a small amount to a cupful (cyathus), for it prevents the formation of bile. Aloe also is a good thing, for it brings down the bile into the lower gut. If, then, the disease be of recent origin, and the patient be not much changed, he will require no other treatment in these circumstances. There is a necessity, however, for the remaining part of the regimen to the restoration of the habits, and the complete purification of the affection, and the strengthening of the powers, so that the diseases may not relapse. I will explain afterwards the course of life during convalescence.
5. χρεὼ βουλῆς ἀμφὶ αἵματος ἀφαιρέσιος ἐν τοῖσι μελαγχολικοῖσι, ἀφʼ οὗ γίγνεται ἡ νοῦσος, ἀλλὰ καὶ κακοχυμίης, οὐδʼ ἐπὶ σμικρῷ τῷ πλήθεϊ· ἢν μὲν ὦν ἡλικίης νέης λάβηται καὶ ὥρης ἐαρινῆς, τάμνειν φλέβα τὴν ἐπʼ ἀγκῶνι τῷ δεξιῷ μέσην, ὅκως ἀπὸ τοῦ ἥπατος εἴη ἐπίκαιρος ἡ Ῥοή. τόδε γὰρ τὸ σπλάγχνον αἵματος αἱ πηγαὶ, χολῆς δὲ ἡ γένεσις, ἄμφω μελαγχολίης ἡ τροφή· τάμνειν δὲ κἢν ἰσχνοὶ ἔωσι, καὶ λείφαιμοι· σμικρὸν δὲ ἀφαιρέειν, ὁκόσον αἴσθοιτο τομῆς ἡ δύναμις· οὐκ ἐλεγχθείη δὲ ἐπὶ τῷ τόνῳ. καὶ γὰρ εἰ παχὺ, καὶ χολῶδες, καὶ πεπηγὸς εἴη τὸ αἷμα, καὶ μέλαν ὅκως ἀμόργη, ἀλλὰ τόδε ἐστὶ τῆς φύσιος ὁ χῶρος καὶ ἡ τροφή. ἢν ὦν τοῦ δέοντος πολλὸν ἀφέλῃς, ἀτροφίῃ ἡ φύσις ἐξίσταται τῆς ἕδρης· ἢν δὲ πολύαιμος ᾖ, τὰ πολλὰ μὲν οὐ κάρτα γίγνεται πονηρόν· τάμνειν δὲ τὴν φλέβα· καὶ μὴ αὐτῆμαρ ὁκόσον χρὴ ἀφαιρέειν, ἀλλʼ ἐκ διαστάσιος· καὶ αὐτῆμαρ δέ· τὸ δὲ πλῆθος δηλώσουσιν αἱ δυνάμιες. μεσηγὺ δὲ, ἁδροτέρως διαιτᾶν ἐς ἄλλης κενώσιος ὑπομονήν. χρὴ γὰρ καὶ τῷ στομάχῳ ἀρήγειν, καὶ τῷ νοσέοντι καὶ κάμνοντι, τῷδε τῆς μελαίνης χολῆς ἐγκεομένης. ἐπίπροσθεν μιῆς ἡμέρης λεπτῶς διατηθέντι, μέλανος ἐλλεβόρου δοτέον ξὺν μελικρήτῳ, σταθμοῦ ὁκόσον ὁλκὰς δύο. ὑπάγει γὰρ ὅδε μέλαιναν χολήν· ἀτὰρ καὶ τοῦ θύμου τοῦ Ἀττικοῦ ἡ κόμη, καὶ ἥδε ἄγει μέλαιναν χολήν· ἄριστον δὲ ξυμμίσγοντα διδόναι ἑκάστου μέρος ἓν ἐς ὁλκὴνδύο ἀμφοῖν. λούειν τε ἀπὸ τῆς καθάρσιος, καὶ οἴνου βραχὺ διδόναι, καὶ τῆς ἄλλης τῆς ἐν τῇ τροφῇ χάριτος. στομάχου γὰρ τῇ δυνάμει καματηρὸν ἡ κάθαρσις. μεταβαίνειν αὖθις ἐπὶ τὰ μέσα· ἄχρι δὲ προχαλάσαντα ἐπιπλάσματι καὶ τέγξι, σικύην πρὸς τὸ ἧπαρ καὶ τὴν κοιλίην, ἢ τὸ στόμα ταύτης, προσβάλλειν. ἥδε γὰρ ἡ ἀφαίρεσις πολλόντι ἐπικαιροτέρη τῆς φλεβοτομίης· προσβάλλειν δὲ καὶ τοῖσι μεταφρένοισι μεσηγὺ τῶν ὠμοπλατέων· ἐνταῦθα τοῦ στομάχου ἐστὶ ἡ πρόσφυσις. εἶτʼ αὖθις ἐπανατρέφειν, καὶ ἢν τῇ διαίτῃ βλαστηθῇ ἡ δύναμις, τὴν κεφαλὴν ξυρέειν· ἔπειτα σικύην τῇ κεφαλῇ προσβάλλειν, καὶ γὰρ ἡ πρώτη καὶ μεγίστη τῆς νούσου ἐν τοῖσι νεύροισι αἰτίη. ἀλλʼ οὐδὲ αἱ αἰσθήσιες ἔασι ἀσινέες, ἐκεῖθεν γάρ σφεων ἡ ἀπόστασις καὶ ἡ ἀρχή. ξυντρέπονται ὦν καὶ αἵδε, κοινωναὶ οὖσαι τῆς πάθης· μετεξέτεροι δὲ καὶ παραισθάνονται, παραφορῇ τῆς αἰσθήσιος· χρὴ δὲ μάλιστα τῷ στομάχῳ ἀρήγειν, καὶ τοῦδε νοσέοντος, καὶ ἐν τῷδε τῆς μελαίνης χολῆς ἐγκεομένης. πιπίσκειν ὦν χρὴ τοῦ χυλοῦ τοῦ ἀψινθίου ξυνεχῶς, ἀπὸ σμικροῦ τοῦ μεγέθεος ἄχρι κυάθου. κώλυμα γὰρ τόδε χολῆς γενέσιος. ἀγαθὸν δὲ καὶ ἀλόη, ἥδε γὰρ ὑπάγει εἰς τὸ κάτω ἔντερον τὴν χολήν. ἢν μὲν ὦν νεότοκον τὸ πάθος ᾖ, καὶ μὴ πολλὸν ὥνθρωπος ἐκτραπῇ, οὐκ ἄλλης μὲν ἐπὶ τοῖσι ἰήσιος, τῆς δὲ λοιπῆς διαίτης χρέος, ἔς τε ἀνάληψιν τῆς ἕξιος, καὶ ἐς κάθαρσιν ἀκριβέα τοῦ πάθεος, καὶ ἰσχὺν τῆς δυνάμιος, ὡς μὴ παλινδρομέωσι αἱ νοῦσοι·
