CHAPTER VII. CURE OF CŒLIACS.
IF the stomach be irretentive of the food, and if it pass
through undigested, unchanged and crude, so that nothing
ascends into the body, we call such persons
cœliacs; being
connected
with refrigeration of the innate heat which performs
digestion, along with atony of the faculty of distribution.
In the first place then, the stomach is to be relieved from
its sufferings by rest and abstinence from food, for in this way
the natural powers are restored. And if there also be a feeling
of fulness in the stomach, we are to administer emetics, in the
fasting state, with water or honeyed-water; and the abdomen
is to be enveloped and bathed, for the purpose of astringency,
with unwashed wool from the sheep, with oily things, as the
unguentum rosaceum, œnanthemum, and
melinum, or what is
best,
with that from the lentisk, with hypocistis and the unripe
grape.
1 But, along with these, cataplasms, hot to the touch,
but astringent in powers. And if there be distension or inflammation
anywhere about the liver or mouth of the stomach,
we are to apply the cupping-instrument, and scarify; and
there are cases in which this alone is sufficient. But when, by
means of cerates, the wounds have cicatrised and ended in
hardness, we are to apply leeches to it, then digestive epithemes,
such as that from seeds, if you possess the root of the
chamæleon. The best thing here is the fruit of the bay, and
the Malagma by name the Green, and mine--the Mystery. For
these soften, irritate, rouse heat, discuss flatulence of the
bowels, of which there is need for the sake of astringency.
But likewise mustard, lemnestis, euphorbium, and all such
prevent refrigeration indeed, and procure resuscitation of the
heat. Such medicines also the patient must drink for astringency.
In the first place, there is need . . . . . . . . . . the
juice of plaintain with water made astringent by myrtles or
quinces. The stone of an unripe grape is also a very good
thing, and wines of a very astringent character. Then the
medicines which warm the bowels, namely such potions as are
made with ginger, and pepper, and the fruit of the wild
parsley which is found among rocks, and the very digestive
medicine made from the reptiles the vipers. But if it does
not yield at all or slightly to these means, use emetics from
radishes; and if you will put into them the root of the white
hellebore, for a single night, the purging will thus become
very strong, for purging away and removing the cold humours
and for kindling up the heat.
And likewise the diet and manner of life should be moderate.
Sleep by night, by day walks, vociferation, gestation
among myrtles, bays, or thyme; for the exhalation and respiration
of such things prove a digestive remedy. Gymnastics,
friction, chironomy, exercises of the chest and abdomen by
throwing the
halteres. Propomata; for bread alone contributes
little towards strength. After these, rubefacients, walking *
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