CHAPTER V. CURE OF GONORRHŒA.
FROM the unseemly nature of the affection, and from the
danger attending the colliquative wasting, and in consideration
of the want of it for the propagation of the species, we must
not be slow to stop a flow of semen, as being the cause of all
sorts of evil. In the first place, therefore, we are to treat
it like a common defluxion, by astringents applied to the parts
about the bladder and the seat of the flux, and with refrigerants
to the loins, groin, genital parts, and testicles, so that
the semen may not flow copiously; and then again, apply
calefacients to the whole system, so as to dry up the passages;
this is to be done by styptics and lotions; wool then from the
sheep with its sordes, and for oil, the rose ointment, or that
from vine flowers, with a light-coloured and fragrant wine;
but, gradually warming, by means of common oil, and melilot
boiled with it, and marjoram, and rosemary or flea-bane; and
a very excellent thing is the hair of dill, and still more, the
rue. Use these for the cataplasms, with the meal of barley
and vetches, and of hedge-mustard seed, and natron; but
honey is to be added, so as to make all combine and mix
together. Such also are the cataplasms which redden, and
raise pustules, and thereby produce derivation of the flux, and
warm the parts. Such is the Green plaster, and that from the
fruit of the bay. Frequent draughts too are to be given,
prepared from castor and winter cherry,
1 to the amount of one
dram, and the decoction of mint; of compounds, that from
the two peppers, that of Symphon, that of Philo, the liquid
medicine from the wild creature the skink, that of Vestinus,
that from the reptiles the vipers. Every attention is to be
paid to diet, and he is to be permitted and encouraged to take
gymnastics, promenades, and gestation; for these things impart
warmth to the constitution, which is needed in this
affection. And if the patient be temperate as to venereal
matters, and take the cold bath, it may be hoped that he will
quickly acquire his virility.
