---
title: "On Medicine · De medicina"
author: "Celsus"
translator: "Walter George Spencer"
languages: [la, en]
shelf: "Classical Latin"
section: 11 of 34
url: https://scriptura.si/works/celsus-on-medicine/11/
cite: "Celsus, tr. Walter George Spencer, On Medicine · De medicina, section 11. Scriptura (scriptura.si), https://scriptura.si/works/celsus-on-medicine/11/"
---

# On Medicine · De medicina

*Celsus, tr. Walter George Spencer*

The best Roman account of medicine: diet, drugs and surgery, from the history of the art to the treatment of fractures.

> Latin: ed. Friedrich Marx, from the Perseus Digital Library (canonical-latinLit, phi0836.phi002, CC BY-SA 4.0).

> English: Walter George Spencer, from the Perseus Digital Library (phi0836.phi002.perseus-eng2). Notes are not included.

> Rows follow the references the two texts share (books, chapters and sections), cut where both reach the end of a sentence.

## 11. Book III · chapters 21–27

Source: https://scriptura.si/works/celsus-on-medicine/11/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/celsus-on-medicine/11/#p-N

[¶0] But if the affection is that named leukophlegmasia, the swollen parts should be exposed to the sun, but not too much lest feverishness ensue. If the sun is over-strong, the head is to be covered, and rubbing is to be used with hands just moistened with water to which salt and soda and a little oil is added, taking care that the hands of children or of women are employed, for theirs is a softer touch; and this ought to be done, should the patient's strength allow of it, for a whole hour before noon, or for half an hour after noon. Repressing poultices are of benefit, especially for the more delicate. Also an incision should be made our fingers' breadth above the ankle on the inner side through which humour may discharge freely for some days, and the actual swellings ought to be incised by deep cuts; the body also is to be shaken up by much rocking (II.15); then after the incisions have formed a scab, both exercises and food must be increased, until the patient is restored to his former state of health. The food should be nutritious and glutinous, mostly meat. The wine, when the stomach permits of it, should be rather sweet, but should be drunk alternately with water every two or three days. The seeds of the wolf's-milk plant, which grows to a large size on the seacoast, may be advantageously administered in a draught with water. If the patient is strong enough, he should suck a boiled squill bulb as noted above. There are many authorities who would have the swelling beaten with inflated ox-bladders.

> Latin: At si id uitium est, cui ΛΕΥΚΟΦΛΕΓΜΑΤΙΑ nomen est, eas partes, quae tument, subicere soli oportet, sed non nimium, ne febricula incidat. Si is uehementior est, caput uelandum est, utendumque frictione, madefactis tantum manibus aqua, cui sal et nitrum et olei paululum sit adiectum, sic ut aut pueriles aut muliebres manus adhibeantur, quo mollior earum tactus sit; idque, si uires patiuntur, ante meridiem tota hora, post meridiem semihora fieri oportet. Vtilia etiam sunt cataplasmata, quae reprimunt, maximeque si corpora teneriora sunt. Incidendum quoque super talum quattuor fere digitis ex parte interiore, qua per aliquot dies frequens umor feratur, atque ipsos tumores incidere altis plagis oportet; concutiendumque multa gestatione corpus est; atque ubi inductae uulneribus cicatrices sunt, adiciendum et exercitationibus et cibis, donec corpus ad pristinum statum reuertatur. Cibus ualens esse debet et glutinosus, maximeque caro. Vinum, si per stomachum licet, dulcius, sed ita ut inuicem biduo triduoue modo aqua, modo id bibatur. Prodest etiam lactucae marinae, quae grandis iuxta maria nascitur, semen cum aqua potui datum. Si ualens est qui id accipit, et scilla cocta, sicut supra dixi, delinguitur.

[¶1] But if the form of the affection is that in which much water is drawn into the belly, the patient should take walks, but with much more moderation, and have applied a dispersive poultice, covered with three folds of linen, bandaged on not too tightly; a practice begun by Tharrias, which I see many have followed. If the liver or spleen is plainly affected, a fatty fig bruised with honey should be put on over it: if the belly is not dried up by such remedies, and in spite of them the humour is in large amount, aid must be given in a quicker way, by giving issue to it through the belly itself (VII.15). I am quite aware that such a way of treatment was disapproved of by Erasistratus, for he deemed the disease to be one of the liver, that therefore it was the liver which had to be rendered sound, and that it was of no use to let out water which, if that organ is diseased, will continually be reproduced. But firstly, the disease is not primarily one of that organ alone; for it occurs when the spleen is affected, and there is a general diseased condition of the body; further, granted that it begins from the liver, the water unnaturally collected there, unless evacuated, injures both the liver and all the rest of the internal organs. And it is agreed, nevertheless, that the body generally has to be treated; for the mere evacuation of the humour does not restore health, but it affords an opportunity for medicaments which the accumulation within impedes. And indeed it is not in dispute that not everybody with this affection can be so treated, but only the young and robust, in whom fever is wholly absent, or who have sufficiently long intermissions. For those are unfitted for this treatment whose stomach is corrupted, or who have lapsed into the malady owing to black bile, or who have a diseased condition of body. But food on the day the humour is first let out is not needed unless strength fails. On the days following, both food and wine, undiluted indeed, but not overmuch in quantity, should be given; little by little the patient should be submitted to exercise, rubbing, sun-heat, sweating, a sea voyage, along with a suitable diet, until he has completely recovered. Such a case requires a bath seldom, more often an emetic on an empty stomach; in summer a swim in the sea is beneficial. For a long while after his recovery, however, the practice of venery is unsuitable.

