on regimen in acute diseases-第4章

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other　respects　it　be　less　suitable　than　the　other；　the　clearing　out　of
the　bladder　effected　by　it　is　beneficial　to　the　patient；　if　properly
administered。　There　are　excellent　examples　of　the　beneficial　and
injurious　effects　of　wine；　all　which　were　left　undetermined　by　my
predecessors。　In　these　diseases　you　may　use　a　yellow　wine；　and　a
dark　austere　wine　for　the　following　purposes：　if　there　be　no　heaviness
of　the　head；　nor　delirium；　nor　stoppage　of　the　expectoration；　nor
retention　of　the　urine；　and　if　the　alvine　discharges　be　more　loose　and
like　scrapings　than　usual；　in　such　cases　a　change　from　a　white　wine　to
such　as　I　have　mentioned；　might　be　very　proper。　It　deserves　further　to
be　known；　that　it　will　prove　less　injurious　to　all　the　parts　above；
and　to　the　bladder；　if　it　be　of　a　more　watery　nature；　but　that　the
stronger　it　is；　it　will　be　the　more　beneficial　to　the　bowels。
　　15。　Hydromel；　when　drunk　in　any　stage　of　acute　disease；　is　less
suitable　to　persons　of　a　bilious　temperament；　and　to　those　who　have
enlarged　viscera；　than　to　those　of　a　different　character；　it　increases
thirst　less　than　sweet　wine；　character；the　lungs；　is　moderately
expectorant；　and　alleviates　a　cough；　for　it　has　some　detergent　quality
in　it；　whence　it　lubricates　the　sputum。　Hydromel　is　also　moderately
diuretic；　unless　prevented　by　the　state　of　any　of　the　viscera。　And
it　also　occasions　bilious　discharges　downwards；　sometimes　of　a
proper　character；　and　sometimes　more　intense　and　frothy　than　is
suitable；　but　such　rather　occurs　in　persons　who　are　bilious；　and
have　enlarged　viscera。　Hydromel　rather　produces　expectoration；　and
softening　of　the　lungs；　when　given　diluted　with　water。　But　unmixed
hydromel；　rather　than　the　diluted；　produces　frothy　evacuations；　such
as　are　unseasonably　and　intensely　bilious；　and　too　hot；　but　such　an
evacuation　occasions　other　great　mischiefs；　for　it　neither
extinguishes　the　heat　in　the　hypochondria；　but　rouses　it；　induces
inquietude；　and　jactitation　of　the　limbs；　and　ulcerates　the　intestines
and　anus。　The　remedies　for　all　these　will　be　described　afterwards。
By　using　hydromel　without　ptisans；　instead　of　any　other　drink；　you
will　generally　succeed　in　the　treatment　of　such　diseases；　and　fall
in　few　cases；　but　in　what　instances　it　is　to　be　given；　and　in　what
it　is　not　to　be　given；　and　wherefore　it　is　not　to　be　given；…　all
this　has　been　explained　already；　for　the　most　part。　Hydromel　is
generally　condemned；　as　if　it　weakened　the　powers　of　those　who　drink
it；　and　on　that　account　it　is　supposed　to　accelerate　death；　and　this
opinion　arose　from　persons　who　starve　themselves　to　death；　some　of
whom　use　hydromel　alone　for　drink；　as　fancying　that　it　really　has　this
effect。　But　this　is　by　no　means　always　the　case。　For　hydromel；　if
drunk　alone；　is　much　stronger　than　water；　if　it　do　not　disorder　the
bowels；　but　in　some　respects　it　is　stronger；　and　in　some　weaker；
than　wine　that　is　thin；　weak；　and　devoid　of　bouquet。　There　is　a
great　difference　between　unmixed　wine　and　unmixed　honey；　as　to　their
nutritive　powers；　for　if　a　man　will　drink　double　the　quantity　of
pure　wine；　to　a　certain　quantity　of　honey　which　is　swallowed；　he
will　find　himself　much　stronger　from　the　honey；　provided　it　do　not
disagree　with　his　bowels；　and　that　his　alvine　evacuations　from　it　will
be　much　more　copious。　But　if　he　shall　use　ptisan　for　a　draught；　and
drink　afterward　hydromel；　he　will　feel　full；　flatulent；　and
uncomfortable　in　the　viscera　of　the　hypochondrium；　but　if　the　hydromel
be　taken　before　the　draught；　it　will　not　have　the　same　injurious
effects　as　if　taken　after　it；　but　will　be　rather　beneficial。　And
boiled　hydromel　has　a　much　more　elegant　appearance　than　the
