Aretaeus, De causis et signis acutorum morborum (lib. 2)
Francis Adams LL.D., Ed.

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CHAPTER VIII. ON COLICS.

PERSONS in colic are cut off speedily by volvulus and tormina. There are very many causes of this affection. The symptoms are, heaviness during abstinence from food, particularly in the part most affected; much torpor; they are inactive, lose appetite, become emaciated, sleepless, swollen in countenance. And if the colon be affected in connection with the spleen, they are of a dark-green colour; but of a light-green when in connection with the liver, from the sympathy of the nearest viscera. And if they take food, even in small quantity, and such as is not flatulent, they become very flatulent, and have a desire to pass wind, which, however, does not find vent: forced eructations upwards, but without effect; or, if any should be forcibly expelled, the flatus is fetid and acid which escapes upwards. The kidneys and bladder sympathise, with pain and ischuria; but in such cases the symptoms interchange with one another. But a greater wonder than these, --an unexpected pain has passed down to the testicles and cremasters; and this sympathetic affection has escaped the observation of many physicians, who have made an incision into the cremasters, as if they were the particular cause of the disease. But in these cases also the symptoms interchange with one another.

From this disease are produced other diseases; abscesses and ulcers, of no mild character; dropsies and phthisis, which are incurable. For the disease is formed from cold and thick humours, and a copious and glutinous phlegm; but, also, it comes on with a frigid period of life, a cold season, and a cold locality, and during a hard winter.