But if the disease, having yielded a little to these means, should be seen relapsing, there will be need of greater remedies. Let there, then, be no procrastination of time, but if the disease appear after suppression of the catamenial discharge in women, or the hemorrhoidal flux in men, we must stimulate the parts to throw off their accustomed evacuation. But if it is delayed and does not come, the blood having taken another direction, and if the disease progress rapidly, we must make evacuations, beginning from the ankles. And if you cannot get away from this place so much blood as you require, you must also open the vein at the elbow. And after pursuing the restorative process for three or four days, we are to give the purgative medicine, the hiera. Then we are to apply the cupping-instrument to the middle parts of the body, bringing it near to the liver, and do those things which speedily prove effectual; for melancholy does not yield to small remedies, and, if long continued, it remains fixed in a spot. And if the disease lodge in all parts of the body,—in the senses, the understanding, the blood, and the bile,—and if it seize on the nerves, and turn to an incurable condition, it engenders in the system a progeny of other diseases,—spasms, mania, paralysis. And if they arise from melancholy, the newly-formed diseases are incurable. Wherefore we are to use hellebore for the cure of the ailment. But before the administration of the hellebore, we must train the stomach to vomiting, attenuate the humours, and render the whole system freely perspirable; emetics will accomplish these things sometimes those which are given with an empty stomach, and sometimes those which consist of radishes. I will describe the mode and materials of it; and I will also describe the species of hellebore and the modes of using it; and how we ought to judge of everything beforehand, and how to render assistance during the operation of the emetics. It cannot be doubted that by these means the disease has either been entirely removed or had intervals of several years. For generally melancholy is again engendered. But if it be firmly established, we are no longer to hesitate, but must have recourse to everything relating to the hellebore. It is impossible, indeed, to make all the sick well, for a physician would thus be superior to a god; but the physician can produce respite from pain, intervals in diseases, and render them latent. In such cases, the physician can either decline and deny his assistance, alleging as an excuse the incurable nature of the disease, or continue to the last to render his services. The hiera from aloe is to be given again and again; for this is the important medicine in melancholy, being the remedy for the stomach, the liver, and the purging of bile. But experience has proved, that the seed of mallow, to the amount of a dram, when taken in a drink with water answers excellently. But there are many other simple medicines which are useful, some in one case, and some in another.