> Latin: Auctoresque multi sunt inflatis uesicis pulsandos tumores esse. Si uero id genus morbi est, quo in uterum multa aqua contrahitur, ambulare, sed magis modice, oportet, malagma quod digerat inpositum habere, idque ipsum superimposito triplici panno fascia, non nimium tamen uehementer, adstringere; quod a Tharria profectum esse seruatum a pluribus uideo. Si iecur aut lienem adfectum esse manifestum est, ficum pinguem contusam adiecto melle superponere: si per talia auxilia uenter non siccatur, sed umor nihilo minus abundat, celeriore uia succurrere, ut is per uentrem ipsum emittatur. Neque ignoro displicuisse Erasistrato hanc curandi uiam: morbum enim hunc iocineris putauit: ita illud esse sanandum, frustraque aquam emitti, quae uitiato illo subinde nascatur. Sed primum non huius uisceris unius hoc uitium est: nam et liene adfecto et in totius corporis malo habitu fit; deinde ⟨ut inde⟩ coeperit, tamen aqua, nisi emittitur, quae contra naturam ibi substitit, et iocineri et ceteris partibus interioribus nocet. Conuenitque corpus nihilo minus esse curandum: neque enim sanat emissus umor, sed medicinae locum facit, quam intus inclusus impedit. Ac ne illud quidem in controuersiam uenit, quin non omnes in hoc morbo sic curari possint, sed iuuenes robusti, qui uel ex toto carent febre, uel certe satis liberales intermissiones habent. Nam quorum stomachus corruptus est, quiue ex atra bile in hoc deciderunt, quiue malum corporis habitum habent, idonei huic curationi non sunt. Cibus autem, quo die primum umor emissus est, superuacuus est, nisi ⟨si⟩ uires desunt. Insequentibus diebus et is et uinum meracius quidem, sed non ita multum dari debet; paulatimque euocandus aeger est ad exercitationes, frictiones, solem, sudationes, nauigationes et idoneos cibos, donec ex toto conualescat. Balneum rarum res amat, frequentiorem in ieiunio uomitum. Si aestas est, in mari natare commodum est. Vbi conualuit aliquis, diu tamen alienus ei ueneris usus est.

[¶2] 22. 22 Longer and more dangerous is the illness which follows when wasting disease attacks a patient. This also has several species. There is one in which the body is not nourished enough, and as there is some natural loss going on all the time without replacement, extreme emaciation ensues, which unless countered, kills. The Greeks call it atrophia. It proceeds commonly from two causes: for either from excessive dread the patient consumes less, or from excessive greed more, than he ought: thus either the deficiency weakens, or the superfluity undergoes decomposition. There is another species which the Greeks call cachexia, in which owing to bad habit of body all the aliments undergo decomposition. This occurs generally in those whose bodies have become vitiated by prolonged disease, and even if they have rid themselves of this, yet they do not regain health; or when the system has become affected by bad medicaments; or for a long while necessaries of life have been deficient; or unusual or unserviceable food has been consumed; or something similar has happened. In this case besides the wasting, it not unfrequently occurs that the skin surface undergoes irritation by persistent pustulation or ulceration, or else some parts of the body become swollen. The third species, which the Greeks call phthisis, is the most dangerous by far. The malady usually arises in the head, thence it drips into the lung; there ulceration supervenes, from this a slight feverishness is produced, which even after it has become quiescent nevertheless returns; there is frequent cough, pus is expectorated, sometimes blood-stained. When the sputum is thrown upon a fire, there is a bad odour, hence those who are in doubt as to the disease employ this as a test.

> Latin: 22. Diutius saepe et periculosius tabes eos male habet, quos inuasit. Atque huius quoque plures species sunt. Vna est, qua corpus non alitur, et naturaliter semper aliquis decedentibus, nullis uero in eorum locum subeuntibus, summa macies oritur, et nisi occurritur, tollit: ΑΤΡΟΦΙΑΝ Graeci uocant. Ea duabus fere de causis incidere consueuit: aut enim nimio timore aliquis minus, aut auiditate nimia plus quam debet adsumit: ita quod uel deest infirmat, uel quod superat corrumpitur. Altera species est quam Graeci †ΚΑΚΕΞΙΑΝ appellant, ubi malus corporis habitus est, ideoque omnia alimenta corrumpuntur. Quod fere fit, quom longo morbo uitiata corpora, etiamsi illo uacant, refectionem tamen non accipiunt; aut cum malis medicamentis corpus adfectum est; aut cum diu necessaria defuerunt; aut cum inusitatos aut inutiles cibos aliquis adsumpsit, aliquidue simile incidit. Hic praeter tabem illud quoque nonnumquam accidere solet, ut per adsiduas pusulas aut ulcera summa cutis exasperetur, uel aliquae corporis partes intumescant. Tertia est longeque periculosissima species, quam Graeci ⟨pthisin⟩ nominarunt. Oritur fere a capite, inde in pulmonem destillat; huic exulceratio accedit; ex hac febricula leuis fit, quae etiam cum quieuit, tamen repetit; frequens tussis est, pus excreatur, interdum cruentum aliquid. Quicquid excreatum est, si in ignem impositum est, mali odoris est. Itaque qui de morbo dubitant, hac nota utuntur.

[¶3] As these are the species of wasting, the first consideration should be, which the patient is suffering from: next, if it is only that the body is not being sufficiently nourished, we must look to the cause of this, and if the patient has been consuming less food than he ought, addition is to be made, but only a little at a time, lest if the system becomes overloaded suddenly by an unaccustomed quantity, it may hinder digestion. On the other hand, if the patient has been consuming more than he ought, he should first fast for a day, then begin with a scanty amount of food, increasing daily until he reaches the proper amount. Further, he should walk in places as little cold as possible, whilst avoiding the sun; he should also use the hand exercises; if he is weaker, he should be rocked, anointed and then rubbed, doing as much as possible of this himself, several times each day, before and after meals, until he sweats — sometimes adding heating agents to the oil. It is advantageous on an empty stomach to pinch up and pull on the skin in a number of places, in order to relax it, or to do the same by applying a pitch plaster and at once pulling it off. The bath also is sometimes beneficial, but only after a scanty meal. And whilst actually in the solium, some food may properly be taken, also immediately after a rubbing, when applied without the bath. The food too should be of the kinds easily digested, which are most nutritious. Hence also the use of wine is necessary, but it should be dry; urination is to be stimulated.

