---
title: "On Medicine · De medicina"
author: "Celsus"
translator: "Walter George Spencer"
languages: [la, en]
shelf: "Classical Latin"
section: 30 of 34
url: https://scriptura.si/works/celsus-on-medicine/30/
cite: "Celsus, tr. Walter George Spencer, On Medicine · De medicina, section 30. Scriptura (scriptura.si), https://scriptura.si/works/celsus-on-medicine/30/"
---

# 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.

## 30. Book VII · chapters 26–33

Source: https://scriptura.si/works/celsus-on-medicine/30/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/celsus-on-medicine/30/#p-N

[¶0] A sandy stone is made evident before the operation by the sandy urine which is passed, and in the course of it, since it does not present a uniform resistance to the fingers in the rectum, and in addition it breaks up. Again soft stones and those composed of numerous small ones which only lightly adhere together, are indicated when the urine shows scalelike particles. All these should be brought out gently by changing as before the position of the fingers in turn, without injury to the bladder, yet so as not to leave behind in it any scattered remnants which will render the after-treatment difficult. When anything of this kind comes into view it is to be extracted by the fingers or scoop. And if there are several stones they are to be extracted one by one, but if a very small stone remains over it had better be left. For it is difficult to find it in the bladder, or when found it easily escapes again. In such a prolonged search the bladder is injured and fatal inflammations set up; so that some who have not been operated on have died after the bladder has been for a long while and in vain pushed about by the fingers. There is the additional reason that a small stone is later moved forward with the urine into the wound and so removed. If, however, at any time the stone appears too large to extract without tearing the neck of the bladder, it is to be split up; hence Ammonius the inventor of this process was surnamed lithotomus. This is done as follows: the scoop is passed over the stone, so that it easily keeps hold of the stone, even when it is struck; next an instrument is used of moderate thickness, its front end tapering yet blunt, and when this is put against the calculus, and its other end struck, it splits up the stone, great care being taken that the instrument does not come into contact with the bladder itself, and that no fragment from the broken calculus cuts into it.

> Latin: At calculus harenosus et ante manifestus est, quoniam e⟨o⟩ urina quoque redditur harenosa, et in ipsa curatione, quoniam inter subiectos digitos neque aeque renititur et insuper dila⟨bi⟩tur. Item molles calculos et ex pluribus minutisque sed inter se parum adstrictis compositos indicat urina trahens quasdam quasi squamula⟨s⟩. Hos omnes leniter permutatis subinde digitorum uicibus sic oportet adducere, ne uesicam laedant neue intus aliquae dissipatae reliquiae maneant, quae postmodo curationi difficultatem faciant. ⟨Quic⟩quid autem ex his in conspectum uenit, uel digitis uel unco eximendum est. Ac si plures calculi sunt, singuli protrahi debent, sic tamen ⟨ut,⟩ si quis exiguus supererit, potius relinquatur. Siquidem in uesica difficulter inuenitur, inuentusque celeriter effugit. Ita longa inquisitione uesica laeditur, excitatque inflammationes mortiferas, adeo ut quidam non secti, cum diu frustraque per digitos uesica esset agitata, decesserint. Quibus accedit etiam, quod exiguus calculus ad plagam urina postea promouetur et excidit. Si quando autem is [maior] non uidetur nisi rupta ceruice extrahi posse, findendus est: cui⟨u⟩s repertor Hammonius ob id litho⟨to⟩mos cognominatus est. Id hoc modo fit: uncus inicitur calculo sic, ut facile eum concussum quoque tene⟨a⟩t, ne is retro reuoluatur; tum ferramentum adhibetur crassitudinis modicae, prima parte tenu⟨i⟩ sed retus⟨a⟩; quod admo⟨t⟩um calculo ex altera parte ictu eum findit, magna cura habita, ne aut ad ipsam uesicam ferramentum perueniat, aut calculi fractura ne quid incidat.

[¶1] Now these operations are similar in females too, yet there are some particulars to be mentioned about them. Since in women when the stone is small, the use of the knife is unnecessary because the stone is forced by the urine into the neck of the bladder which is shorter and more yielding in females than in males. Therefore the stone often escapes of itself, and if it sticks in the first part, which is narrower, yet it may be extracted by the scoop described above without any harm. But for larger stones the treatment is the same. Except that in the case of a virgin the fingers are passed as in males, in the case of a woman into the vagina. Then the incision is to be made in a virgin just under the left labium, in a woman between the urethra and pubic bone, and in both instances by a transverse wound. There is no need to be frightened if there is freer bleeding from a woman.

> Latin: Hae uero curationes in feminis quoque similes sunt, de quibus tamen [parum] proprie quaedam dicenda sunt. Siquidem in his, ubi paruolus calculus est, scalpellus superuacuus est, quia is urina ⟨in⟩ ceruicem compellitur, quae et †in breuior quam in maribus et laxior est. Ergo ⟨et⟩ per se saepe excidit, et si in primo, quod est angustius, inhaeret, eodem tamen unco sine ulla noxa educitur. At in maioribus calculis necessaria eadem ⟨cu⟩ratio est. Sed uirgini subire digiti qua masculo, mulieri per naturale eius debent. Tum uirgini quidem sub ima sinisteri⟨ore⟩ ora, mulieri uero inter urinae iter et os pubis incidendum est sic, ut utroque loco plaga ⟨i⟩st⟨a⟩ transuersa sit; neque terreri conuenit, si plus ex muliebri corpore sanguinis profluit.