φράσω δὲ αὖθις τὴν ἐν τῇ ἀναλήψι βιοτήν. ἢν δὲ ἐπὶ τοῖσδε σμικρόν τι ὑποπτώξασα ἡ νοῦσος παλίνορσος ὀφθῇ, μεζόνων ἀκέων χρέος. μὴ ὦν ἀμβολὴ χρόνου γιγνέσθω· ἀλλʼ ἢν ἐπὶ σχέσι γυναικὸς καταμηνίων, ἢ ἀνδρὸς αἱμορροΐδων Ῥόου, ἡ νοῦσος παρῇ, ἐρεθίζειν τὰ χωρία, προχέειν τι τοῦ ξυνήθεος· ἢν δὲ μέλλῃ καὶ μὴ ἥκῃ, ἄλλῃ πη τοῦ αἵματος μεταρρυέντος, ἐπισπέρχῃ δὲ ἡ νοῦσος, κενώσιας ποιέεσθαι αὐτῷ, ἡγεόμενον ἀπὸ τῶν σφυρῶν. κἢν μὴ ἐς ὅσον χρὴ ἐντεῦθεν ἀφέλῃς, καὶ τὴν ἐπʼ ἀγκῶνι τάμνειν φλέβα. μεσηγὺ δὲ τριῶν ἢ τεσσάρων ἡμερῶν ἀναθρέψ ιος τὴν ἱερὴν τὸ καθαρτήριον φάρμακον πιπίσκειν· ἔπειτα σικύην τοῖσι μέσοισι προσβάλλειν, τῷ ἥπατι ἐγχρίμπτοντα, πρήσσειν τε τὰ ἔργα ᾗ τάχος ἀνύοντα. σμικροῖσι μὲν γὰρ ἄκεσι οὐ πείθεται. κἢν ἐς τὰ μεγάλα δηθύνῃ, ἐν ἕδρῃ ἵζει ἡ μελαγχολίη· καὶ ἢν πάντη τοῦ σώματος ἐνοικήσῃ, αἰσθήσεσι, γνώμῃ, αἵματι, χολῇ, λάβηται δὲ καὶ νεύρων, αὐτή τε ἐς ἀνήκεστον τρέπεται, ἐντίκτει τε τῷ σκήνεϊ ἑτέρων νοσημάτων τόκους, σπασμοῦ, μανίης, παραλύσιος· κἢν ἐκ μελαγχολίης τάδε γίγνηται, τὰ ἐπιγιγνόμενα ἀνήκεστα. ἐλλεβόρῳ ὦν χρέεσθαι ἐς ἴησιν τοῦ κακοῦ. ἐπίπροσθεν δὲ τοῦ ἐλλεβόρου χρὴ τόν τε στόμαχον μελετῆσαι ἐξεμέειν, καὶ τὰ ὑγρὰ λεπτῦναι, καὶ τὸ σκῆνος εὔροον ποιέειν· ἔμετοι δὲ τάδε πρήσσουσι, ἄλλοτε μὲν οἱ νήστιες, ἄλλοτε δὲ Ῥαφανῖδες. φράσω δὲ τόν τε τρόπον καὶ τὴν ὕλην· φράσω δὲ καὶ τοῦ ἐλλεβόρου τὰ εἴδεα, καὶ τῆς χρήσιος τοῦς τρόπους, καὶ ὅκως προευκρινῆσαι ἕκαστον χρὴ, καὶ ὅκως ἐν τοῖσι ἐμέτοισι ἀρήγειν. ἄπιστον, ἐπὶ τοῖσδε εἰ μὴ ἐλύθη ἐς τὸ πάμπαν ἡ νοῦσος, ἢ πολλῶν ἐτέων ἔσχε διαλείψιας. τὰ πολλὰ γὰρ τοῦδε ἀπότοκοι μελαγχολίαι· ἢν δὲ ἔμπεδος δε, μὴ ἤδη περιμένειν. χρὴ ὦν τὰ ἐς τὸν ἐλλέβορον ἅπαντα πρήσσειν. ὑγιέας μὲν ὦν ἅπαντας ποιέειν ἀδύνατον τοὺς νοσέοντας· ᾖ γὰρ ἂν ἰητρὸς κρέσσων θεοῦ. ἀπονίην δὲ καὶ διαλείψιας καὶ νούσων ἐπικρύψιας, δρῆν θέμις ἰητρόν. ἢ ὦν ἀπαυδῆν ἐπὶ τοῖσδε καὶ ἀπαρνεῖσθαι, προϊσχομένους τὸ ἄναλθες, ἢ καὶ ἐς τέλος τοῖσι ἔργοισι ὁμιλέειν· διδόναι δὲ καὶ τῆς ἱερῆς τῆς διʼ ἀλόης ἄλλοτε καὶ ἄλλοτε· καίριον γὰρ φάρμακον τῆς μελαγχολίης τόδε, στομάχου, καὶ ἥπατος, καὶ χολῆς καθάρσιος ἄκος ἐόν· ἀτὰρ καὶ μαλάχης σπέρματος, ὁκόσον ὁλκῆς δραχμὴν, πιπίσκειν ξὺν ὕδατι, ἄριστον πείρῃ τις ἐπιστώσατο. μυρία δὲ τῶν ἁπλῶν φαρμάκων ἄλλα ἄλλοισι ἔῃ χρηστά. ἐπὶ δὲ τοῖσι πόνοισι τοῖσδε ἐς ἀνάληψιν ἄγειν.