> Latin: Cum haec genera tabis sint, animaduertere primum oportet, quid sit, qui laboretur; deinde, si tantum non ali corpus apparet, causam eius attendere, et si cibi minus aliquis quam debet adsumpsit, adicere, sed paulatim, ne, si corpus insuetum subita multitudine onerauerit, concoctionem impediat. Si uero plus iusto qui adsumere solitus est, abstinere uno die, deinde ab exiguo cibo incipere, cotidie adicere, donec ad iustum modum perueniat. Praeter haec conuenit ambulare locis quam minime frigidis, sole uitato; per manus quoque exerceri: si infirmior est, gestari, ungui, perfricari, si potest, maxime per se ipsum, saepius eodem die, et ante cibum et post eum, sic ut interdum oleo quaedam adiciantur calfacientia, donec insudet. Prodestque in ieiuno prendere per multas partes cutem et adtrahere, ut relaxetur; aut inposita resina et abducta subinde idem facere. Vtile est etiam interdum balneum, sed post cibum exiguum. Atque in ipso solio recte cibi aliquid adsumitur, aut si sine hoc frictio fuit, post eam protinus. Cibi uero esse debent ex iis, quae facile concoquantur: qui maxime alunt. Ergo uini quoque, sed austeri, necessarius usus est; mouenda urina.

[¶4] But if there is a bad habit of body, the patient should abstain at first, next have the bowels moved by a clyster, then take food a little at a time, with exercise, anointing and rubbing. A frequent bath is useful for these cases, but on an empty stomach, prolonged till there is sweating. Abundant and varied and succulent food is necessary, such as will less readily decompose, and dry wine. If there is no relief from anything else, blood should be let, but only a little each day for several days; with this proviso, that the other remedies also should be employed as described.

> Latin: At si malus corporis habitus est, primum abstinendum est, deinde aluus ducenda, tum paulatim cibi dandi, adiectis exercitationibus, ⟨unctionibus, frictionibus⟩. Vtilius his frequens balineum est, sed ieiunis, ⟨etiam⟩ usque sudorem. Cibis uero opus est copiosis, uariis, boni suci, quique etiam [si] minus facile corrumpantur, uino austero. Si nihil reliqua proficiunt, sanguis mittendus est, sed paulatim cotidieque pluribus diebus, cum eo ut cetera quoque eodem modo seruentur.

[¶5] But if there is more serious illness and a true phthisis, it is necessary to counter it forthwith at the very commencement; for when of long standing it is not readily overcome. If the strength allows of it a long sea voyage is requisite with a change of air, of such a kind that a denser climate should be sought than that which the patient quits; hence the most suitable is the voyage to Alexandria from Italy. And the body ought generally to be able to bear this in the early stages, since this disease arises especially during the most stable part of life, namely between eighteen and thirty-five years of age. If the patient's weak state does not allow of the above, the best thing for him is to be rocked in a ship without going far away. If anything prevents a sea voyage, the body is to be rocked in a litter, or in some other way. Further, the patient should keep away from business, and everything disturbing to his spirit; he should indulge in sleep; he is to be warned against catarrh, lest that should make worse what the treatment is relieving; indigestion should be avoided, also the sun and cold; the mouth should be covered, the neck wrapped up, any cough put a stop to by its appropriate remedies; and whenever there is an intercurrent fever, it is countered, sometimes by abstinence, sometimes by timely meals, at which water is to be drunk. Milk also, which in headaches, in acute fevers and for the excessive thirst they occasion, also when the chest swells, or there is bilious urine, or a flux of blood, is as bad as a poison, can nevertheless be given appropriately in phthisis, as also in all prolonged feverishness. But if there has either been no intercurrent fever yet, or if it has already remitted, recourse should be had to moderate exercise, walking in particular, also to gentle rubbing. The bath is unsuitable. The food should at first be acrid, such as garlic and leeks, also this latter or endive, basil or lettuce after soaking in vinegar; later the food should be bland, such as a gruel made with pearl barley, or spelt flour, or starch to which milk is added. Rice also, and if there is nothing else, parched groats of spelt answer. Subsequently use is to be made of the above foods in turn, with some additions from food of the middle class, especially grilled brains, small fish and such like. Flour mixed with mutton- or goat-fat and then boiled serves for a medicament. The wine taken ought to be light and dry. So far there is no great difficulty in countering the disease. But if it is more severe, and the body is evidently wasting, stronger remedies are required. Ulceration is to be set up by cautery, at one spot under the chin, at another on the neck, two upon each breast, and the same below the shoulder-blades which the Greeks call omoplatae. The ulcerations are not to be allowed to heal until the cough has stopped, and for this there must clearly be a special treatment also. Then three or four times a day the extremities should be rubbed vigorously, the chest being merely stroked with the hands; an hour after food both legs and arms are to be rubbed. At intervals of ten days the patient should be immersed in the solium contain in oil with the hot water. On other days he should drink first water, then wine; if there is no cough, the drink should be cold, if there is cough lukewarm. It is also of advantage to give food every day during the remission; rubbing and rocking should be employed likewise. On the fourth or fifth day he should take the above mentioned acrid food, now and then polygonum or plantain juice in vinegar. A further remedy is either plantain juice by itself, or horehound juice cooked with honey; of the former a cupful may be sipped, of the latter a spoonful, a little at a time, put upon the tongue, or one half part of turpentine resin, and another part of butter and honey may be mixed together and cooked. But of all these measures the principal ones are the diet, rocking in a litter or on a ship, and the gruel. Loose motions must be especially obviated. Frequent vomiting in this affection is a sign of danger, especially when blood is vomited. A patient who is beginning to improve a little should resume exercises, rubbing, and increase of food, next rub himself while holding his breath, but for a long while abstain from wine, the bath and venery.