unboiled；　being　clear；　thin；　white；　and　transparent；　but　I　am　unable
to　mention　any　good　quality　which　it　possesses　that　the　other　wants。
For　it　is　not　sweeter　than　the　unboiled；　provided　the　honey　be　fine；
and　it　is　weaker；　and　occasions　less　copious　evacuations　of　the
bowels；　neither　of　which　effects　is　required　from　the　hydromel。　But
one　should　by　all　means　use　it　boiled；　provided　the　honey　be　bad；
impure；　black；　and　not　fragrant；　for　the　boiling　will　remove　the
most　of　its　bad　qualities　and　appearances。
　　16。　You　will　find　the　drink；　called　oxymel；　often　very　useful　in
these　complaints；　for　it　promotes　expectoration　and　freedom　of
breathing。　the　following　are　the　proper　occasions　for　administering
it。　When　strongly　acid　it　has　no　mean　operation　in　rendering　the
expectoration　more　easy；　for　by　bringing　up　the　sputa；　which
occasion　troublesome　hawking；　and　rendering　them　more　slippery；　and；
as　it　were；　clearing　the　windpipe　with　a　feather；　it　relieves　the
lungs　and　proves　emollient　to　them；　and　when　it　succeeds　in
producing　these　effects　it　must　do　much　good。　But　there　are　cases　in
which　hydromel；　strongly　acid；　does　not　promote　expectoration；　but
renders　it　more　viscid　and　thus　does　harm；　and　it　is　most　apt　to
produce　these　bad　effects　in　cases　which　are　otherwise　of　a　fatal
character；　when　the　patient　is　unable　to　cough　or　bring　up　the
sputa。　On　this　account；　then；　one　ought　to　consider　beforehand　the
strength　of　the　patient；　and　if　there　be　any　hope；　then　one　may　give
it；　but　if　given　at　all　in　such　cases　it　should　be　quite　tepid；　and　in
by　no　means　large　doses。　But　if　slightly　acrid　it　moistens　the　mouth
and　throat；　promotes　expectoration；　and　quenches　thirst；　agrees　with
the　viscera　seated　in　the　hypochondrium；　and　obviates　the　bad
effects　of　the　honey；　for　the　bilious　quality　of　the　honey　is
thereby　corrected。　It　also　promotes　flatulent　discharges　from　the
bowels；　and　is　diuretic；　but　it　occasions　watery　discharges　and
those　resembling　scrapings；　from　the　lower　part　of　the　intestine；
which　is　sometimes　a　bad　thing　in　acute　diseases；　more　especially　when
the　flatulence　cannot　be　passed；　but　rolls　backwards；　and　otherwise　it
diminishes　the　strength　and　makes　the　extremities　cold；　this　is　the
only　bad　effect　worth　mentioning　which　I　have　known　to　arise　from
the　oxymel。　It　may　suit　well　to　drink　a　little　of　this　at　night　before
the　draught　of　ptisan；　and　when　a　considerable　interval　of　time　has
passed　after　the　draught　there　will　be　nothing　to　prevent　its　being
taken。　But　to　those　who　are　restricted　entirely　to　drinks　without
draughts　of　ptisan；　it　will　therefore　not　be　proper　at　all　times　to
give　it；　more　especially　from　the　fretting　and　irritation　of　the
intestine　which　it　occasions；　（and　these　bad　effects　it　will　be　the
more　apt　to　produce　provided　there　be　no　faeces　in　the　intestines
and　the　patient　is　laboring　under　inanition；）　and　then　it　will
weaken　the　powers　of　the　hydromel。　But　if　it　appears　advantageous　to
use　a　great　deal　of　this　drink　during　the　whole　course　of　the　disease；
one　should　add　to　it　merely　as　much　vinegar　as　can　just　be　perceived
by　the　taste；　for　thus　what　is　prejudicial　in　it　will　do　the　least
possible　harm；　and　what　is　beneficial　will　do　the　more　good。　In　a
word；　the　acidity　of　vinegar　agrees　rather　with　those　who　are　troubled
with　bitter　bile；　than　with　those　patients　whose　bile　is　black；　for
the　bitter　principle　is　dissolved　in　it　and　turned　to　phlegm；　by　being
suspended　in　it；　whereas　black　bile　is　fermented；　swells　up；　and　is
multiplied　thereby：　for　vinegar　is　a　melanogogue。　Vinegar　is　more
prejudicial　to　women　than　to　men；　for　it　creates　pains　in　the　uterus。
　　17。　I　have　nothing　further　to　add　as　to　the　effects　of　water　when