After these sufferings, the patient is to be recruited. For, in certain cases, during the time of this treatment, the disease has been removed; but if the patient come to a renewal of his flesh and of his strength, all traces of the disease become eradicated. For the strength of nature produces health, but her weakness, disease. Let the patient, then, proceed to the process of restoration by frequenting the natural hot baths; for the medicinal substances in them are beneficial, such as bitumen, or sulphur, or alum, and many others besides these which are possessed of remedial powers. For, after the parching heat of the disease, and the annoyance of the treatment, dilution is a good thing. Moreover, rare and soft flesh most readily throws off the disease; but in melancholy the flesh is dry and dense. An oily liniment, by gentle friction, with much oil containing............ washed bread, with something sweet, as the Cretan must, and the Scybelitic from Pamphylia, or wine and honey which have been mixed up together for some time. Eggs, both cold and hot, which have been stripped of their shells. Of fleshes, such as are not fatty, and are detergent. Of swine, the feet and the parts about the head. Of fowls, the wings, which are not fatty. Of wild animals, hares, goats, and deer. Of autumnal fruits, whatever is excellent in its kind. When the stomach rejects the food, we must consider beforehand that what is taken be not vomited up. Wherefore, before giving food, we are to administer honeyed-water to the amount of half a cyathus, which, being drunk, is vomited up again for cleansing the stomach. For, in this way, the food remains in the stomach. Medicines which are purgative of the necessary discharges are—the fruit of the pine, of the nettle, and seeds of the coccalus, and pepper; bitter almonds; and let honey give it consistence. But if you wish to dry, the best thing is myrrh, or the root of iris, the medicine from vipers, and that of Vestinus, of Mithridates, and many others. For the epithemes, the materiel of cataplasms, melilot and poppies, and the tear (gum?) of turpentine, and hyssop, and the oil of roses, or of vine-flowers; wax should give consistence to all these. Liniments of oil; gestation, promenades, and whatever promotes the reproduction of flesh, and the strength of the powers, and the restoration of nature to its pristine state of * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * .....
μετεξετέροισι γὰρ ἐς μὲν τὸν τῆς ἰητρείης καιρὸν ἡ νοῦσος ἐξ ἕδρης δὲ ἐκινήθη· ἢν δὲ ἐς ἀνάπλασιν σαρκῶν καὶ δυνάμιος ὥνθρωπος ἥκῃ, ξυναπηλάθη πάντα τῆς νούσου τὰ ἴχνια. δύναμις μὲν γὰρ φύσιος ὑγείαν τίκτει, ἀσθένεια δὲ νοῦσον. ἀπίτω ὦν ἐς ἀνάληψιν ὁ νοσέων, πεφυκόσι θερμοῖσι ὕδασι ἐνδιαιτώμενος. καὶ γὰρ τὰ ἐν τοῖσδε φάρμακα ὀνηϊστὰ, ἄσφαλτος, ἢ θεῖον, ἢ στυπτηρίη, πολλὸν πλεῦνες τουτέων ἄλλαι δυνάμιες. ἀγαθὸν μὲν γὰρ ὑγρασίη ἐξ αὐχμοῦ τῆς νούσου καὶ ταλαιπωρίῃ τῆς ἰήσιος· ἀραιαὶ δὲ καὶ μαλθακαὶ σάρκες Ῥηϊσταὶ πρὸς ἄφεσιν τοῦ νοσήματος· ξηραὶ δὲ καὶ πυκναὶ τοῖς μελαγχολῶσι αἱ σάρκες. ἄλειμμα λιπαρὸν ἅμα τρίψιος εὐαφοῦς, πολλῷ τῷ λίπαϊ δέχοντα … ἄρτοι πλυτοὶ, ξύν τινι γλυκεῖ, σιραίῳ τῷ Κρητικῷ καὶ σκυβελιτῇ τῷ Παμφύλῳ. ἢ οἶνος καὶ μέλιμίξιος παλαιῆς· ὠῶν, καὶ ψυχροτέρων καὶ θερμῶν, τῶν γυμνῶν ἀπὸ τοῦ ὀστρακώ δεος· κρεῶν, τὰ μὴ πίονα καὶ σμηγματώδεα· συῶν μὲν πόδες, καὶ τὰ τῆς κεφαλῆς, πτηνῶν