[¶2] When the stone has been extracted, if the patient is strong and has not suffered excessively, it is well to let the bleeding go on, so that less inflammation may follow. Besides it is not unfitting for him to move about a little, in order that any blood clot still inside may drop out. But if again the bleeding does not cease of its own accord, it must be stopped lest all his strength be used up; and in weaker patients this is to be done immediately after the operation; since just as there is the risk of spasm from pushing about the bladder, so there is a second danger that in the absence of medicaments so much blood may be lost as to prove fatal. To prevent this the patient should be seated in a bath of strong vinegar to which a little salt has been added; under this treatment the bleeding generally stops, and it also has an astringent effect on the bladder so that the inflammation there is lessened. But if this is not successful, cups are to be applied on groins and hips and above the pubes. As soon as sufficient blood has been drawn away or the bleeding checked, the patient should be so placed on his back that his head is low, his hips a little raised; and two or three layers of linen soaked in vinegar are to be applied over the wound. Then after two hours he should be put into a hip bath and lean back in the hot water, so that the water covers him from his knees to his navel, while the rest of his body is wrapped up, except that his hands and feet are exposed, in order that he may be less exhausted and remain in the bath longer: the usual result is free sweating. And his mouth and face must be wiped with a sponge from time to time, and an end put to this hot bath whenever it becomes harmful by weakening the patient. Afterwards the patient is freely rubbed with oil, and a dressing of soft wool applied, soaked in warm oil, covering the pubes and hips and groins as well as the wound itself, which had previously been covered with a similar dressing, but of lint. From time to time this dressing is to be saturated with the warm oil in order that cold may not reach the bladder, and that the sinews may be gently softened. Some make use of heating plasters; these do more harm by their weight pressing upon the bladder, and by irritating the wound, than they do good by their heating. For the same reason not even a bandage is required. On the next day if there is difficulty in breathing, if urine is not passed, if the region about the pubes swells prematurely it may be recognized that a blood clot has collected in the bladder; for this the fingers are introduced into the rectum as before and the bladder stroked gently so as to break up clots; thus they subsequently escape by the wound. It is not inappropriate to inject vinegar mixed with soda into the bladder through the wound by means of an ear syringe, for in this way also clotted blood is broken up; and it is proper to do this even on the first day if we are afraid that there is a clot inside, especially when weakness prevents the patient from moving about to eliminate it. The treatment afterwards is the same, sitting in a hot bath, a pad and wool prepared as before as dressings. But a boy should not be put so often into the hot water nor kept in so long as an adolescent; a weak patient as a robust one; one with a slight inflammation as one severely inflamed; a patient with a relaxed body as one in good tone. Meanwhile, if the patient sleeps and breathes regularly and his tongue is moist and there is only moderate thirst and the hypogastrium is flat, if there is not much pain and but moderate fever, we may assume that the treatment is doing well. In such cases the inflammation generally ends on the fifth or seventh day; when it has passed off, the hip bath becomes unnecessary; whilst the patient is on his back the wound is just to be fomented enough with hot water to wash away any urine that irritates. Now the medicaments to be applied should be suppuratives, and if the wound seems to need cleaning, it is to be smeared with honey, or if that irritates it can be tempered with rose oil. The nine-drug plaster seems the most suitable at this stage of the treatment for it contains both suet as a suppurative, and honey to clean the wound, also marrow, best from a calf; its contents are particularly efficient in preventing the establishment of a fistula. But lint at this period is not to be applied directly to the wound, but it may be properly put on over medicaments to keep them in place. When, however, the wound is clean, it is to be healed by applying plain lint. During this period, however, when the course of the treatment has not gone well, various dangers arise. These may be expected: if there is persistent insomnia, laboured breathing, a dry tongue, great thirst, a distended hypogastrium; if the wound gapes; if the urine as it escapes does not irritate the wound; if there is some livid discharge by night and day alike before the third day; if the patient does not answer or replies slowly; if there are severe pains; if after the fifth day high fever oppresses the patient and a distaste for food persists; if he finds more ease by lying on his stomach. But the worst complication is spasm of the sinews and bilious vomiting before the ninth day. But when there is danger of inflammation the best treatment is by abstinence, food in small quantities and at stated intervals, and at the same time fomentations and the other things described above.