used　as　a　drink　in　acute　diseases；　for　it　neither　soothes　the　cough　in
pneumonia；　nor　promotes　expectoration；　but　does　less　than　the　others
in　this　respect；　if　used　alone　through　the　whole　complaint。　But　if
taken　intermediate　between　oxymel　and　hydromel；　in　small　quantity；
it　promotes　expectoration　from　the　change　which　it　occasions　in　the
qualities　of　these　drinks；　for　it　produces；　as　it　were；　a　certain
overflow。　Otherwise　it　does　not　quench　the　thirst；　for　it　creates　bile
in　a　bilious　temperament；　and　is　injurious　to　the　hypochondrium；　and
it　does　the　most　harm；　engenders　most　bile；　and　does　the　least　good
when　the　bowels　are　empty；　and　it　increases　the　swelling　of　the　spleen
and　liver　when　they　are　in　an　inflamed　state；　it　produces　a　gurgling
noise　in　the　intestines　and　swims　on　the　stomach；　for　it　passes　slowly
downwards；　as　being　of　a　coldish　and　indigestible　nature；　and
neither　proves　laxative　nor　diuretic；　and　in　this　respect；　too；　it
proves　prejudicial；　that　it　does　not　naturally　form　does　in　the
intestines：　and；　if　it　be　drunk　while　the　feet　are　cold；　its　injurious
effects　will　be　greatly　aggravated；　in　all　those　parts　to　which　it　may
be　determined。　When　you　suspect　in　these　diseases　either　strong
heaviness　of　the　head；　or　mental　alienation；　you　must　abstain　entirely
from　wine；　and　in　this　case　use　water；　or　give　weak；　straw…colored
wine；　entirely　devoid　of　bouquet；　after　which　a　little　water　is　to
be　given　in　addition；　for　thus　the　strength　of　the　will　less　affect
the　head　and　the　understanding：　but　in　which　cases　water　is　mostly
to　be　given　for　drink；　when　in　large　quantity；　when　in　moderate；
when　cold；　and　when　hot；　all　these　things　have　either　been　discussed
already　or　will　be　treated　of　at　the　proper　time。　In　like　manner；　with
respect　to　all　the　others；　such　as　barley…water；　the　drinks　made
from　green　shoots；　those　from　raisins；　and　the　skins　of　grapes　and
wheat；　and　bastard　saffron；　and　myrtles；　pomegranates；　and　the　others；
when　the　proper　time　for　using　them　is　come；　they　will　be　treated　of
along　with　the　disease　in　question；　in　like　manner　as　the　other
compound　medicines。
　　18。　The　bath　is　useful　in　many　diseases；　in　some　of　them　when　used
steadily；　and　in　others　when　not　so。　Sometimes　it　must　be　less　used
than　it　would　be　otherwise；　from　the　want　of　accommodation；　for　in　few
families　are　all　the　conveniences　prepared；　and　persons　who　can　manage
them　as　they　ought　to　be。　And　if　the　patient　be　not　bathed　properly；
he　maybe　thereby　hurt　in　no　inconsiderable　degree；　for　there　is
required　a　place　to　cover　him　that　is　free　of　smoke；　abundance　of
water；　materials　for　frequent　baths；　but　not　very　large；　unless　this
should　be　required。　It　is　better　that　no　friction　should　be　applied；
but　if　so；　a　hot　soap　（smegma）　must　be　used　in　greater　abundance
than　is　common；　and　an　affusion　of　a　considerable　quantity　of　water　is
to　be　made　at　the　same　time　and　afterwards　repeated。　There　must　also
be　a　short　passage　to　the　basin；　and　it　should　be　of　easy　ingress
and　egress。　But　the　person　who　takes　the　bath　should　be　orderly　and
reserved　in　his　manner；　should　do　nothing　for　himself；　but　others
should　pour　the　water　upon　him　and　rub　him；　and　plenty　of　waters；　of
various　temperatures；　should　be　in　readiness　for　the　douche；　and　the
affusions　quickly　made；　and　sponges　should　be　used　instead　of　the　comb
（strigil）；　and　the　body　should　be　anointed　when　not　quite　dry。　But　the
head　should　be　rubbed　by　the　sponge　until　it　is　quite　dry；　the
extremities　should　be　protected　from　cold；　as　also　the　head　and　the
rest　of　the　body；　and　a　man　should　not　be　washed　immediately　after
he　has　taken　a　draught　of　ptisan　or　a　drink；　neither　should　he　take
ptisan　as　a　drink　immediately　after　the　bath。　Much　will　depend　upon
whether　the　patient；　when