τὰ πτερὰ ἀπίονα· θηρίων, λαγωῶν, δορκάδων, πτωκός· ὀπώρης, ὁκοῖόν τι ἄριστον ᾖ, ἐπὶ τῇ τοῦ στομάχου ἀναφορῇ προμηθέεσθαι πρὸ τῆς τροφῆς, ὅκως μὴ καταποθεὶς ἀνεμῆται. διδόναι ὦν πρὸ πάντων σιτίων μελίκρητον, κυάθου ἥμισυ, καὶ πιόντα ἐξεμέειν ἐς τὴν τοῦ στομάχου κάθαρσιν. ὧδε γάρ σοι ἡ τροφὴ ἑδραίη μένει· φάρμακα δὲ τῶν ἀναγκαίων καθαρτήρια, πίτυος καρπὸς καὶ κνίδης, τῶν σπερμάτων τοῦ κοκκάλου, καὶ πεπέριος, ἀμυγδάλων αἱ πικραὶ, καὶ μέλι ᾖ τῷδε ἡ ξύστασις· ἢν δὲ ξηρῆναι θέλῃς, ἄριστον σμύρνα, καὶ ἴρεως ἡ Ῥίζα, καὶ τὸ διὰ τῶν θηρίων φάρμακον, καὶ ἡ τοῦ Βηστίνου, καὶ Μιθριδάτου, καὶ ἄλλαι μυρίαι· ἐπιθήματα δὲ, ἡ τῶν ἐπιπλασμά των ὕλη, μελίλωτον, καὶ μήκωνες, καὶ τερμίνθου δάκρυον, καὶ ὕσσωπον, καὶ λίπας τὸ ἀπὸ Ῥόδων, ἢ τῆς οἰνάνθης. κηρὸς δὲ τουτέων πάντων πάγος. ἄλειμμα λιπαρόν· αἰῶραι· περίπατοι· ἄλλʼ ὅσα σαρκῶν τε ἀνάπλασιν ποιέεται καὶ δυνάμιος ἰσχὺν, καὶ τῆς φύσιος ἐς τὸ ἀρχαῖον ἀποκατάστασιν. … … … ὅκως ἐν νηϊ καὶ γαλήνῃ.
6. as in a ship and in a calm. And if the patient have it fortunately at his command, gestation and living on the sea will be beneficial. For the sea-water contributes something desiccant to the ulcers. After the gestation, having rested, the patient is now to be anointed with fat oil. After the frictions........... from a small dose gradually up to five or six heminæ, or even much more; or if not, as much as one can, for often this alone sufficeth in place of all food. For milk is pleasant to take, is easy to drink, gives solid nourishment, and is more familiar than any other food to one from a child. In colour it is pleasant to see: as a medicine it seems to lubricate the windpipe, to clean, as if with a feather, the bronchi, and to bring off phlegm, improve the breathing, and facilitate the discharges downwards. To ulcers it is a sweet medicine, and milder than anything else. If one, then, will only drink plenty of this, he will not stand in need of anything else. For it is a good thing that, in a disease, milk should prove both food and medicine. And, indeed, the races of men called Galactophagi use no food from grain. But yet it is a very good thing to use porridge, pastry, washed groats of spelt (alica), and the other edibles prepared with milk. And if other food is required, let it be of the same nature, as the juice of ptisan, well-concocted and plain; but it is to be so seasoned as that it may become easy to swallow; or if anything be added as a seasoner, let it be something medicinal, as the hair (capillary leaves?) of lovage, penny-royal, mint, and a little of salts, vinegar, or honey. If the stomach suffer from dyspepsia, this is to be given; but if there be no such necessity, ptisan is of all things the best. One may also change the ptisan for alica, for this is less flatulent, and of easier digestion, and becomes detergent if, when used in the ptisan, the grain be bruised. When the sputa are unusually fluid, the bean cleanses the ulcers, but is flatulent. The pea and the pisum ochrys, in so far as they are less flatulent, are in the same degree inferior as cleansers of the ulcers. Forming a judgment, then, from present symptoms, select accordingly. Their condiments are to be such as described respecting the ptisan. Eggs from the fire, in a liquid state, but hot; they are best when newly laid, before the * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ...