> Latin: Calculo euolso, si ualens corpus est neque magnopere uexatum, sinere oportet sanguinem fluere, quo minor inflammatio oriatur. Atque ingredi quoque eum paulum non alienum est, ut excidat, si quid intus concreti sanguinis mansit. Quod si per se non destitit, rursus, ne uis omnis intereat, subprimi debet; idque protinus ⟨in⟩ inbecillioribus ab ipsa curatione faciendum est: siquidem, ut distentione neruorum periclitatur aliquis, dum uesica eius agitatur, sic alter metus excipi⟨t⟩, [⟨re⟩motis medicaminibus] ne tantum sanguinis profluat, ut occidat. Quod ne incidat, desidere is debet in acre acetum, cui aliquantum salis sit adiectum; sub quo et sanguis fere conquiescit, et adstringitur uesica, ideoque minus inflammatur. Quod si parum proficit, adglutinanda cucurbitula est et inguinibus et coxis et super pubem. Vbi iam satis uel euocatus est sanguis uel prohibitus, ⟨r⟩esupinus ⟨is⟩ collocandus est sic, ut caput humile sit, coxae paulum excitentur; ac super ulcus inponendum est duplex aut triplex linteolum aceto madens. Deinde interpositis duabus horis in solium is aquae calidae resupinus d⟨e⟩mittendus est sic, ut a genibus ad umbilicum aqua teneat, cetera uestimentis circumdata sint, manibus tantummodo pedibusque nudatis, ut et minus digeratur et ibi diutius maneat: ex quo multus sudor oriri solet. ⟨At⟩qu⟨e⟩ os spongia subinde ⟨et⟩ facie⟨m⟩ detergendum est, finisque eius fomenti est, donec infirmando offendat. Tum multo is oleo perunguendus, inducendusque absus lanae mollis tepido oleo repletus, qui pubem et coxas et inguina et plagam ipsam—contectam †eodem ante sed linteolo—protegat; isque subinde oleo tepido madefaciendus est, ut neque frigus ad uesicam admittat et neruos leniter molliat. Quidam cataplasmatis calfacientibus utuntur; ea plus pondere nocent, quo uesicam urguendo uulnus inritant, quam c⟨a⟩lore proficiunt. Ergo ne uinculum quidem ullum necessarium est. Proximo die, si spiritus difficilius redditur, si urina non excedit, si locus circa pubem mature intumuit, scire licet in uesica sanguinem concretum remansisse: igitur, demissis eodem modo digitis, leuiter pertractanda uesica est, et discutienda, si qua coierunt; quo fit, ut per uulnus postea procedant. Non alienum est etiam oriculario clystere acetum nitro mixtum per plagam in uesicam conpellere: nam sic quoque discutiuntur, si qua cruenta coierunt; eaque facere etiam primo die conuenit, si timemus, ne quid intus sit, maximeque ubi ambulando id elicere inbecillitas prohibuit. Cetera eadem facienda sunt, ut demittatur in solio, ut eodem modo panniculus, e⟨o⟩dem ⟨ulceri⟩ lana superiniciatur. Sed neque saepe neque tam diu in aqua calida puer habendus quam adulescens est, infirmus quam ualens, leui quam grauiore inflammatione adfectus, is cuius corpus diger⟨i⟩tur quam is cuius astrictum est. Inter haec uero, si somnus est et aequalis spiritus et madens lingua et sitis modica et uenter imus ⟨sedet⟩, si mediocris est cum febre modica dolor, scire licet recte curationem procedere. Atque in his inflammatio fere quinto uel septimo die finitur; qua leuata solium superuacuum est. Supini tantummodo uulnus aqua calida fouendum est, ut, si quid urinae rodit, eluatur. Inponenda autem medicamenta sunt pus mouentia, et si purgandum ulcus uidebitur, melle inlinendum: id si rodet, rosa temperabitur. Huic curationi aptissimum uidebitur enneapharmacum emplastrum: nam et sebum habet ad pus mouendum et mel ad ulcus repurgandum, medulla⟨m⟩ etiam maximeque uitulina⟨m⟩; quod in id, ne fistula relinquatur, praecipue proficit. Linamenta uero tum super ulcus non sunt necessaria: super medicamentum ad id continendum recte inponuntur. At ubi ulcus purgatum est, puro linamento ad cicatricem perducendum est. Quibus temporibus tamen, si felix curatio non fuit, uaria pericula oriuntur. Quae praesagire protinus licet: si continua uigilia est, si spiritus difficultas; si lingua arida est, si sitis uehemens; si uenter imus tumet; si uulnus hiat, ⟨si⟩ transfluens urina id non rodit, * * * similiter ⟨ante⟩ tertium diem quaedam liuida excedunt; si is aut nihil aut tarde respondet; si uehementes dolores, si post diem quintum magnae febres urguent et fastidium cibi permanet, ⟨si⟩ cuba⟨re⟩ in uentrem iucundius est. Nihil tamen peius est distentione neruorum et ante diem nonum uomitu bilis. Sed cum inflammation⟨is⟩ sit metus, succurri abstinentia, modicis et tempestiuis cibis, inter haec fomentis, et quibus supra scripsimus, oportet.

[¶3] 27. 27 The nearest danger is canker. This is recognized if the discharge, whether from the wound, or through the penis, is a malodorous sanies, also something of the nature of blood-clot, and thin bits of flesh like flocks of wool; and in addition to this if the margins of the wound become dry; if there is pain in the groins; if the fever does not subside and it increases at night, if there are irregular shivering-fits as well. We must examine in what direction the canker is spreading. If to the penis, that part becomes hard and red and is painful to the touch, and the testicles swell; if into the bladder itself, anal pain follows, the hips harden, the legs cannot be easily stretched. But if to either side, this fact is clear to the eyes, and the gangrene shows the same marks on both sides, but smaller on that less affected.— But first it is important that the patient shall lie properly, that is, that the same part should always be uppermost and that that should be the part where the disease is spreading. Thus if the direction is into the penis, the patient is laid on his back; if into the bladder, on his belly; if into one side, then he lies on the more sound one. Coming to the treatment, the man should be placed in a bath containing a decoction of horehound or of cyprus or of myrtle; and the same fluid boiled is injected into the wound with a syringe; then is put on a plaster of lentils with pomegranate rind, both of which have been boiled in wine, or a similar decoction of blackberry, or of olive leaves, or of other material which I have set out as suitable for arresting and cleaning wounds affected by canker. Dry medicaments of this sort may be blown in through a quill. When the gangrene begins to come to a standstill, the wound is washed with honey wine, but at this stage a cerate should be avoided, for by softening the tissues it predisposes to that very malady: we must rather smear on washed lead with wine, over that the same spread on linen. By such measures it is possible to effect a cure, but we must not ignore the fact that when canker has once started, the stomach is often affected, since the bladder is closely associated with it; hence, it happens that food is not kept down, or when it is retained, not digested, nor is the body nourished; and thus the wound cannot clean, nor gain flesh: and these facts necessarily hasten death. But while it is in no way possible to save such cases as these, yet a method of treatment should be observed from the very first for a long while, in which of course due regard must be had to food and drink. For at first only fluid food should be given; when the wound has cleaned food of the middle class; greens and salted fish are always unsuitable. The amount of drink should be moderate, for if too little is drunk, the wound becomes inflamed, the patient suffers from insomnia and gets weaker; if too much is drunk, the bladder fills frequently and so is irritated. It is too obvious to need repetition that nothing except water is to be drunk. Now it generally happens under such a diet that the bowels do not act. They are to be moved by a clyster containing either fenugreek or mallow. The same decoction mixed with rose oil is to be injected into the wound itself through an ear syringe whenever the urine causes irritation and stops the wound from cleaning. General all the urine escapes at first through the wound; then in the course of healing it divides, and part begins to pass through the penis until the wound has completely closed; and this occurs at times in the third month, at times not before the sixth month, and occasionally not for a year. And we need not despair of the firm healing of the wound, unless the neck of the bladder has been roughly ruptured, or when owing to gangrene many large portions of the flesh have sloughed away and some fibrous tissue too. But the greatest care must be taken that no fistula, or only a very small one, is left there. With this object as the wound tends to form a scar, the patient should lie with his thighs and legs stretched out, except only when the stones have been soft and sandy: for then the bladder is slower in cleaning itself: and so it is necessary to keep the wound open longer, and only when there is nothing more to come out of the bladder is the wound allowed to heal. If the margins of the wound stick together, before the bladder has been cleaned, and pain and inflammation recur, the wound should be reopened, either by the finger, or by the reversed end of a probe, in order that what is causing the pain may be let out; and after such evacuation, when for some time clear urine has passed, then at length cicatrizing applications are put on; and as prescribed above, the legs are kept extended with the feet close together as much as possible. But if there seems to be danger of a fistula, from the causes mentioned above, a leaden tube should be put into the anus to make the closing of the fistula easier, or at any rate to narrow it, whilst the legs are kept extended and the thighs and ankles tied together until the scar has assumed its final form.