> Latin: Quod si mali plus est et uera pt⟨h⟩isis est, inter initia protinus occurrere necessarium est: neque enim facile is morbus, cum inueterauit, euincitur. Opus est, si uires patiuntur, longa nauigatione, caeli mutatione, sic ut densius quam id est, ex quo discedit aeger, petatur: ideoque aptissime Alexandriam ex Italia itur. Fereque id posse inter principia corpus pati debet, cum hic morbus aetate firmissima maxime oriatur, id est ab anno XIIX ad annum XXXV. Si id inbecillitas non sinit, naue tamen non longe gestari commodissimum est. Si nauigationem aliqua res prohibet, lectica uel alio modo corpus mouendum est; tum a negotiis abstinendum est omnibusque rebus, quae sollicitare animum possunt; somno indulgendum; cauendae destillationes, ne, si quid cura leuarit, exasperent; et deuitanda cruditas, simulque et sol et frigus; os obtegendum; fauces uelandae; tussicula suis remediis finienda; et quamdiu quidem febricula incursat, huic interdum abstinentia, interdum etiam tempestiuis cibis medendum; eoque tempore bibenda aqua. Lac quoque, quod in capitis doloribus et in acutis febribus et per eas facta nimia siti, ac, siue praecordia tument, siue biliosa urina est, siue sanguis fluxit, pro ueneno est, in pt⟨h⟩isi tamen, sicut in omnibus longis difficilibusque febriculis recte dari potest. Quod si febris aut nondum incursat, aut iam remisit, decurrendum est ad modicas exercitationes, maximeque ambulationes, item lenes frictiones. Balineum alienum est. Cibus esse debet primo acer, ut alium, porrum, idque ipsum ex aceto, uel ex eodem intubus, ocimum, lactuca, dein lenis, ut sorbitio ex tisana uel ex halica uel ex amulo, lacte adiecto. Idem oriza quoque et, si nihil aliud est, far praestat. Tum in uicem modo his cibis, modo illis utendum est; adiciendaque quaedam ex media materia, praecipueque uel ex pruna cerebellum uel pisciculus et his similia. Farina etiam cum sebo ouillo caprinoue mixta, deinde incocta pro medicamento est. Vinum adsumi debet leue, austerum. Hactenus non magna mole pugnatur. Si uehementior noxa est, ac neque febricula neque tussis quiescit, tenuarique corpus apparet, ualidioribus auxiliis opus est. Exulcerandum est ferro candenti, uno loco sub mento, altero in gutture, duobus ad mammam utramque, item sub imis ossibus scapularum, quas ΩΜΟΠΛΑΤΑΣ Graeci uocant, sic, ne sanescere ulcera sinas nisi tussi finita; cui per se quoque medendum esse manifestum est. Tum ter quaterue die uehementer extremae partes perfricandae; thorax leui manu pertractandus; post cibum intermittenda hora, et perfricanda crura brachiaque. Interpositis denis diebus demittendus aeger in solium, in quo sit aqua calida et oleum. Ceteris diebus bibenda aqua; tum uinum; si tussis non est, potui frigidum dandum; si est, egelidum. Vtile est etiam cibos in remissionibus cotidie dari, frictiones gestationesque similiter adhibere, eadem acri⟨a⟩ quarto aut quinto die adsumere, interdum herbam sanguinalem ex aceto uel plantaginem esse. Medicamentum etiam est uel plantaginis sucus per se, uel marrubii cum melle incoctus, ita ut illius cyathus sorbi⟨l⟩o sumatur huius cocleare plenum paulatim delingatur, uel inter se mixta et incocta resinae terebenthinae pars dimidia, buturi et mellis pars altera. Praecipua tamen ex his omnibus sunt uictus, uehiculum et nauis, et sorbitio. Aluus cita utique uitanda est. Vomitus in hoc morbo frequens perniciosus est, maximeque sanguinis. Qui meliusculus esse coepit, adicere debet exercitationes, frictiones, cibos, deinde ipse se suppresso spiritu perfricare, diu abstinere a uino, balneo, uenere.

[¶6] 23. 23 That malady which is called comitialis, or the greater, is one of the best known. The man suddenly falls down and foam issues out of his mouth; after an interval he returns to himself, and actually gets up by himself. This kind affects men oftener than women. And usually it persists even until the day of death without danger to life; nevertheless occasionally, whilst still recent, it is fatal to the man. And often if remedies have been ineffectual, in boys the commencement of puberty, in girls of menstruation, has removed it. Now sometimes there is a spasm of the sinews when the man falls down, sometimes there is none. Some try to rouse the patients as is done in the case of those affected by lethargy; which is quite useless, both because not even the lethargic patient is cured by this method, and because, though it may be impossible to waken him and he may thus die of starvation, the epileptic, on the other hand, returns to himself. If a man falls in a fit without the addition of spasms, certainly he should not be bled; if there are spasms, at any rate he should not be bled unless there are other indications for the bleeding. But it is necessary to move the bowels by a clyster, or by a purge of black hellebore, or by both if the strength allows of it. Next the head should be shaved and oil and vinegar poured over it, the patient should be given food on the third day, as soon as the hour has passed at which he had a fit. But neither gruels, nor other soft and easily digested food, nor meat, least of all pork, are suitable for such patients, but food materials of the middle class: for there is need to give strength and indigestion is to be avoided; in addition he should avoid sunshine, the bath, a fire, all heating agents; also cold, wine, venery, overlooking a precipice, and everything terrifying, vomiting, fatigue, anxiety, and all business. When food has been given upon the third day, it should be omitted on the fourth, and then on alternate days, observing the same hour for the meal, until fourteen days have elapsed. When the malady lasts beyond this period, it loses its acute character, and if it persists, it is now to be treated as chronic. But if the practitioner has not been in attendance from the day of the first fit, but a patient who is liable to fits has been handed over to of him, the class of diet given above should straightway be adhered to, and the day awaited upon which the patient may have a fit; than there is to be used either blood-letting, or clystering, or purgation by black hellebore, as prescribed above. Next on the following days the patient is to be supported by those foods I have mentioned, avoiding everything which I have said must be avoided. If the malady has not been brought to an end by these measures recourse should be had to white hellebore, administering it three or four times, without many days between, never, however, repeating it unless he has had a fit. Moreover, on intermediate days his strength must be supported by additions to what has been prescribed above. On awakening in the morning, his body should be lightly rubbed with old oil, including the head, but excluding the stomach; he should then walk as straight and as far as he can; after the walk he should be rubbed vigorously for a long while in a warm place, and with not less than two hundred hand-strokings, unless he is weak (II.14); next plenty of cold water should be poured over his head; he should take a little food; rest; again before night take a walk; and once more be vigorously rubbed, yet without touching either his stomach or his head; after this he may have dinner, and at intervals of three or four days he should eat for a day or two acrid foods. If not freed by these measures, his head should be shaved; anointed with old oil, to which vinegar and nitre have been added; have salt water poured over it; next upon an empty stomach he should take castoreum in water; no water should be used for drinking unless it has been boiled. Some have freed themselves from such a disease by drinking the hot blood from the cut throat of a gladiator: a miserable aid made tolerable by a malady still most miserable. But as to what is really the concern of the practitioner, the last resources are: to let a left blood from both legs near the ankle, to incise the back of the scalp and apply cups, to burn in two places with a cautery, at the back of the scalp and just below where the highest vertebra joins the head, in order that pernicious humour may exude through the burns. If the disease has not been brought to an end by the foregoing measures, it is probable that it will be lifelong. To mitigate it to some extent all you can do is to use exercise, plenty of rubbing, and the food which has been mentioned above, particularly avoiding what we have declared to be harmful.

