[p. 85] all the heat rushes upwards, and is exhaled at the head, it is
not to be wondered at that the feet become cold, being devoid of flesh,
and tendinous; and besides, they contract cold, owing to their distance
from the hotter parts of the body, an accumulation of heat having
taken place in the chest: and again, in like manner, when the fever
is resolved and dissipated, the heat descends to the feet, and, at
the same time, the head and chest become cold. Wherefore one should
attend to this; that when the feet are cold, the bowels are necessarily
hot, and filled with nauseous matters; the hypochondrium distended:
there is jactitation of the body, owing to the internal disturbance;
and aberration of the intellect, and pains; the patient is agitated,
and wishes to vomit, and if he vomits bad matters he is pained; but
when the heat descends to the feet, and the urine passes freely, he
is every way lightened, even although he does not sweat; at this season,
then, the ptisan ought to be given; it would be death to give it before.
PART 8
When the bowels are loose during the whole course of fevers, in this
case we are most especially to warm the feet, and see that they are
properly treated with cerates, and wrapped in shawls, so that they
may not become colder than the rest of the body; but when they are
hot, no fomentation must be made to them, but care is to be taken
that they do not become cold; and very little drink is to be used,
either cold water or hydromel. In those cases of fever where the bowels
are loose, and the mind is disordered, the greater number of patients
pick the wool from their blankets, scratch their noses, answer briefly
when questions are put to them, but, when left to themselves, utter
nothing that is rational. Such attacks appear to me to be connected
with black bile. When in these cases there is a colliquative diarrhoea,
I am of opinion that we ought to give the colder and thicker ptisans,
and that the drinks ought to be binding, of a vinous nature, and rather
astringent. In cases of fever attended from the first with vertigo,
throbbing of the head, and thin urine, you may expect the fever to
be exacerbated at the crisis; neither need it excite wonder, although
there be delirium. When, at the commencement, the urine is cloudy
or thick, it is proper to purge gently, provided this be otherwise
proper; but when the urine at first is
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