> Latin: 27. Proximus cancri metus est. Is cognoscitur, si et per uulnus et per ipsum colem fluit sanies mali odoris, cumque eo quaedam ⟨a⟩ concreto sanguine non abhorrentia tenu⟨e⟩sque carunculae lanulis similes; praeter haec, si orae uulneris aridae sunt, si dolent inguina; si febris non def⟨i⟩t, eaque in noctem augetur, si inordinati horrores accedunt. Considerandum autem est, in quam partem cancer is tendat. Si ad colem, indurescit is locus et rubet et tactu dolorem excitat, testiculique intumescunt: si in ipsam uesicam, ani dolor sequitur, coxae durant, non facile crura extendi possunt. A⟨t⟩ si in alterutrum latus, oculis id expositum est, paresque utrimque easdem notas sed minores habet.—Primum autem ad rem pertinet corpus recte iacere, ut superior pars eadem semper sit * * in quam uitium fertur. Ita si ad colem it, supinus is collocari debet; si ad uesicam, in uentrem; si in latus, in id, quod integrius est. Deinde ubi uentum fuerit ad curationem, homo in aquam demittetur, in qua marrubium decoctum sit aut cupressus aut myrtus; idemque umor * clystere intus a⟨g⟩etur; tum superponetur lenticula cum malicorio mixta, quae utraque ex uino decocta sint; uel rubus aut oleae folia eodem modo decocta, aliaue medicamenta, quae ad cohibendos purgandosque cancros proposuimus. Ex quibus si qua erunt ⟨arida,⟩ per scriptorium calamum inspirabuntur. Vbi stare coeperit cancer, mulso u⟨o⟩lnus eluetur, uitabiturque eo tempore ceratum, quod ad recipiendum id malum corpus emollit: potius plumbum elotum cum uino inunguetur, superque idem linteolo inlitum inponetur. Sub quibus perueniri ad sanitatem potest, cum eo tamen quod non ignoremus orto cancro saepe adfici stomachum, cui cum uesica quaedam consortio est; exque eo fieri, ut neque retineatur cibus neque, si quis retentus est, coquatur, neque corpus alatur, ideoque ⟨ne⟩ uulnus quidem aut purgari aut ali possit; quae necessario mortem maturant. Sed ut his succurri nullo modo potest, sic a primo tamen diu tenenda ratio ⟨curatio⟩nis est; in qua quaedam obseruatio ad cibum quoque potionemque pertinens necessaria est. Nam cibus inter principia non nisi umidus dari debet: ubi ulcus purgatum est, ex media materia: holera et salsamenta semper aliena sunt. Potione opus est modica: nam si parum bibitur, accenditur uulnus, et uigilia urguet et uis corporis minuitur: si plus aequo adsumitur, subinde uesica impletur eo⟨que⟩ inritatur. Non nisi aqua⟨m autem bibendam esse manifestius est, quam⟩ ut subinde dicendum sit. Solet uero sub eiusmodi uictu euenire, ut al⟨u⟩os non reddatur. Haec aqua ducenda est, in qua uel faenum Graecum uel malua decocta sit. Idem umor rosa mixtus in ipsum uulnus oriculario clystere agendus est, ubi id rodit urina neque purgari patitur. Fere uero primo per uulnus exit hae⟨c⟩; deinde eo sanescente diuiditur, et pars per colem descendere incipit, donec ex toto plaga claudatur; quod interdum tertio mense, interdum non ante sextum, nonnumquam exacto quoque anno fit. ⟨Neque⟩ desperari debet solida glutinatio uulneris, nisi ubi aut uehementer rupta ceruix est, aut ex cancro multae magnaeque carunculae simulque neruosa aliqua exciderunt. Sed ut uel nulla ibi fistula uel exigua admodum relinquatur, summa cura prouidendum est. Ergo cum iam ad cicatricem uulnus intendit, extentis iacere feminibus et cruribus oportet, nisi tamen molles harenosiue calculi fuerunt: sub his enim tardius uesica purgatur; ideoque diutius plagam patere necessarium est ⟨et⟩ tum demum, ubi iam nihil tale extra ⟨fertur, ad cicatricem⟩ perduci. Quod si antequam uesica purgata est, orae se glutinarunt, dolorque et inflammatio ⟨re⟩dierunt, uulnus digitis uel auerso specillo diducendum est, ut torquentibus detur exitus; iisque effusis cum diutius pura urina descendat, tum demum quae cicatricem inducant ponenda sunt; extend⟨end⟩ique, ut supra posui, pedes quam maxime iuncti. Quod si fistulae metus ex is causis, quas proposui, subesse uidebitur, quo facilius cludatur ea u⟨el c⟩erte coangustetur, in anum quoque danda plumbea fistula est; extentisque cruribus femina talique inter se deligandi sunt, donec, qualis futura est, cicatrix sit.

[¶4] 28. 28 And whilst the foregoing can occur both in males and females, there are also some troubles which are peculiar to females, especially that occasionally their genitals do not allow of coitus, the orifices having coalesced. And this sometimes happens even in the mother's womb; sometimes when ulceration has occurred in those parts, and through bad treatment there the margins have become united during healing. If the condition is congenital a membrane obstructs the vulvar orifice; if due to ulceration flesh has filled the same. The membrane should be incised along two lines crossing one another like the letter X, great care being taken that the urethra is not injured; then the membrane is to be cut away all round. But if flesh has grown there, it must be laid open with a single straight cut; next when the margin has been seized either with a forceps or hook, a fine strip must be cut away from it, after which there is inserted wool rolled lengthwise (the Greeks call it lemniscus), dipped in vinegar, and over this is bandaged on greasy wool wetted with vinegar: this is changed on the third day and the wound treated like other wounds; and as soon as it begins to heal, a lead tube smeared with a cicatrizing ointment is passed in, and over this the same application applied until the cut surface has cicatrized.

