quenching thirst； of very easy digestion； and very weak； all which
qualities are wanted。 If； then； one do not pay proper attention to the
mode of administering the ptisan； much harm may be done； for when
the food is shut up in the bowels； unless one procure some
evacuation speedily； before administering the draught； the pain； if
present； will be exasperated； and； if not present； it will be
immediately created； and the respiration will become more frequent；
which does mischief； for it dries the lungs； fatigues the
hypochondria； the hypogastrium； and diaphragm。 And moreover if；
while the pain of the side persists； and does not yield to warm
fomentations； and the sputa are not brought up； but are viscid and
unconcocted； unless one get the pain resolved； either by loosening the
bowels； or opening a vein； whichever of these may be proper；… if to
persons so circumstanced ptisan be administered； their speedy death
will be the result。 For these reasons； and for others of a similar
kind still more； those who use unstrained ptisan die on the seventh
day； or still earlier； some being seized with delirium； and others
dying suffocated with orthopnoee and riles。 Such persons the
ancients thought struck； for this reason more especially； that when
dead the affected side was livid； like that of a person who had been
struck。 The cause of this is that they die before the pain is
resolved； being seized with difficulty of respiration； and by large
and rapid breathing； as has been already explained； the spittle
becoming thick； acid； and unconcocted； cannot be brought up； but；
being retained in the bronchi of the lungs； produces riles； and；
when it has come to this； death； for the most part； is inevitable； for
the sputa being retained prevent the breath from being drawn in； and
force it speedily out； and thus the two conspire together to aggravate
the sputa being retained renders the respiration frequent； while the
respiration being frequent thickens the sputa； and prevents them
from being evacuated。 These symptoms supervene； not only if ptisan
be administered unseasonably； but still more if any other food or
drink worse than ptisan be given。
6。 For the most part； then； the results are the same； whether the
patient have used the unstrained ptisan or have used the juice
alone； or even only drink； and sometimes it is necessary to proceed
quite differently。 In general； one should do thus： if fever
commences shortly after taking food； and before the bowels have been
evacuated； whether with or without pain； the physician ought to
withhold the draught until he thinks that the food has descended to
the lower part of the belly； and if any pain be present； the patient
should use oxymel； hot if it is winter； and cold if it is summer； and；
if there be much thirst； he should take hydromel and water。 Then； if
any pain be present； or any dangerous symptoms make their
appearance； it will be proper to give the draught neither in large
quantity nor thick； but after the seventh day； if the patient be
strong。 But if the earlier…taken food has not descended； in the case
of a person who has recently swallowed food； and if he be strong and
in the vigor of life； a clyster should be given； or if he be weaker； a
suppository is to be administered； unless the bowels open properly
of themselves。 The time for administering the draught is to be
particularly observed at the commencement and during the whole
illness； when； then； the feet 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。
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； when mixed up together； are of a similar nature。 The black
hellebore acts more pleasantly and effectually than the peplium；
while； on the other hand； the peplium expels wind much more
effectually than the black hellebore； and both these stop the pain；
and many other of the laxatives also stop it； but these two are the
most efficacious that I am acquainted with。 And the laxatives given in
draughts are beneficial； when not very unpalatable owing to
bitterness； or any other disagreeable taste； or from quantity；
color； or any apprehension。 When the patient has drunk the medicine；
one ought to give him to swallow but little less of the ptisan than
what he had been accustomed to； but it is according to rule not to
according to rule not to give any draughts while the medicine is under
operation； but when the purging is stopped then he should take a
smaller draught than what he had been accustomed to； and afterwards go
on increasing it progressively； until the pain cease； provided nothing
else contra…indicate。 This is my rule； also； if one would use the
juice of ptisan （for I hold that it is better； on the whole； to
begin with taking the decoction at once； rather than by first emptying
the veins before doing so； or on the third； fourth； fifth； sixth； or
seventh day； provided the disease has not previously come to a
crisis in the course of this time）； and similar preparations to
those formerly described are to be made in those cases。
8。 Such are the opinions which I entertain respecting the
administering of the ptisan； and； as regards drinks； whichsoever of
those about to be described may be administered； the same directions
are generally applicable。 And here I know that physicians are in the
practice of doing the very reverse of what is proper； for they all
wish； at the commencement of diseases； to starve their patients for
two； three； or more days； and then to administer the ptisans and
drinks； and perhaps it appears to them reasonable that； as a great
change has taken place in the body； it should be counteracted by
another great change。 Now； indeed； to produce a change is no small
matter； but the change must be effected well and cautiously； and after
the change the administration of food must be conducted still more so。
Those persons； then； would be most injured if the change is not
properly managed； who used unstrained ptisans； they also would
suffer who made use of the juice alone； and so also they would
suffer who took merely drink； but these least of all。
9。 One may derive information from the regimen of persons in good
health what things are proper； for if it appear that there is a
great difference whether the diet be so and so； in other respects； but
more especially in the changes； how can it be otherwise in diseases；
and more especially in the most acute？ But it is well ascertained that
even a faulty diet of food and drink steadily persevered in； is
safer in the main as regards health than if one suddenly change it
to another。 Wherefore； in the case of persons who take two meals in
the day； or of those who take a single meal； sudden changes induce
suffering and weakness； and thus persons who have not been
accustomed to dine； if they shall take dinner； immediately become
weak； have heaviness over their whole body； and become feeble and
languid； and if； in additio