> Latin: 23. Inter notissimos morbos est etiam is, qui comitialis uel maior nominatur. Homo subito concidit, ex ore spumae mouentur, deinde interposito tempore ad se redit, et per se ipse consurgit. Id genus saepius uiros quam feminas occupat. Ac solet quidem etiam longum esse usque mortis diem et uitae non periculosum: interdum tamen cum recens est, hominem consumit. Et saepe eum, si remedia non sustulerunt, in pueris ueneris, in puellis menstruorum initium tollit. Modo cum distentione autem neruorum prolabitur aliquis, modo sine illa. Quidam hos quoque isdem quibus lethargicos excitare conantur; quod admodum superuacuum est, et quia ne letharg⟨ic⟩us quidem his sanatur, et quia, cum possit ille numquam expergisci atque ita fame interire, hic ad se utique reuertitur. Vbi concidit aliquis, si nulla neruorum distentio accessit, utique sanguis mitti non debet: si accessit, non utique mittendus est, nisi alia quoque hortantur. Necessarium autem est ducere aluum, uel nigro ueratro purgare, uel utrumque facere, si uires patiuntur; tunc caput tondere oleoque et aceto perunguere; cibum post diem tertium, simul transit hora, qua concidit, dare. Neque sorbitiones autem his aliique molles et faciles cibi neque caro, minimeque suilla, conuenit, sed media materia: nam et uiribus opus est et cruditates cauendae sunt; cum quibus fugere oportet solem, balneum, ignem omniaque calfacientia; item frigus, uinum, uenerem, loci praecipitis conspectum omniumque terrentium, uomitum, lassitudines, sollicitudines, negotia omnia. Vbi tertio die cibus datus est, intermittere quartum et inuicem alterum quemque, eadem hora cibi seruata, donec quattuordecim dies transeant. Quos ubi morbus excessit, acuti uim deposuit; a⟨t⟩ si manet, curandus iam ut longus est. Quod si non, quo die primum incidit, medicus accessit, sed is, qui cadere consueuit, ei traditus est, protinus eo genere uictus ⟨adhi⟩bito, qui supra conprehensus est, expectandus est dies, quo prolabatur; utendumque tum uel sanguinis missione uel ductione alui uel nigro ueratro, sicut praeceptum est. Insequentibus deinde diebus per eos cibos, quos proposui, uitatis omnibus, quae cauenda dixi, nutriendus. Si per haec morbus finitus non fuerit, confugiendum erit ad album ueratrum, ac ter quoque aut quater eo utendum non ita multis interpositis diebus, sic tamen ne iterum umquam sumat, nisi conciderit. Mediis autem diebus uires eius erunt nutriendae, quibusdam praeter ea, quae supra scripta sunt, adiectis. Vbi mane experrectus est, corpus eius leuiter ex oleo ⟨uetere⟩, cum capite, excepto uentre, permulceatur; tum ambulatione quam maxime recta et longa utatur; post ambulationem loco tepido uehementer et diu, ac non minus ducenties, nisi infirmus erit, perfricetur; deinde per caput multa aqua frigida perfundatur; paulum cibi adsumat; conquiescat; rursus ante noctem ambulatione utatur; iterum uehementer perfricetur, sic ut neque uenter neque caput contingatur; post haec cenet, interpositisque tribus aut quattuor diebus uno aut altero acria adsumat. Si ne per haec quidem fuerit liberatus, caput radat; unguatur oleo ueteri, adiecto aceto et nitro; perfundatur aqua salsa; bibat ieiunus ex aqua castoreum; nulla aqua nisi decocta potionis causa utatur. Quidam iugulati gladiatoris calido sanguine epoto tali morbo se liberarunt; apud quos miserum auxilium tolerabile miserius malum fecit. Quod ad medicum uero pertinet, ultimum est iuxta talum ex utroque crure paulum sanguinis mittere, occipitium incidere et cucurbitulas admouere, ferro candenti in occipitio quoque et infra, qua summa uertebra cum capite committitur, adurere duobus locis, ut per ea perniciosus umor euadat. Quibus si finitum malum non fuerit, prope est, ut perpetuum sit. Ad leuandum id tantummodo utendum erit exercitatione, multa frictione, cibisque, qui supra conprehensi sunt, praecipueque uitanda omnia, quae ne fierent excepimus.