> Latin: 28. Et hoc quidem commune esse et maribus et feminis potest: proprie uero quaedam ad feminas pertinent, ut in primis quod earum naturalia nonnumquam inter se glutinatis oris concubitum non ⟨ad⟩mittunt. Idque interdum euenit protinus in utero matris; interdum exulceratione in his partibus facta, et per malam curationem hi⟨c⟩ oris sanescendo iunctis. ⟨Si⟩ ex utero est, membrana ori uoluae opposita est; si ex ulcere, caro ide⟨m⟩ repleuit.—Oportet autem membranam duabus lineis inter se transuersis incidere ad similitudinem litterae X, magna cura habita, ne urinae iter uioletur, deinde undique eam membranam excidere. A⟨t⟩ si caro increuit, necessarium est recta linea patefacere; tum ab ora uel uolsella uel hamo adprensa tamquam habenulam exc⟨i⟩dere, ⟨et intus implicitum in⟩ longitudinem lin⟨a⟩mentum (lemniscum Graeci uocant) in aceto tinctum d⟨e⟩mittere, supraque sucidam lanam aceto madentem deligare; tertio die soluere ulcus et sicut alia ulcera curare; cumque iam ad sanitatem tendet, plumbeam fistulam medicamento cicatricem inducent⟨e⟩ inlin⟨e⟩re eamque intus dare, supraque idem medicamentum inicere, donec ad cicatricem plaga perueniat.

[¶5] 29. 29 Again when a woman has conceived, if the foetus, already nearly at term, dies inside and cannot get out of itself, an operation must be done, which may be counted among the most difficult; for it requires both extreme caution and neatness, and entails very great risk. But this shows, and not this only, how marvellous beyond all else is the womb. To begin with then the woman should be placed on her back across the bed, so that the iliac regions are compressed by her own thighs; by this means both her hypogastrium is in full view of the surgeon and the foetus is forced towards the mouth of the womb. This, after the death of the foetus contracts, but later on usually dilates a little. The surgeon making use of this opportunity should first insert the index finger of his greased hand, and keep it there until the mouth is opened again, and then he should insert a second finger, and the other fingers on the like opportunity, until the whole hand can be put in. To allow of this, much depends both on the size of the vagina, and the resistance of its sinewy tissues, and the patient's constitution, and also her strength of mind, especially since on occasion even both hands have to be passed in. It is also important that the hypogastrium and extremities should be kept very warm, that inflammation should not have begun, but that the treatment should be adopted without delay. For if the abdomen is already distended, the hand cannot be inserted nor can the foetus be extracted without the greatest suffering, and fatal spasm of the sinews often follows, accompanied by vomiting and tremor. But when the hand has reached the dead foetus its position is immediately felt. For it lies head on or feet foremost, or crosswise; generally, however, so that there is either a hand or foot within reach. It is the object now of the surgeon to direct it with his hand either into a head or even into a foot presentation, if it happens to be presenting otherwise: and if there is no other course, when a hand or foot is grasped, the trunk is straightened: for grasping a hand converts the presentation into a head one, grasping a foot into a foot presentation. Then if the head is nearest, a hook must be inserted which is completely smooth, with a short point, and this it is right to fix into an eye or ear or the mouth, even at times into the forehead, then this is pulled upon and extracts the foetus. But not every moment is proper for the extraction; for should this be attempted when the mouth of the womb is contracted, as there is no way out, the foetus is torn away from the hook, and its point then slips into the mouth of the womb itself; and there follows spasm of the sinews and great risk of death. Therefore whilst the mouth is contracted we should wait, and draw gently on the hook when it dilates, and so at these opportunities gradually extract the foetus. Now the right hand should pull the hook whilst the left is inserted within and pulls the foetus, and at the same time guides it. It also often happens that such a foetus is distended by fluid, and from it a foul sanies discharges. If so, the abdomen of the foetus is bored into by the index finger, when by escape of the fluid, the foetus is made smaller; then it is gently to be delivered by the hands alone. For if a hook is inserted it readily slips out of the soft little body, when the danger noted above is incurred. If the foetus has been turned to present by the feet it is also not difficult to extract; for the feet are grasped by the doctor's hands, and it is readily drawn out. But if the foetus is lying crosswise and cannot be turned straight, the hook is to be inserted into an armpit and traction slowly made; during this the neck is usually bent back, and the head turned backwards to the rest of the foetus. The remedy then is to cut through the neck, in order that the two parts may be extracted separately. This is done with a hook which resembles the one mentioned above, but has all its inner edge sharp. Then we must proceed to extract the head first, then the rest, for if the larger portion be extracted first, the head slips back into the cavity of the womb, and cannot be extracted without the greatest risk. Should this, however, happen, a folded pad is placed upon the woman's hypogastrium, and then a man strong, but not untrained, must stand on her left side, and place his two hands over the hypogastrium and press one over the other so that the head is forced to the mouth of the womb, when it must be extracted by the hook as described above. But if one foot presents whilst the other remains behind with the trunk, anything which has been drawn out must be cut away piecemeal; and if the buttocks begin to engage in the mouth of the womb they are to be pushed back and the foot of the foetus found and then drawn forwards. There are also other difficulties, which make it necessary to cut up and extract a foetus which does not come out whole. Now as soon as the foetus has been extracted it should be handed to the assistant to hold on his upturned hands, and the surgeon with his left hand must draw gently upon the navel cord, so as not to rupture it, whilst he passes his right hand along it up to what they called the secundines, which was the envelope of the foetus within the womb. When his hand has grasped the secundines including the whole of the blood vessels and membranes he brings them down from the womb in the same manner, and extracts the whole together with any retained blood clot. Then when the thighs have been tied together the woman is put to bed in a moderately warm room, which is free from draughts. Over the hypogastrium is placed greasy wool dipped in vinegar and rose oil. The rest of the treatment followed is the same as for inflammation and for wounds which are in the sinews.

