De Medicina

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.

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

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

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

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.