6. καὶ γὰρ, εἰ εὐτυχοίη ὁ νοσέων, ἐν θαλάσσῃ γίγνοιτʼ ἂν αἰώρη καὶ βιοτή. καὶ γάρ τι ξηρὸν ἐς τὰ ἕλκεα ξυνδίδωσι ἅλμη· ἀπὸ δὲ τῆς αἰώρης ἐφησυχάσαν τα χρίεσθαι νῦν λιπαρῷλίπαϊ, ἐπὶ τῇσι τρίψεσι ἐξεχὲς καταιον ούμ ενον … ἀπʼ ὀλίγου ἐκ προσαγωγῆς, ἐς κοτύλας πέντε, ἢ ἓξ, ἢ πολλόν τι πλεῖον· ἢν δὲ μὴ, ὁκόσον τις δύνηται· πολλάκι γὰρ τόδε μοῦνον ἀντὶ πάσης τροφῆς ἤρκεσε· γάλα δὲ ἡδὺ μὲν προσάρασθαι· πιεῖν δὲ Ῥήϊστον, στερεὸν θρέψαι, καὶ τροφῆς ἁπάσης ἐκ παιδὸς ξυνηθέστερον· ἰδεῖν δὲ τερπνὸν τῇ χροιῇ· φάρμακον δὲ ἀρτηρίῃ ἄκερχνον, διαπτερῶσαι βρόγχον, ἄγειν φλέγμα, εὔπνοον, ὀλισθηρὸν δὲ τὴν κάτω διέξοδον· ἕλκεσι δὲ φάρμακον γλυκὺ καὶ ἄλλου παντὸς εὐμενές τερον. ἢν μὲν ὦν τις πολλὸν τοῦδε πίνῃ, οὐδεμίης τροφῆς ἄλλης χρέος. ἀγαθὸν γὰρ ἐν νούσῳ ἔνι φάρμακον γάλα τωὐτὸν γίγνεσθαι καὶ τροφήν. καὶ γὰρ ἀνθρώπων τῶν γαλακτο φάγων τὰ ἔθνεα σῖτον οὐκ ἔδει· ἄριστον δὲ ξὺν γάλακτι, καὶ πολτοὶ, καὶ ἰτρία, καὶ χόνδροι πλυτοὶ, καὶ ὁκόσα ἐδεστὰ ἐκ γάλακτος γίγνεται. καὶ τροφῆς ἢν ἑτέρης δέῃ, ἔστω ὁμοίη, πτισάνης ὁ χυλὸς, εὔπεπτος, λιτή· χρὴ δὲ τοσόνδε ἡδύνθαι, ὁκόσον Ῥυμφάνεσθαί ἐστι Ῥηΐστη· ἢν καὶ τῶν ἐς ἡδονήν τι λαμβάνῃ, καὶ τόδε ἔστω φάρμακον, λιγυστι κοῦ κόμην, γλήχωνα, ἡδύοσμον, ἁλῶν βραχὺ, ὄξος, ἢ μέλι. ἢν μὲν στόμαχος ἀπεπτέῃ, τόδε παρέχειν· ἢν δὲ μηδὲν ὅδε προσαναγκάζῃ, πάντων ἐστὶ πτισάνη κρέσσων· ἔξεστι δὲ τὴν πτισάνην ἐς χόνδρον ἀλλάξαι· ἀφυσότερος γὰρ, καὶ εὐπεπτότερος καὶ σμηγματώδης ἢν ὡς πτισάνη πτίσθῃ. ἐν τῇσι ὑγροτέρῃσι ἀναγωγῇσι κύαμος καθαίρει ἕλκεα, ἀλλʼ ἔστι φυσώδης. πισὸς καὶ ὦχρος, ὁκόσον ἀφυσότερα, τοσόνδε ἑλκέων ἀκαθαρτότερα. ξυντεκμαιρόμενον ὦν πρὸς τὰ παρέοντα, τοῖσδε χρῆσθαι· ὄψα δὲ αὐτέων, ἅσσα καὶ ἐπὶ πτισάνῃ λέλεκται· ὠὰ δὲ ἐκ πυρὸς μὲν ὑδαρέα, θερμά· ἄριστον δὲ ἐκ ζῴων ἀρτίτοκα, πρὶν τὴν … … ἥπατι ἕλκος ἔοι ὀλέθριον.