> Latin: 29. Vbi conc⟨e⟩pit autem aliqua, si iam prope maturus partus intus emortus est neque excidere per se potest, adhibenda curatio est, quae numerari inter difficillima potest: nam et summam prudentiam moderationemque desiderat, et maximum periculum adfert. Sed ante omnia uuluae natura mirabilis cum in multis aliis tum in hac ⟨re⟩ quoque facile cognoscitur.—Oportet autem ante omnia resupinam mulierem transuerso lecto sic collocare, ut feminibus eius ipsius ilia conprimantur; quo fit, ut et imus uenter in conspectu medici sit ⟨et⟩ infans ad os uoluae conpellatur. Quae emortuo partu id conprimit, ex interuallo uero paulum dehiscere †ut. Hac occasione usus medicus unctae manus indicem digitum primum debet inserere atque ibi continere, donec iterum ad [os] aperiatur, rursusque alterum digitum demittere debebit, et per easdem occasiones alios, donec tota esse intus manus possit. ⟨Ad⟩ cuius rei facultate⟨m⟩ multum confert et magnitudo uoluae et uis neruorum eius et corporis totius habitus et mentis etiam robur, cum praesertim intus nonnumquam etiam duae manus dari debeant. Pertinet etiam ad rem quam caldissimum esse imum uentrem et extrema corporis, nequedum inflammatione⟨m⟩ coepis⟨se⟩, sed recenti re protinus adhiberi medicinam. Nam si corpus iam intumuit, neque demitti manus neque educi infans nisi aegerrime potest sequiturque saepe cum uomitu, cum tremore mortifera neruorum ⟨distentio. Verum⟩ intus emortuo corpori manus iniecta protinus habitum eius sentit. Nam aut in caput aut in pedes conuersum est, aut transuersum iacet; fere tamen sic, ut uel manus eius uel pes in propinquo sit. Medici uero propositum est, ut eum manu derigat uel in caput uel etiam in pedes, si forte aliter conpositus est: ac si nihil aliud est, manus uel pes adprehensus corpus rectius reddit: nam manus in caput, pes in pedes eum conuertet. Tum si caput proximum est, demitti debet uncus undique leuis, acuminis breuis, qui uel oculo uel auri uel ori, interdum etiam fronti recte inicitur; deinde adtractus infantem educit. Neque tamen quolibet is tempore extrahi debet: nam si conpresso uoluae ore id temptatum est, non emittente eo infans abrumpitur, et unci acumen in ipsum os uoluae delabitur; sequiturque neruorum distentio et ingens periculum [mortis]. Igitur conpressa uolua conquiescere, hiante leniter trahere ⟨oportet, et per has occasiones paulatim eum educere. Trahere⟩ autem dextra manus uncum, sinistra intus posita infantem ipsum, simulque eum derigere debet. Solet etiam euenire, ut is infans umore distendatur, exque eo profluat foedi odoris sanies. Quod si tale est, indice digito corpus ⟨illud forandum est, ut effuso umore extenuetur; tum id leniter per ipsas manus recipiendum est. Nam uncus iniectus facile hebeti corpusculo⟩ labitur; in quo quid periculi sit, supra positum est. In pedes quoque conuersus infans non difficulter extrahitur; quibus adprehensis per ipsas manus commode educitur. Si uero transuersus est neque derigi potuit, uncus alae iniciendus, paulumque adtrahendus est; sub quo fere ceruix replicatur, retroque caput a⟨d⟩ relicum corpus spectat. Remedio est ceruix praecisa, ut separatim utraque pars auferatur. Id unco fit, qui prioris similis in interiorem tantum partem per totam aciem exacuitur. Tum id agendum est, ut ante caput, deinde reliqua pars auferatur, quia fere maiore parte extracta caput in uacuam uoluam prolabitur, extrahique sine summo periculo non potest. Si tamen id incidit, super uentrem mulieris duplici panniculo iniecto, ualens homo non inperitus a sinistro latere eius debet adsistere et super imum uentrem eius duas manus inponere alteraque alteram premere; quo fit, ut illud caput ad os uoluae conpellatur; idque eadem ratione, quae supra posita est, unco extrahere *. At si pes alter iuxta repertus est, alter retro cum corpore est, quicquid protractum, paulatim abscidendum est: ⟨et⟩ si clunes os uuluae urguere coeperunt, iterum retro repellendae sunt, conquisitusque pes eius adducendus. Aliaeque etiamnum difficultates faciunt, ut, qui solidus non exit, concisus eximi debeat. Quotiens autem infans protractus est, tradendus ministro est, ut is eum supinis manibus sustine⟨at⟩; medicus deinde sinistra manu leniter trahere umbilicum debet ita ne abrumpat; dextra eum sequi usque ad eas, quas secundas uocant (quod uelamentum infantis intus fuit), isque ultimis adprehensis uenulas membranulasque omnes eadem ratione manu deducere a uolua, totumque illud extrahere et si quid intus praeterea concreti sanguinis remanet. Tum conpressis in unum feminibus, illa conclaui collocanda est modicum calorem sine ullo perflat⟨u⟩ habente. Super imum uentrem eius inponenda ⟨lana sucida⟩ in aceto et rosa tincta. Reliqua curatio talis esse debet, qualis ⟨in⟩ inflammationibus et in is uulneribus, quae in neruosis locis sunt, adhibetur.

