CHAPTER I. THE CURE OF PERIPNEUMONIA.
INFLAMMATION and swelling of the lungs, and along with them
a sense of suffocation, which does not long endure, constitute a
very acute and fatal ailment. The remedies opposed to it, therefore,
ought to be of equal power and speedily applied. We are
to open instantly the veins at the elbow, and both together,
on the right and on the left side, rather than abstract blood
from one larger orifice, so that revulsion of the humours may
take place from either side of the lungs: but we must not
carry it to the extent of
deliquium animi for the
deliquium cooperates
with the suffocation. But when even a small respite
has been obtained, we must suppress the flow and abstraet
more afterwards; for, if the exciting causes be from blood,
the venesection carries them away; and if phlegm, or froth,
or any other of the humours be the agent, the evacuations of the
veins widen the compass of the lungs for the passage of the
breath.
We must expel the fluids and flatus downwards, by anointing
the anus after the venesection with natron, honey, rue,
and the liquid resin from turpentine. Instead of the venesection,--provided
there be a greater impediment,--we must
give a clyster of acrid juice, namely, of salts, in addition to
the natron, and turpentine resin with the honey; and rue
boiled in the oil, and hyssop boiled in the water; and the
fleshy parts of the wild cucumber, boiled with water, are
very excellent.
Dry-cupping applied to the back, the shoulder, and the
hypochondria, is altogether beneficial. And if the chest be
fleshy, so that the cupping-instrument may not by its pressure
bruise the skin about the bones, it is to be also applied there;
for if the humours be attracted from all parts of the body, and
the spirit (
pneuma) be determined outwardly, in those cases
in which the lungs are, as it were, choked, there will be respite
from the mischief; for peripneumonia is to be attacked in
every possible way.
But, likewise, neither are we to neglect any of the medicines
which prove useful when swallowed by the mouth, for
the lungs attract fluids whether they be in health or diseased.
We must, therefore, give such medicines as attenuate the
fluids so as to promote their perspiration, and such as will
lubricate and render them adapted for expectoration. For
speedy relief, then, natron is to be drunk with the decoction
of hyssop, or brine with vinegar and honey; or mustard
moistened with honeyed-water; and we may confidently
sprinkle on each some of the root of iris and pepper. But
also these things, having been sifted, are to be given in a
powder along with honey. But if the patients get no sleep
during the day, and remain sleepless also during all the night,
it is to be feared lest they become delirious, and there will be
need of various soporific medicines unless the disease give
way, so that the seasonable administration of these medicines
may lull the suffering, for these things are usually
soporific. But if you give a medicine at the acme of the
suffocation, or when death is at hand, you may be blamed for
the patient's death by the vulgar.
The food also must be suitable, acrid, light, solvent of thick
matters, detergent: of pot-herbs, the leek, or the cress, or the
nettle, or the cabbage boiled in vinegar; of austere things
(
frumentacea?) the juice of ptisan, taking also of marjoram,
or of hyssop, and of pepper, and more natron instead of the
salts. Also spelt in grains well boiled with honeyed-water: in
the course of the boiling, they should all be deprived of their
flatulence, for flatulent things are hurtful to persons in peripneumonia.
If they are free from fever, wine is to be given
for drink, but not such as is possessed of much astringency,
for astringency condenses bodies; but in these the parts are
rather to be relaxed. We must also promote the expulsion of
the sputa. On the whole the drink should be scanty, for
drenching is prejudicial to the lungs, because the lungs attract
from the stomach and belly.
Let the chest be covered up in wool, with oil, natron, and
salts. The best ointment is that prepared of the lemnestis,
and dried mustard with liquid cerate; and, on the whole, we
are to determine outwardly the fluids, the heat, and the spirit
(
pneuma). And smelling to acrid things is beneficial, also
anointings, and ligatures of the extremities. When these
things are done, if the disease do not yield, the patient is in a hopeless condition.
