[p. 74] if from
a state of great rest it be hastily brought to greater exertion, it
will be much more injured), or if from the use of much food it be
changed to complete abstinence, and therefore the body in such cases
requires protracted repose, and if, from a state of laborious exertion,
the body suddenly falls into a state of ease and indolence, in these
cases also the bowels would require continued repose from abundance
of food, for otherwise it will induce pain and heaviness in the whole
body.
PART 13
The greater part of my discourse has related to changes, this way
or that. For all purposes it is profitable to know these things, and
more especially respecting the subject under consideration,- that
in acute diseases, in which a change is made to ptisans from a state
of inanition, it should be made as I direct; and then that ptisans
should not be used until the disease be concocted, or some other symptom,
whether of evacuation or of irritation, appear in the intestines,
or in the hypochondria, such as will be described. Obstinate insomnolency
impairs the digestion of the food and drink, and in other respects
changes and relaxes the body, and occasions a heated state, and heaviness
of the head. | Galen finds the language in this last sentence so confused, that he does not hesitate to declare that he is convinced the work must have been left by Hippocrates in an unfinished state, and not published until after his death. |
PART 14
One must determine by such marks as these, when sweet, strong, and
dark wine, hydromel, water and oxymel, should be given in acute diseases.
Wherefore the sweet affects the head less than the strong, attacks
the brain less, evacuates the bowels more than the other, but induces
swelling of the spleen and liver; it does not agree with bilious persons,
for it causes them to thirst; it creates flatulence in the upper part
of the intestinal canal, but does not disagree with the lower part,
as far as regards flatulence; and yet flatulence engendered by sweet
wine is not of a transient nature, but rests for a long time in the
hypochondria. And therefore it in general is less diuretic than wine
which is strong and thin; but sweet wine is more expectorant than
the other. But when it creates thirst, it is less expectorant in such
cases than the other wine, but if it do not create thirst, it promotes
expecto-
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