[¶7] 24. 24 Equally well-known is the disease which they name sometimes the rainbow-hued, sometimes the royal. Of this Hippocrates said that if it comes on after the patient has been suffering from fever for seven days, the patient is safe, provided that the parts under the ribs remain soft. Diocles stated positively that if it arise after a fever, it is even favourable, but deadly if fever follows it. The colour reveals this malady, particularly of the eyes; they become yellow in the parts which should be white. And it is usually accompanied by thirst and headache and frequent hiccough and induration under the ribs on the right side, and when a sharp movement of the body is made there is difficulty in breathing and laxness of the limbs; and when the disease persists for a long while, the whole body whitens with a sort of pallor. On the first day the patient should fast, on the second day have the bowels moved by a clyster, then if there is fever, it is dispersed by appropriate diet; if not, scammony is given in a draught, or white beet pounded up in water, or bitter almonds, wormwood, and a very little aniseed in hydromel. Asclepiades used also to make the patient drink salted water, even for a couple of days, in order to purge, and rejected diuretics. Some, omitting the remedies given above, say they gain the same end through diuretics and those foods which cause thinness. For myself, if there is sufficient strength, I prefer the stronger remedies, the milder if there is but little. After purgation, for the first three days a moderate amount of food of the middle-class should be taken with salted Greek wine to drink, in order to keep the bowels loose; then on the ensuing three days, food of the stronger class with some meat, keeping to water for drink; next there is a return to the middle class of food, but in such a way that he may be more satisfied therewith, and for drink an undiluted dry wine in place of the Greek; and this diet is varied so that sometimes acrid foods are put in, sometimes the salted wine is again given. But throughout the whole time use is to be made of exercise, of rubbing, in winter of the bath, in summer of swimming in cold water, the patient should enjoy a specially good bed and room, also dicing, jesting, play-acting and jollification, whereby the mind may be exhilarated; on account of this treatment the disease seems to have been termed royal. In addition a dispersive poultice, applied under the ribs, is beneficial, or if the liver or spleen has become affected a dried fig is put on.

> Latin: 24. Aeque notus est morbus, quem interdum arquatum, interdum regium nominant. Quem Hippocrates ait, si post septimum diem febricitante aegro superuenit, tutum esse, mollibus tantummodo praecordiis substantibus: Diocles ex toto, si post febrem oritur, etiam prodesse; si post hunc febris, occidere. Color autem eum morbum detegit, maxime oculorum, in quibus quod album esse debet, fit luteum. Soletque accedere et sitis et dolor capitis et frequens singultus et praecordiorum dextra parte durities et, ubi corporis uehemens motus est, spirit⟨us difficult⟩as membrorumque resolutio; atque ubi diutius manet morbus, totum corpus cum pallore quodam inalbescit. Primo die abstinere aegrum oportet, secundo ducere aluum, tum, si febris est, eam uictus genere discutere; si non est, scamoniam potui dare, uel cum aqua betam albam contritam, uel cum aqua mulsa nuces amaras, absinthium, anesum, sic ut pars huius minima sit. Asclepiades aquam quoque salsam, et quidem per biduum, purgationis causa bibere cogebat, iis quae urinam mouent reiectis. Quidam superioribus omissis per haec et per eos cibos, qui extenuant, idem se consequi dicunt. Ego ubique, si satis uirium est, ualidiora; si parum, inbecilliora auxilia praefero. Si purgatio fit, post eam triduo primo modice cibum oportet adsumere ex media materia, et uinum bibere Graecum salsum, ut resolutio uentris maneat; tum altero triduo ualidiores cibos, et carnis quoque aliquid esse, intra aquam manere; deinde ad superius genus uictus reuerti, cum eo ut magis satietur; omisso Graeco uino bibere integrum austerum; atque ita per haec variare, ut interdum ⟨acres quoque cibos interponat, interdum⟩ ad salsum uinum redeat. Per omne uero tempus utendum est exercitatione, fricatione, si hiemps est, balneo; si aestas, frigidis natationibus; lecto etiam et conclaui cultiore, lusu, i⟨o⟩co, ludis, lasciuia, per quae mens exhilaretur; ob quae regius morbus dictus uidetur. Malagma quoque, quod digerat, super praecordia datum, prodest, uel arida ibi ficus superimposita, si iecur aut lienis est adfectus.

[¶8] 25. 25 The disease which the Greeks call elephantiasis, whilst almost unknown in Italy, is of very frequent occurrence in certain regions; it is counted among chronic affections; in this the whole body becomes so affected that even the bones are said to become diseased. The surface of the body presents a multiplicity of spots and of swellings, which, at first red, are gradually changed to be black in colour. The skin is thickened and thinned in an irregular way, hardened and softened, roughened in some places with a kind of scales; the trunk wastes, the face, calves and feet swell. When the disease is of long standing, the fingers and toes are sunk under the swelling: feverishness supervenes, which may easily destroy a patient overwhelmed by such troubles. At once, therefore, at the commencement, he should be bled for two days, or the bowels loosened by black hellebore, then a scanty diet is to be adopted as far as can be borne; after that the strength should be a little reinforced and the bowels clystered; subsequently, when the system has been relieved, exercise and especially running is to be used. Sweating should be induced primarily by the patient's own exertion, afterwards also by dry sweatings, rubbing is to be employed with moderation so that strength is preserved. The bath should be seldom used; neither fatty nor glutinous nor flatulent food; wine is properly given except on the first days. Plantain crushed and smeared on seems to protect the body best.

> Latin: 25. Ignotus autem paene in Italia, frequentissimus in quibusdam regionibus is morbus est, quem ΕΛΕΦΑΝΤΙΑΣΙΝ Graeci uocant; isque longis adnumeratur: quo totum corpus adficitur, ita ut ossa quoque uitiari dicantur. Summa pars corporis crebras maculas crebrosque tumores habet; rubor harum paulatim in atrum colorem conuertitur. Summa cutis inaequaliter crassa, tenuis, dura mollisque, quasi squamis quibusdam exasperatur; corpus emacrescit; os, surae, pedes intumescunt. Vbi uetus morbus e⟨s⟩t, digiti in manibus pedibusque sub tumore conduntur; febricula oritur, quae facile tot malis obrutum hominem consumit.—Protinus ergo inter initia sanguis per biduum mitti debet, aut nigro ueratro uenter solui. Adhibenda tum, quanta sustineri potest, inedia; paulum deinde uires reficiendae et ducenda aluus; post haec ubi corpus leuatum est, utendum exercitatione praecipueque cursu; sudor primum labore ipsius corporis, deinde etiam siccis sudationibus euocandus; frictio adhibenda, moderandumque inter haec, ut uires conseruentur. Balneum rarum esse debet; cibus sine pinguibus, sine glutinosis, sine inflantibus; uinum praeterquam primis diebus recte datur. Corpus contrita plantago et inlita optime tueri uidetur.

