[p. 66] are cold, one should refrain from
giving the ptisan, and more especially abstain from drink; but when
the heat has descended to the feet, one may then give it; and one
should look upon this season as of great consequence in all diseases,
and not least in acute diseases, especially those of a febrile character,
and those of a very dangerous nature. One may first use the juice,
and then the ptisan, attending accurately to the rules formerly laid
down.
PART 7
When pain seizes the side, either at the commencement or at a later
stage, it will not be improper to try to dissolve the pain by hot
applications. Of hot applications the most powerful is hot water in
a bottle, or bladder, or in a brazen vessel, or in an earthen one;
but one must first apply something soft to the side, to prevent pain.
A soft large sponge, squeezed out of hot water and applied, forms
a good application; but it should be covered up above, for thus the
heat will remain the longer, and at the same time the vapor will be
prevented from being carried up to the patient's breath, unless when
this is thought of use, for sometimes it is the case. And further,
barley or tares may be infused and boiled in diluted vinegar, stronger
than that it could be drunk, and may then be sewed into bladders and
applied; and one may bran in like manner. Salts or toasted millet
in woolen bags are excellent for forming a dry fomentation, for the
millet is light and soothing. A soft fomentation like this soothes
pains, even such as shoot to the clavicle. Venesection, however, does
not alleviate the pain unless when it extends to the clavicle. But
if the pain be not dissolved by the fomentations, one ought not to
foment for a length of time, for this dries the lungs and promotes
suppuration; but if the pain point to the clavicle, or if there be
a heaviness in the arm, or about the breast, or above the diaphragm,
one should open the inner vein at the elbow, and not hesitate to abstract
a large quantity, until it become much redder, or instead of being
pure red, it turns livid, for both these states occur. But if the
pain be below the diaphragm, and do not point to the clavicle, we
must open the belly either with black hellebore or peplium, mixing
the black hellebore with carrot or seseli, or cumin, or anise, or
any other of the fragrant herbs; and with the peplium the juice of
sulphium (asafoetida), for these substances,
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