7. in the liver the ulcer may be dangerous. But the most troublesome is a defluxion of pus on the stomach, when it makes the stomach its route in the course of being distributed upwards. For the food is the cause of life, but the stomach is the leader in the process of nutrition, and it also sometimes conveys medicines to the internal parts. If, then, in addition to all the other evils, a difficulty of deglutition come on, the patient must speedily die of disease and famine. But the indications by which it is discovered in what direction the pus will be diverted are diversified. If it pass by the intestines, there are tormina, watery discharges from the bowels, phlegm, and bile; then clots of blood floating in a fluid, or a thin discharge like the washings of raw flesh. But, if it pass by the bladder, there is a weight in the kidneys and loins; at first, therefore, the evacuations are copious, and tinged with bile; then turbid, which do not deposit their sediment, nor get settled. In all cases the sediment should become white. But if it be determined upwards to the stomach, nausea, loss of appetite, vomitings of phlegm or of bile, deliquium, and vertigo supervene, until it burst. This, then, is to be especially avoided, as being a bad course. But if the defluxion of pus be more violent, we must take every means, assisting the stomach by food, and medicines, and regimen, all in a mild way. We must administer the medicines for bursting the abscess; give to drink of the herb hyssop with honeyed-water, and the juice of the hair of horehound, and this with honeyed-water and the juice of the wormwood. These things must be given before food to dilute the fluids, to lubricate the parts, and facilitate the rupture of the abscesses. We are also to give the milk of an ass, which is soft, not bilious, nutritious, does not admit of being made into cheese, which is the perfection of milk. We should gratify the patient in regard to food and drink. And we are even to give things inferior to other more beneficial articles (for we thereby afford a passage to the fluid which occasions nausea and loathing of food, and many are hurt by the transit of the pus), lest they should come to loathe their food. And if they should take anything, they readily vomit. It is necessary, also, in the other defluxions, to have especial care of the stomach, for it is the passage to all sorts of medicine. It is necessary to keep in mind the liver, which is the root of the ulcerations. But if the defluxion be to the bladder, we are to promote it by diuretics, as the root of asarabacca, valerian, maiden-hair, spignel, in drinks; for these things are to be given to drink in honeyed-water. The compound medicine of Vestinus is also very good, and that from alkekengi, and such others as from trial have acquired reputation. But if you determine to draw off the discharge by the bowels, you can do this with milk, especially that of the ass, or otherwise of the goat or sheep. Give, also, juices of a lubricating nature and detergent, as the juice of ptisan; condiments, as pepper, ginger, and lovage. In a word, with regard to every method of diet in any case of abscess tending to rupture, the food should consist of things having wholesome juices, of savoury things, things of easy digestion, either juices, or the gruels with milk, starch, pastry with milk * * * * * * * * * * * RESOLUTION of scirrhus of the spleen is not easy to accomplish.