[¶9] 26. 26 We also see occasionally some who have been stunned, in whom the body and the mind are stupefied. This is produced sometimes by lightning stroke, sometimes by disease; the Greeks call this latter apoplexia. In these cases, blood is to be let, and either white hellebore (II.13.2) or a clyster administered; then rubbings are applied, and food of the middle class given, and that the least fatty; also some which is acrid; there is to be abstinence from wine.

> Latin: 26. Attonitos quoque raro uidemus, quorum et corpus et mens stupet. Fit interdum ictu fulminis, interdum morbo: ΑΠΟΠΛΗΞΙΑΝ hunc Graeci appellant.—His sanguis mittendus est; ueratro quoque albo, uel alui ductione utendum; tunc adhibendae frictiones, et ex media materia minime pingues cibi, quidam etiam acres: a uino abstinendum.

[¶10] 27. 27 Relaxing of the sinews, on the other hand, is a frequent disease everywhere. It attacks at times the whole body, at times part of it. Ancient writers named the former apoplexy, the latter paralysis: I see that now both are called paralysis. Those who are gravely paralyzed in all their limbs are as a rule quickly carried off, but if not so carried off, some may live a long while, yet rarely however regain health. Mostly they drag out a miserable existence, their memory lost also. The disease, when partial only, is never acute, often prolonged, generally remediable. If all the limbs are gravely paralyzed withdrawal of blood either kills or cures. Any other kind of treatment scarcely ever restores health, it often merely postpones death, and meanwhile makes life a burden. If after blood-letting, neither movement nor the mind is recovered, there is no hope left; if they do return, health also is in prospect. But when a particular part is paralyzed, in accordance with the force of the disease, and the strength of the body, either blood is to be let, or the bowel clystered. The rest that has to be done is the same in both conditions: in particular cold should be avoided; and the patient should return to exercise a little at a time, in such a way that he should begin to walk at once, if he can. If the weakness of the legs prevent this, he should be carried about in a litter or rocked in his bed, then, if possible, his defective limb should be moved by himself, failing that by someone else, and by a form of compulsion, it should be restored to is customary state. It is also beneficial to stimulate the skin of the torpid limb, either by whipping with nettles, or by applying mustard plasters, these latter being removed as soon as the skin becomes red. Appropriate applications also are crushed squills, and onions pounded up with frankincense. Nor is it amiss to pluck on the skin for some time by the aid of a pitch plaster every third day (III.22.6) and sometimes to apply dry cups in several places. Again for anointing, old olive oil is most suitable, or soda mixed with oil and vinegar. Further, it is also highly necessary to foment with warm sea water, or failing that with salt and water. And if there are at hand swimming baths, whether natural or artificial, they should be used as much as possible; especially the defective limb should be moved in them; if there are none such the ordinary bath is of service. The food should be of the middle class, particularly game, the drink hot water without wine. If, however, the disease is of long standing, every fourth or fifth day Greek salted wine may be given, in order to purge. An emetic after supper is of use. At times also there occurs pain in the sinews. In that case it is not expedient to excite vomiting nor urination as some prescribe, nor indeed sweating other than through exercise; water should be drunk; twice a day in bed the body should be rubbed gently and for some time, and then whilst holding the breath, the limbs, preferably the upper, are to be moved in the course of exercise. The bath should be seldom used; from time to time there should be a change of air by travel. If there is pain, the part should be wetted with water containing soda, but not oil, then wrapped up, and under it should be placed a brazier containing some glowing charcoal with sulphur, so that it may be fumigated for a while; this should be repeated from time to time, but only on an empty stomach and after digestion is completed. Cups also may be applied at frequent intervals to the painful part, and this place lightly beaten with inflated ox bladders. It is also of service to mix fat with pounded henbane and nettle seeds, equal parts of each, and put this on, also to foment with a decoction of sulphur. Further, it is a good plan to apply leather bottles filled with hot water, or bitumen mixed with barley meal. And for the actual pain the best remedy is forceful rocking; which in other kinds of pain is the worst. Tremor of sinews again is like with made worse by an emetic, and by medicaments causing urination. Inimical also are baths and dry sweatings. Water is to be drunk; the patient should there are a smart walk and be anointed and rubbed as well, especially by himself; the upper limbs are to be exercised by ball games and the like; he may think what food he likes provided that he studies his digestion. He should avoid worry after meals; make the rarest use of venery. If at any time he has given way to it, then he ought to be rubbed, with oil, gently and for some time, whilst in bed, by the hands of boys rather than men. Now suppurations which arise in some interior part, when they become noticeable, first should be acted upon by those poultices which repress, less there is produced a harmful collection of the material of disease; next if these remedies are unsuccessful, the suppurations may be dissipated by dispersive poultices. If we are not successful in that, it follows that the suppuration should be drawn outwards, next that it should mature. The ending of every abscess is to rupture; the indication is pus discharged either from the bowels or mouth. But nothing ought to be done to diminish the discharge of the pus. Broth and hot water are chiefly to be given. When pus ceases to be discharged, then there should be a transition to digestible yet nutritious food consumed cold, also cold water for drink, commencing, however, with lukewarm. To begin with, things such as pine kernels, or almonds, or hazel nuts, may be eaten along with honey; afterwards these make way for whatever can make the scar form earlier. At this stage as a medicament for the ulceration there is to be taken either leek or horehound juice, and whatever the food, leeks should be added. Rubbing is required also for parts unaffected, so also gentle walks; to be avoided are wrestling and running and other things tending to irritate healing ulcerations, for in this malady the vomiting of blood is most pernicious and to be guarded against in every way.