[¶6] 30. 30 Lesions of the anus also, when they do not yield to medicaments, require the aid of surgery. If, therefore, any fissure has persisted so long that it has become hard and callous, it is best to move the bowels by a clyster, then apply a hot sponge to soften the fissures and cause them to protrude. When brought into view each is excised and made into a fresh wound; then soft lint is put on and over this a pad smeared with honey, and all is covered with soft wool, fixed by a bandage; on the next and following days all the other emollient medicaments are to be used, which I said above, were required by such lesions when recent, and for the first few days at any rate the patient must live on fluids; then some food is gradually added, but of the class prescribed in the same passage. If however any pus arises in these fissures as the result of inflammation, as soon as it becomes evident, it is to be cut into, lest the anus itself suppurate. But this must not be done hastily, for if cut before it matures the inflammation is very much increased, and pus is somewhat more freely formed. Here too a light diet and emollient dressings are necessary. The tumours, which are called condylomata, when hardened are treated by the following method. First of all the bowel is clystered; then the tumour is seized with a forceps close to its roots and cut away. After this, the same course of treatment is followed as that described above; only if there is any excrescence it is repressed by copper scales. The mouths of veins which discharge blood are removed as follows. When any patient is losing blood, fasting is indicated, and a rather severe clystering of the bowel, to make the openings more prominent, and thus what may be called the little heads of the veins all come into view. Then if a head is very small and has a thin base it must be tied by a flax thread, a little above where it joins the anus. A sponge squeezed out of hot water is next to be applied until it becomes livid, then with a finger-nail or scalpel it is to be scratched off above the knot. Unless this is done great pain follows, and sometimes even difficulty in urinating. If the head is larger and the base broader, it is seized by one or two hooks, and an incision made a little above the base; in doing this nothing of the head should be left nor anything taken away from the anus. This is accomplished by not drawing upon the hooks either too much or too little. When the incision has been made, a pin should be passed through, and under the pin the head is tied round with a linen thread. If there are two or three, the lowest must be dealt with first; if more, they are not all treated at once, to avoid having tender scars in several places at once. If there is bleeding, it is taken up in a sponge; then lint is put on, the thighs and groins anointed, as well as the parts near the wound; over it is applied a cerate and a poultice of barley meal, and this part must be filled up with soft wool and then bandaged. The next day, the patient should sit in hot water and after that have the same poultice applied. Twice a day, before and after the operation, the necks and thighs are to be anointed with a liquid cerate; and the patient must be kept in a warm room. After five or six days, the bits of linen are removed by the aid of an earscoop. If the little heads do not come away at the same time, they are to be removed by the finger; then by the same soothing medicaments which I have described above, the wounds are healed up. After the trouble has been ended I have already noted elsewhere what must be done.

> Latin: 30. Ani quoque uitia, ubi medicamentis non uincuntur, manus auxilium desiderant. Ergo si qua scissa in eo uetustate induruerunt iamque callum habent, commodissimum est ducere aluum; tum spongiam calidam admouere, ut relaxentur illa et foras prodeant. Vbi in conspectu sunt, scalpello singula excidere et ulcera renouare; deinde inponere lin⟨a⟩mentum ⟨molle,⟩ et supra linteolum inlitum melle; locumque eum molli lana inplere et ita uincire; altero die deincepsque ceteris lenibus medicamentis uti, quae ad recentia eadem uitia necessaria esse alias proposui; et utique per primos dies sorbitionibus eum sustinere; paulatim deinde cibis adicere aliquid, generis tamen eius, qu⟨o⟩ius eodem loco praeceptum est. Si quando autem ex inflammatione pu⟨r⟩is ⟨quid⟩ in his oritur, ubi primum apparuit, incidendum est, ne anus ipse suppuret. Neque tamen ante properandum est: nam si crudum incisum est, inflammationis multum accedit, et puris aliquanto amplius concitatur. ⟨In⟩ his quoque uulneribus lenibus cibis isdemque medicamentis opus est. At tubercula, quae condylomata appellantur, ubi ⟨induruerunt,⟩ hac ratione curantur. Aluos ante omnia ducitur; tum uulsella tuberculum adprehensum iuxta radices praeciditur. Quod ubi factum est, eadem sequntur, quae supra post curationem adhibenda proposui: tantummodo, si quid increscit, squama aeris coercendum est. Ora etiam uenarum fundentia sanguinem sic tolluntur. Vbi sanguis ⟨c⟩ui fluit, fames ⟨in⟩dicitur, aluus acrius ducitur, quo magis or⟨a⟩ promoueantur; eoque fit, ut omnia ue⟨narum⟩ quasi capitula conspicua sint. Tum si capitulum exiguum est basimque tenuem habet, adstringendum lino paulum supra est, quam ubi cum ano committitur. Inponenda * * aqua calida spongia est, donec id liueat; deinde aut ungue aut scalpello supra nodum id exulcerandum est. Quod nisi factum est, magni dolores subsequuntur, interdum etiam urinae difficultas. Si id maius est et basis latior, hamulo uno aut altero excipiendum est paulumque supra basim incidendum; neque relinquendum quicquam ⟨ex eo capitulo neque quicquam⟩ ex ano demendum est. ⟨Quod⟩ consequitur is, qui neque nimium neque parum ⟨hamos⟩ ducit. Qua incisum est, acus debet inmitti infraque eam lino id capitulum alligari. Si duo triaue sunt, imum quo⟨d⟩que primum curandum est; si plura, non omnia simul, ne tempore eodem undique tenerae cicatrices sint. Si sanguis profluit, excipiendum est spongia; deinde linamentum inponendum; unguenda femina et inguina et quicquid iuxta ulcus est; ceratumque superdandum et farina hordiacia calida, inplendusque is locus est * * sic deligandus est. Postero die is desidere in aquam caldam debet eodemque cataplasmate foueri. Ac bis die, et ante curationem et post eam, ceruices ac femina liquido cerato perunguenda sunt; tepidoque is loco continendus. Interpositis quinque aut sex diebus oriculario specillo linamenta educenda. Si capitula simul non exciderunt, digito promouenda; tum lenibus medicamentis isdem, quae alia⟨s⟩ posui, ulcera ad sanitatem perducenda. Finito uitio, quemadmodum agendum esset, iam alias [superius] exposui.

[¶7] 31. 31 We next pass from the foregoing subjects to the legs, and if varicose veins occur there, they are removed by a procedure which is not difficult. To this place I have put off also the treatment of the small veins which cause trouble in the head, also of varicose veins on the abdomen, because it is all the same. Any vein therefore which is troublesome may be shrivelled up by cauterizing or cut out by surgery. If a vein is straight, or though crooked is yet not twisted, and if of moderate size, it is better cauterized. This is the method of cauterization: the overlying skin is incised, then the exposed vein is pressed upon moderately with a fine, blunt, hot cautery iron, avoiding a burn of the margins of the incision, which can easily be done by retracting them with hooks. This step is repeated throughout the length of the vein, generally at intervals of four fingers' breadth, after which a dressing is put on to heal up the burns. But excision is done in the following way: the skin is similarly incised over the vein, and the margins held apart by hooks; with a scalpel the vein is separated from surrounding tissue, avoiding a cut into the vein itself; underneath the vein is passed a blunt hook; the same procedure is repeated at the intervals noted above throughout the course of the vein which is easily traced by pulling on the hook. When the same thing has been done wherever there are swellings, at one place the vein is drawn forward by the hook and cut away; then, where the next hook is, the vein is drawn forwards and again cut away. After the leg has thus been freed throughout from the swellings the margins of the incisions are brought together and an agglutinating plaster put on over them.