7. ἡ χαλεπωτάτη δὲ ἐς τὴν γαστέρα ξύρροια τοῦ πύου, ἢν τὸν στόμαχον ἴσχῃ ὁδὸν ἐς τὴν ἄνω φορήν. τροφὴ γὰρ αἰτίη τοῦ ζῆν· τροφῆς δὲ ἡγεμὼν ὁ στόμαχος· ποτὶ καὶ τὰ φάρμακα ὅδε τοῖσι εἴσω διαφέρει. ἢν ὦν πρὸς ἅπαντα μὲν ὄκνος καταπόσιος ἔλθῃ, θᾶσσον ἐκθανεῖν ἀνάγκη νόσῳ τε καὶ λιμῷ. γνώματα δὲ ἑκάστου χώρου, ὅπη τὸ πῦον τρέψεται, ἕτερα καὶ ἕτερα. ἤν τε διʼ ἐντέρων ἥκῃ, στρόφοι, γαστὴρ ὑγρὴ, φλέγματα καὶ χολὴ, ἔπειτα ξὺν περιρροῇ αἱμάλωψ, ἢ περίπλυσις ὁκοίη κρεῶν ὠμῶν· ἢν δὲ ἐς κύστιν ἔῃ, βάρος ἐν νεφροῖσι καὶ ὀσφύϊ. τὰ μὲν ὦν πρῶτα πολλὰ καὶ χολοβαφέα· ἔπειτα θολερὰ, ἀνυπόστατα καὶ ἀκατάστατα· ἐπὶ πᾶσι δὲ καὶ ἡ ὑπόστασις λευκὴ παρείη. ἢν δὲ ἐς στόμαχον ἄνω Ῥέπῃ, ναυτίη, ἀποσιτίη, ἔμετοι φλέγματος, ἢ χολῆς, λειποθυμίη, σκοτοδινίη, μέσφι ξυρραγῇ. μάλιστα μὲν ὦν ἀποτρέπειν τήνδε· πονηρὴ γὰρ ἡ ὁδός. ἢν δὲ τὸ πῦον βιαιότερον Ῥεύσῃ, χρὴ πάντα ποιέειν καὶ τῷ στομάχῳ ἀρήγειν καὶ τροφῇσι, καὶ φαρμάκοισι, καὶ διαίταις, πάντα μειλίχως. φαρμάκοισι ἐς τὴν τοῦ κόλπου Ῥαγήν· βοτάνης τῆς ὑσσώπου ξὺν μελικρή τῳ πιπίσκειν, καὶ πρασίου τῆς κόμης, καὶ τῆσδε ξὺν μελικρή τῳ καὶ χυλῷ τῆς ἀψίνθου. τάδε μέντοι πρὸ τῶν σιτίων πίνειν χρεὼν, ὡς λεπτὰ μὲν τὰ ὑγρὰ γίγνηται, εὔροα δὲ τὰ χωρία, εὔρηκτα δὲ τὰ ἔμπυα σώματα. διδόναι καὶ ὄνου γάλα, λεῖον, ἄχολον, εὔτροφον, ἐς τυρὸν ἀσύστατον, ἥπερ ἐστὶ γάλακτος ἀρετή. προστίθει δὲ καὶ χάριτας πόματος καὶ σίτου. κἢν μικρῷ χείρω τῶν ὠφελεύντων ἔωσι, διδόναι, — ἔσται γὰρ διέξοδος ναυτιώδεϊ καὶ ἀτέρπεϊ ὑγρῷ· — μετεξετέρους γὰρ ἡ τοῦ πύου δίοδος βλάψαι. μήπω τι καὶ ἀπόσιτοι ἔσονται· κἤν τι λάβωσι εὐημέες. χρὴ δὲ καὶ ἐπὶ τῇσι ἄλλῃσι ἐκροῇσι παντοίην μελέτην τοῦ στομάχου ποιέεσθαι· ὅδε γὰρ ἡ πάντων φαρμάκων ὁδός· μεμνῆσθαι δὲ καὶ τοῦ ἥπατος χρεὼν, ἔνθα τῶν ἐλκέων ἐστὶ ἡ Ῥίζα. ἢν δὲ ἐς κύστιν ὁρμᾷ, οὐρητικοῖσι ἐξάγειν, ἀσάρου τῆς Ῥίζης, καὶ φοῦ, καὶ ἀδιάντου, καὶ μήου, τῶν ἐμπότων. τάδε μέντοι ξὺν μελικρή τῳ πιπίσκειν· ποικίλον μὲν τὸ Βηστίνου φάρμακον, καὶ τὸ διὰ τῶν φυσαλίδων ἄριστον, ἠδʼ ὁκόσα διὰ πείρης τισὶ ἐπαινέεται. ἢν δὲ διʼ ἐντέρων ἄγῃς, τὸ ἀγωγὸν ἔχεις γάλα, μάλιστα μὲν ὄνου, ἢν δὲ μὴ, αἰγὸς, ἢ μήλων. χυλοὶ δὲ ὀλισθηροὶ καὶ σμηγματώδεες, ὁ τῆς πτισάνης· ὄψα, πέπερι, ζιγγίβερι, λιγυστικόν. ἀθρόον δὲ εἰρῆσθαι ἀμφὶ πάσης διαίτης, ἐπὶ πάσῃ συρρήξι, τροφαὶ μὲν εὔχυμοι, εὐστόμαχοι, εὔπεπτοι· ἢ χυλοὶ, ἢ οἱ διὰ γάλακτος πόλτοι, ἄμυλος, ἰτρία ξὺν γάλακτι. … Σκίρρου τοῦ ἐπὶ σπληνὶ λύσεις οὐ Ῥήϊσται.
8. But if the diseases engendered by it come on, as dropsy and cachexia, the ailment tends to an incurable condition....... the physician to cure the scirrhus; we must try then to avert it when it is coming on, and to remove it when just commencing; and attend to the inflammations, and if the scirrhus be the substitute........ are brought by suppuration..... the abscess. For these, if the inflammation..... we are to use the remedies described by me among the acute diseases. But if, while you are doing everything, the scirrhus remain in an inflammatory state, you must use also the means resembling fire to soften the hardness; lotions of vinegar, oil, and honey; but, instead of wool, use compresses of linen; add to them, in powder, nut-ben sifted; and to the most emollient cataplasms * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * THE affection of diabetes is a species of dropsy, both in cause and in condition, differing only in the place by which the humour runs.
8. ἢν δὲ καὶ ἀπότοκοι τῶνδε νοῦσοι γένωνται, ὕδρωψ ἢ καχεξίη, ὀκέλλει τὸ κακὸν ἐς ἀνήκεστον, … τὸν ἰητρὸν τὸν σκίρρον ἰῆσθαι. χρὴ ὦν ἀποτρέπειν γιγνομένους, καὶ λύειν ἄρτι ἀρχομένους· ἐνίστασθαι δὲ τῇσι φλεγμονῇσι, ἤνπερ οἱ σκίρροι διάδοχον … ἐς διαπνοὴν ἄγωνται … τὴν ἀπόστασιν. τάδε γὰρ φλεγμασίης· ἰητηρίοισι δὲ χρέεσθαι ὁκόσα μοι ἐν τῇσι ὀξείῃσι λέλεκται. ἢν δὲ πάντα σοι πρήσσοντι ἐν φλεγμασίῃ ὁ σκίρρος ἐμμένῃ καὶ πυρὶ ἰκέλοισι χρέο ἐς μάλθαξιν τῆς σκληρίας, τέγξεσι διʼ ὀξέος καὶ ἐλαίου, καὶ μέλιτος· ἀντὶ δὲ εἰρίων πτύγματα ἔστω ἀπὸ λίνου. ἐμπάσσειν ὧδε τῆς μυροβαλάνου σεσησμένης, ἐπιπλάσμασί τε τοῖσι μαλθακωτάτοισι. … ὕδρωπος ἰδέη τὸ διαβήτεω πάθος αἰτίῃ καὶ διαθέσι, χώρῃ δὲ μούνῃ διάφορον, ἔνθα τὸ ὑγρὸν ἐκρέει.