> Latin: 27. At resolutio neruorum frequens ubique morbus est: interdum ⟨tota corpora, interdum⟩ partes infestat. Veteres auctores illud ΑΠΟΠΛΗΞΙΑΝ, hoc ΠΑΡΑΛΥΣΙΝ nominarunt: nunc utrumque ΠΑΡΑΛΥΣΙΝ appellari uideo. Solent autem qui per omnia membra ⟨uehementer⟩ resoluti sunt, celeriter rapi; ac si correpti non sunt, diutius quidem uiuunt, sed raro tamen ad sanitatem perueniunt; plerumque miserum spiritum trahunt, memoria quoque amissa. In partibus uero numquam acutus, saepe longus, fere sanabilis morbus e⟨s⟩t. Si omnia membra uehementer resoluta sunt, sanguinis detractio uel occidit uel liberat. Aliud curationis genus uix umquam sanitatem restituit, saepe mortem tantum differt, uitam interim infestat. Post sanguinis missionem si non redit et motus et mens, nihil spei superest; si redit, sanitas quoque prospicitur. At ubi pars resoluta est, pro ui et mali et corporis uel sanguis mittendus uel aluus ducenda est. Cetera eadem in utroque casu facienda sunt, siquidem uitare praecipue conuenit frigus; paulatimque ad exercitationes reuertendum est, sic ut ingrediatur ipse protinus, si potest. Si id crurum inbecillitas prohibet, uel gestetur, uel motu lecti concutiatur; tum id membrum, quod defici⟨t⟩, si potest, per se, si minus, per alium moueatur, et ui quadam ad consuetudinem suam redeat. Prodest etiam torpentibus membris summam cutem exasperare uel urticis caesam uel inposito sinapi, sic ut, ubi rubere coeperit corpus, haec remouea⟨n⟩tur. Scilla quoque contrita bulbique contriti cum ture recte inponuntur. Neque alienum est resina cutem tertio quoque die diutius uellere; pluribus etiam locis aliquando sine ferro cucurbitulas admouere. Vnctioni uero aptissimum est uetus oleum uel nitrum aceto et oleo mixtum. Quin etiam fouere aqua calida marina, uel si ea non est, tamen salsa magnopere necessarium est. Ac si quo loco uel naturales uel etiam manu factae tales natationes sunt, is potissimum utendum est; praecipueque in is agitanda membra, quae maxime deficiunt; si id non est, balneum tamen prodest. Cibus esse debet ex materia media, maximeque ex uenatione: potio sine uino aquae calidae. Si tamen uetus morbus est, interponi quarto uel quinto die purgationis causa uinum Graecum salsum potest. Post cenam utilis uomitus est. Interdum uero etiam neruorum dolor oriri solet. In hoc casu non uomere, non urinam medicamentis mouere, non sine exercitatione sudorem, ut quidam praecipiunt, expedit: bibenda aqua est, bis die in lectulo leniter satis diu corpus perfricandum est, deinde retento spiritu ab ipsa exercitatione potius superiores partes mouendae; balneo raro utendum; mutandum subinde peregrinationibus caelum. Si dolor est, ea ipsa pars sine oleo nitro ex aqua perunguenda ⟨est, deinde inuoluenda,⟩ et subicienda pruna lenis et sulpur, atque ita diu subfumigandum; idque aliquandiu faciendum, sed ieiuno, cum bene iam concoxerit. Cucurbitulae quoque saepe dolenti parti admouendae sunt, pulsandusque leuiter inflatis uesicis bubulis ⟨is⟩ locus est. Vtile est etiam sebum miscere cum hyoscyami et urticae contritis seminibus, sic ut omnium par modus sit, idque inponere; fouere aqua, in qua sulpur decoctum sit. Vtriculi quoque recte inponuntur aqua calida repleti, aut bitumen cum hordeacia farina †iactum. Atque in ipso potissimum dolore utendum gestatione uehementi est; quod in aliis doloribus pessimum est. Tremor autem neruorum aeque uomitu medicamentisque urinam mouentibus intenditur. Inimica etiam habet balinea assasque sudationes. Bibenda aqua est; acri ambulatione utendum, itemque unctionibus frictionibusque, maxime per se ipsum; pila similibusque superiores partes dimouendae; cibo quolibet utendum, dum concoctioni utique studeatur. Secundum cibum curis abstinendum; rarissima uenere utendum est. Si quando quis in eam prolapsus est, tum oleo leuiter diuque in lectulo perfricari manibus puerilibus quam uirilibus debet. Suppurationes autem, quae in aliqua interiore parte oriuntur, ubi notae fuerint, primum id agere oportet per ea cataplasmata, quae reprimunt, ne coitus inutilis materiae fiat; deinde, si haec uicta sunt, per ea malagmata, quae digerunt, dissipentur. Quod si consecuti non sumus, sequitur ut euocetur, deinde, ut maturescat. Omnis tum uomicae finis est, ut rumpatur; indiciumque est pus uel aluo uel ore redditum. Sed nihil facere oportet, quo minus, quicquid est puris, excedat. Vtendum maxime sorbitione est, et aqua calida. Vbi pus ferri desiit, transeundum ad faciles quidem sed tamen ualidiores et frigidos cibos frigidamque aquam, sic ut ab egelidis tamen initium fiat. Primoque cum melle quaedam edenda, ut nuclei pinei uel Graecae nuces uel Abellanae; postea summouendum id ipsum, quo maturius induci cicatrix possit. Medicamentum eo tempore ulceri est sucus adsumptus uel porri uel marrubii, et omni cibo porrum ipsum adiectum. Oportebit autem ut⟨i⟩ in is partibus, quae non adficientur, frictionibus, item ambulationibus lenibus; uitandumque erit, ne uel luctando uel currendo uel alia ratione sanescentia ulcera exasperentur: in hoc enim morbo perniciosus ideoque omni modo cauendus sanguinis uomitus est.