> Latin: 31. Ab his ad crura proximus transitus est, in quibus orti uarices non difficili ratione tolluntur. H⟨u⟩c autem et earum uen⟨ul⟩arum, quae in capite nocent, et eorum uaricum, qui in uent⟨r⟩e sunt, curationem distuli, quoniam ubi⟨que⟩ eadem est.—Igitur uena omnis, quae noxia est, aut adusta tabescit aut manu eximitur. Si recta est, si quamuis transuersa tamen simplex, si modica est, e⟨a⟩ melius aduritur. Si curua est et uelut in orbes quosdam inplicatur pluresque inter se inuoluuntur, utilius eximere est. Adurendi ratio haec est: cutis superinciditur; tum patefacta uena tenui et retuso ferramento candente modice premitur, uitaturque, ne plagae ipsius orae adurantur, quas reducere hamulis facile est. ⟨Id⟩ interpositis fere quaternis digitis per totum uaricem fit; et tum superinponitur medicamentum, quo adusta sanantur. At exciditur hoc modo: cute eadem ratione super uenam incisa, hamulo orae excipiuntur; scalpelloque undique corpore uena ⟨d⟩educitur; caueturque, ⟨[ne] inter haec ne ipsa laedatur; eique retusus hamulus subicitur;⟩ interpositoque eodem fere spatio, quod supra positum est, in eadem uena idem fit; quae quo tendat, facile hamulo extento cognoscitur. Vbi iam idem, quacumque uarices sunt, factum est, uno loco adducta per hamulum uena praeciditur, deinde qua proximus hamus est, adtrahitur [euellitur] ibique rursus absciditur. Ac sic undique uaricibus crure liberato plagarum orae committuntur et super emplastrum glutinans in⟨ic⟩itur.

[¶8] 32. 32 But if the fingers, either before birth or later on account of ulceration of their adjacent surfaces, adhere together, they are separated by the knife; after that each finger is separately enclosed in a plaster without grease, and so each heals separately. If after ulceration of a finger, a badly formed scar has made it crooked, in the first place a poultice is tried, and if this is of no avail, which is generally the case with old scars and tendon injuries, we must see whether the trouble is in the tendon, or in the skin only. If it is in the tendon, it should not be touched, for the condition is incurable; if in the skin, the whole scar should be cut out, which had generally become hard and so did not allow the finger to be extended. When it had been thus straightened a new scar must be allowed to form there.

> Latin: 32. At si digiti uel in utero protinus, uel propter communem exulcerationem postea cohaeserunt, scalpello d⟨i⟩ducuntur; dein separatim uterque non pingui emplastro circumdatur atque ita per se uterque sanescit. Si uero fuit ulcus in digito posteaque male inducta cicatrix curuum eum red⟨di⟩dit, primum malagma temptandum est; deinde, si id nihil prodest (quod et in ueteri cicatrice et ubi nerui laessi sunt euenire consueuit) uidere oportet, neruine id uitium an cutis sit. Si nerui est, attingi non debet: neque enim sanabile est: si cutis, tota cicatrix excidenda, quae fere callosa extendi digitum minus patiebatur; tum rectus sic ad nouam cicatricem perducendus est.

[¶9] 33. 33 When gangrene has developed between the nails and in the armpits or groins, and if medicaments have failed to cure it, the limb, as I have stated elsewhere, must be amputated. But even that involves very great risk; for patients often die under the operation, either from loss of blood or syncope. It does not matter, however, whether the remedy is safe enough, since it is the only one. Therefore, between the sound and the diseased part, the flesh is to be cut through with a scalpel down to the bone, but this must not be done actually over a joint, and it is better that some of the sound part should be cut away than that any of the diseased part should be left behind. When the bone is reached, the sound flesh is drawn back from the bone and undercut from around it, so that in that part also some bone is bared; the bone is next to be cut through with a small saw as near as possible to the sound flesh which still adheres to it; next the face of the bone, which the saw has roughened, is smoothed down, and the skin drawn over it; this must be sufficiently loosened in an operation of this sort to cover the bone all over as completely as possible. The part where the skin has not been brought over is to be covered with lint; and over that a sponge soaked in vinegar is to be bandaged on. The remaining treatment is that prescribed for wounds in which suppuration is to be brought about.

> Latin: 33. Gangrena⟨m⟩ inter ungues alasque aut inguina nasci, et si quando medicamenta uincantur, membrum praecidi oportere alio loco mihi dictum est. Sed id quoque cum periculo summo fit: nam saepe in ipso opere uel profusione sanguinis uel animae defectione moriuntur. Verum hic quoque nihil interest, an satis tutum praesidium sit, quod unicum est. Igitur inter sanam uitiatamque partem incidenda scalpello caro usque ad os est sic, ut neque contra ipsum articulum id fiat, et potius ex sana parte aliquid excidatur quam ex aegra relinquatur. Vbi ad os uentum est, reducenda ab eo sana caro ⟨et⟩ circa os subsecanda est, ut ea quoque parte aliquid os nudetur; deinde id serrula praecidendum est quam proxime sanae carni etiam inhaerenti; ac tum frons ossis, quem serrula exasperauit, leuandus est, supraque inducenda cutis, quae sub eiusmodi curatione laxanda est, ut quam maxime undique os contegat. Quo cutis inducta non fuerit, id lin⟨a⟩mentis erit contegendum, et super id spongia ex aceto deliganda. Cetera postea sic facienda, ut in uulneribus, in quibus pus moueri debet, praeceptum est.