[p. 63]
PART 4
Ptisan, then, appears to me to be justly preferred before all the
other preparations from grain in these diseases, and I commend those
who made this choice, | Our author now enters upon the consideration of one of his principal objects in the preent work, namely, to describe the modes of preparing ptisan (orthe decoction of barley), and its uses in acute diseases. He is so full on this subject that the present treatise is quoted by Athenaeus (Deipnos. ii., 16), by the name of the work On the Ptisan. Galen states that, on the principle that diseases are to be cured by their contraries, as the essence of a febrile disease is combined of heat and dryness, the indication of a cure is to use means of a cooling and moistening nature, and that the ptisan fulfils both these objects. |
for the mucilage of it is smooth, consistent,
pleasant, lubricant, moderately diluent, quenches thirst if this be
required, and has no astringency; gives no trouble nor swells up in
the bowels, for in the boiling it swells up as much as it naturally
can. Those, then, who make use of ptisan in such diseases, should
never for a day allow their vessels to be empty of it, if I may say
so, but should use it and not intermit, unless it be necessary to
stop for a time, in order to administer medicine or a clyster. And
to those who are accustomed to take two meals in the day it is to
be given twice, and to those accustomed to live upon a single meal
it is to be given once at first, and then, if the case permit, it
is to be increased and given twice to them, if they appear to stand
in need of it. At first it will be proper not to give a large quantity
nor very thick, but in proportion to the quantity of food which one
has been accustomed to take, and so as that the veins may not be much
emptied. And, with regard to the augmentation of the dose, if the
disease be of a drier nature than one had supposed, one must not give
more of it, but should give before the draught of ptisan, either hydromel
or wine, in as great quantity as may be proper; and what is proper
in each case will be afterward stated by us. But if the mouth and
the passages from the lungs be in a proper state as to moisture, the
quantity of the draught is to be increased, as a general rule, for
an early and abundant state of moisture indicates an early crisis,
but a late and deficient moisture indicates a slower crisis. And these
things are as I have stated for the most part; but many other things
are omitted which are important to the prognosis, as will be explained
afterwards. And the more
|
